Despite her influential pixie and daring red carpet acumen, Emma Watson doesn’t consider herself glamorous.

“My problem is that I am a little bit boring,” she admits to French Elle. “I don’t wear designer bags or big sunglasses.”

And regardless of access to designer duds, the Harry Potter star’s downtime is underscored by a more casual approach to fashion: “When I don’t have to play Emma Watson in public, I’d rather not put myself out there,” she explains. “I have to be more careful with my look in my everyday life.”

But what about those ubiquitous Lancôme beauty ads? “Someone asked me why I accepted this job, as I wanted to stand in the shadows,” she says. “Actually, I gave up the idea that I could [ever] become anonymous again!”

–Justine Harman

CHECK OUT MORE STAR STRANDS IN: ’10 HAIRDOS THAT TURNED HEADS!’

She made magic in her campaign for Trésor Midnight Rose perfume, but Emma Watson‘s newest ad for Lancôme really turns up the heat. The photo, shot by Mario Testino, touts the brand’s new Rogue in Love lipstick and Vernis in Love nail polish, and will officially appear online beginning in February.

“The idea is to make this young generation — that has been a gloss fan — come back to using lipsticks,” Youcef Nabi, president of Lancôme International, tells WWD. “We worked with Emma on the shade range.”

The lipsticks, available in 24 colors for $25 each, come in a metallic case that can double as a mirror. “This new generation spends their time looking at themselves in the mirror,” Nabi says, adding that the company will launch a new app, Virtual Mirror, with the lipsticks, allowing customers to experiment with various colors online before buying. “You will be able to try all the shades by downloading your picture,” she says. “It’s really you transformed [before] your eyes.”

The nail polish complements the lip colors; it will be available at Nordstrom stores beginning in February for $15 per bottle. “Lipstick doesn’t come without a nail enamel,” Nabi says. “It’s the ultimate fashion accessory.”

STUDY STARS’ DIY PARTY HAIR AND MAKEUP

Short must be the new long! In a summary of 2011′s stellar style, the Wall Street Journal named Emma Watson‘s pixie and Justin Bieber‘s ‘swish’ the most influential haircuts of the year.

“Hairstylists are being inundated with requests,” the paper reports. “The enthusiasm plays out online, where the fastest-rising searches for celebrity haircuts on Google are for Ms. Watson and Mr. Bieber.”

According to the Journal, these looks mark a pretty significant change for hairstyle popularity, since for women, “short hair hasn’t been trendy since the ’90s,” and because men “may justifiably feel sheepish about asking for the cut.” (Tell that to the Biebs!)

Other moments of stylish importance include the Royal Wedding, deemed the “Fashion Event of the Year,” Kim Kardashian‘s wedding, named the “Most Spectacular Bridal Fiasco,” Kanye West‘s Paris Fashion Week Debut, called the “Biggest Runway Flop,” and Target’s too-popular Missoni collaboration, which the Journal said had the “Worst Fashion Sales Strategy.” Tell us: What was your favorite style moment of 2011?

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Which of Hollywood’s style stars had readers buzzing this week? Don’t miss our top stories!

–Fans weigh in on Kim Kardashian‘s divorce: Should she keep or return her ring? READ IT

–Ali Larter takes her new short cut even shorter! READ IT

–Michelle Williams says that her short do is a tribute to a late loved one. READ IT

–Eva Ammuri weds in a custom, lacy Lela Rose gown. READ IT

–The Duchess of Cambridge tops a U.K. best-dressed list that includes Emma Watson and Keira Knightley. READ IT

She’s done it again! The Duchess of Cambridge landed atop the U.K. Harper’s Bazaar best-dressed list today, just three months after earning a spot on Vanity Fair‘s list of style stars. The latest honor was bestowed by a panel that included designers Antonio Berardi and Roksanda Ilincic (a Kate favorite), milliner Philip Treacy and Bazaar editors Kim Hersov and Lucy Yeomans.

“Catherine’s incredible style evolution has gripped us all,” Yeomans explains on harpersbazaar.com.uk. “She gave us the year’s — if not the century’s — most thrilling fashion moment at the royal wedding, and is shaping up as an amazing ambassador for British designers and the high street.”

Singer Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine landed in second place — “She’s fairytale,” writes Ilincic — followed by British stars including Kate Moss, Keira Knightley, Emma Watson, Alexa Chung and Stella McCartney. All in all, 20 women were included on the list.

Over the course of the past year, the Duchess has earned praise for the way she recycles her wardrobe, supports emerging designers and shops accessibly at stores like Topshop. She earned a spot on PEOPLE’s best-dressed list this year, as well.

–Kate Hogan

TAKE A LOOK AT KATE & PIPPA’S SISTERLY STYLE

After countless premieres and red-carpet appearances, Emma Watson has finally found the beauty routine that works for her. Crediting her pixie cut with what she calls a more “experimental” relationship with makeup, the 21-year-old tells Stylelist, “There’s no way to hide when you have short hair. You really have to go for it.”

The secret to her trademark look, which includes flawless skin, bold brows and a pinch of glamour, is an arsenal of reliable beauty tools. “I’m a creature of habit,” she tells Style.com of $45 Giorgio Armani “Beauty Luminous” silk powder (bottom right). “I like to find what works and keep buying it.” She also brightens up with bronzer or blush, like Yves Saint Laurent’s $38 Crème de Blush (top left) because, as Watson puts it, “I am so pale and English.”

But the focal point of Watson’s look is the eye, which she prefers with a bold brow and major lashes. “I get my eyebrows threaded,” she confides. “Blink is really good,” she says of the London-based beauty bar’s line of products, which includes defining pencils (top right).

For that kewpie lash effect, the star looks to $25 “Hypnôse Doll” mascara (bottom left) by Lancôme, for which she is an ambassador. “I’m big into Twiggy so I do bottom lashes and top lashes,” she explains. “This is really cool because it is specifically designed to get that look.”

–Justine Harman

CHECK OUT STAR MAKEUP SHAKEUPS IN: ‘WHAT’S HER BEST LOOK?’

As fashion icons, Emma Watson and Claudia Schiffer have access to all the lavish jewelry and couture clothing they could ever want. But not surprisingly, the subtle stars both think less is more.

“Jean Cocteau said, ‘Style is a very simple way of saying complicated things,’” Watson muses in the October issue of Harper’s Bazaar. So the Lancôme beauty goes for a simple fashion trademark: “If I get it right, a kind of drama whilst looking understated. If I get it right!”

You won’t find Watson dripping in diamonds and extravagant handbags most of the time, either; the actress still carries an “old-school” satchel and claims lipstick as her favorite accessory. “I don’t like to accessorize too much because I want people to see me first and my clothes second,” she explains.

Model and mom of three Schiffer also defines her style in simple terms. “Understated chic,” she says. She loves blush and mascara by L’Oréal, Eau Savage fragrance by Dior and prefers to tote her goods in Chanel handheld luggage. And if you want to get her a gift, make it cashmere: Schiffer counts the soft fabric as one of her most necessary extravagances, saying blankets are a must and cashmere sweaters are one item you’ll never catch her throwing away.

However her indulgences do expand beyond the material. When asked for her vices, she simply replies, “Red wine, chocolate, and a lie-in with my husband.”

Camilla Akrans for Harper’s Bazaar

Courtesy Harper’s Bazaar

–Kim Peiffer

SEE MORE STYLE OBSESSIONS IN ‘I REALLY LOVE MY …’

It’s midnight in Paris … with a twist! In her first commercial for Lancôme, Emma Watson loses her hat and finds love in the City of Light, all while falling under the spell of the brand’s Trésor Midnight Rose fragrance.

“There’s something modern but also timeless about that kind of story,” the Harry Potter star said in July. Describing the scent as “very sweet and warm and playful,” she said she hoped the campaign would bring consumers a “sense of optimism and fun and a sense of youthful energy … life is just kind of like magical and full of surprise. I wanted the love story to be about that.”

SHOP STARS’ SIGNATURE SCENTS

Emma Watson‘s new Lancôme gig is keeping her busy! Though we have yet to see any ads from her upcoming campaign, in March, the Harry Potter star flew to Paris and filmed a commercial for the brand, and in May, she toasted the Trésor Midnight Rose fragrance at a big French bash. Now, we’re getting a sneak peek of Watson’s work in a behind-the-scenes video, which features gorgeous footage of the star having her photo taken by Mario Testino. In the clip above, Watson says she “was incredibly flattered to be asked to be the ambassadress. I think Lancôme has … so much class and style and history.” As for the new fragrance, Watson describes it as “very sweet and warm and playful.” And she’s hoping her campaign brings consumers a “sense of optimism and fun and a sense of youthful energy … life is just kind of like magical and full of surprise. I wanted the [campaign's] love story to be about that. There’s something modern but also timeless about that kind of story.” –Caroline Slutsky

SHOP STARS’ SIGNATURE SCENTS

Emma Watson worked some serious red carpet magic at the London premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in her fairytale Oscar de la Renta gown, but we wanted to know more about her longer, newly brunette locks. So we went straight to the sources: Rodney Cutler, founder of Cutler Salons, and Ben Stewart, Cutler’s color director. Cutler tells PEOPLE, “Our objective was to add a little bit of length and to have a strong silhouette and chic outline. We wanted to move away from her former blonde highlighted look into something a little bit stronger with increased depth and richness.” The first step was a Louise Brooks era-inspired bob that is meant to be flexible, thanks to the cutting technique used. Cutler explains, “The wonderful thing about this is that the shape is so defined and always looks great — flat, curly, or just layered with products, it always retains its look.” Stewart worked to complement the cut with a strong new color, telling PEOPLE, “After being quite lighter in the hair color, this would be a perfect blend with this new hair cut. We decided on this rich golden brown with soft honey tones moving throughout to create some reflection and dimension.” And while the new look was conjured up just last week in N.Y.C., Cutler can’t promise that Watson will keep it for long. “It looks great at the moment, so we will have to wait and see,” he says. “She’s such a fashion [and] style icon, you never know what’s around the corner.” –Melissa Liebling-Goldberg

VOTE ON STAR HAIR CHANGES!

Which of Hollywood’s style stars had readers buzzing this week? Don’t miss our top stories!

–Prince Albert marries Charlene Wittstock in Monaco; get all the details on her custom Giorgio Armani gown! READ IT

–The female stars of Harry Potter make major fashion statements at the film’s London premiere. READ IT

–Afterward, star Emma Watson slips into a second, sparkly party dress. READ IT

–Kate Moss marries in London, wearing a John Galliano gown and Manolo Blahnik shoes. READ IT

–House star Hugh Laurie signs on as the newest face of L’Oréal Paris Men. READ IT

Thursday’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 premiere in London was Emma Watson‘s time to shine — and did she ever! After stunning the crazed crowd in Trafalgar Square wearing a dreamy sand-colored Oscar de la Renta creation, the actress slipped into a shimmering Elie Saab Haute Couture cocktail dress, shiny silver shoes and diamond cluster earrings from Chopard for the premiere’s after-party. The starlet was joined at the bash, held at the Old Billingsgate Market, by costars including Helena Bonham Carter, Rupert Grint and her former crush, Tom Felton, plus Hollywood stars like Emma Roberts.

WEIGH IN ON MORE RED CARPET LOOKS IN ‘HIT OR MISS?’

Emma Watson made quite the entrance at the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 premiere Thursday, stunning the excitable London crowd in a dreamy, light-hued Oscar de la Renta creation. But she wasn’t the only star working a little white magic on the red carpet. Costar Clémence Poésy dazzled in a short, bright dress accented with a black belt and peep-toe heels; Bonnie Wright set off her red hair in a peachy white Miu Miu creation; and Evanna Lynch brought the fun factor in a ruffly white mini. Meanwhile, star Helena Bonham Carter and writer J.K. Rowling found themselves sporting similar motifs, too. Rowling went conservative in a flowery green-and-pink gown by Oscar de la Renta, while Carter — always happy to break some fashion rules — appeared in a long green gown with a flowery pink topper. It was definitely a fashion-forward affair, but we want to know what you think! Tell us: Which star looked best at the Potter premiere?

Getty; XPosure

VOTE ON MORE RED CARPET LOOKS IN ‘HIT OR MISS?’

We knew the next installment of Harry Potter would be dark, but we didn’t expect star Emma Watson to go dark, too! The actress — a bright blonde at the MTV Movie Awards just last month — popped up at a promotional event for the final Potter film in London on Wednesday sporting a decidedly darker, almost reddish do. Watson’s hair has undergone quite the transformation in the past year: last August, she chopped her long locks — a sign of emancipation from the Potter franchise — and went from blonde to brunette before declaring that she was growing it out again to earn movie roles. (We can hardly keep up!) But it’s all in good fun for the fashion darling — who recently collaborated with People Tree and Alberta Ferretti and is now the face of Lancôme — who considers style to be her outlet of expression outside of filmmaking. Tell us: What do you think of Watson’s darker locks?

VOTE NOW ON STAR HAIR CHANGES!

Emma Watson‘s gig as the new face of Lancôme is in full swing — and what better way to celebrate than with a chic Parisian party? The Harry Potter star showed off her glam side recently while helping to launch the Lancôme Trésor Midnight Rose fragrance during an evening of beauty and fashion in the City of Light. In the video above, which she posted on her website, Watson is seen sporting a stylish ruffled Azzaro mini and black pumps for the occasion, and posing for photos before taking the stage to talk about why she loves the fragrance. “Midnight Rose is addictive, it’s warm, it’s playful, it’s sweet,” she gushes. “It’s everything I hoped it would be.” –Kim Peiffer

SHOP STARS’ SIGNATURE SCENTS

Finding her niche outside of Harry Potter has been Emma Watson‘s most challenging role to date. “I have lived in a complete bubble,” she admits in the July issue of Vogue. “And now I’m desperately trying to find my way through it.” A stint as an Ivy Leaguer, seeking refuge in the arts (“I love it and have a need to do it,” she says of painting) and side projects have helped define her off-screen character. “I was Warner Bros.’ pain in the butt. I was their scheduling conflict,” she says of mandating time for extracurricular fashion projects, including designing three collections for People Tree. “I was doing twelve-hour days on Harry Potter and then coming home to work for two more hours, sizing and cutting designs.” But her time on set inspired her, too; she grew close to makeup head Amanda Knight, and would spend hours experimenting with cosmetics in the makeup trailer. “That was my playground,” she says. “I would sit and play with lipsticks, foundations and eye shadows; and every now and then Amanda would let me do the extras’ face paint for the Quidditch matches.” Perhaps not-so-coincidentally, she’s now the face of Lancôme, too. But despite her busy off-set schedule, Watson is still finding time for new projects. She recently shot My Week with Marilyn and landed the role of Sam in The Perks of Being a Wall Flower. “Sam is such a different girl than who I am,” she says. “Hermione is so close to who I am as a person that I’ve never really had to research a role. I’m literally rediscovering what it means to be an actress.” –Justine Harman

Mario Testino for VOGUE

CHECK OUT MORE STARS’ FILM STYLE IN ‘LIGHTS! CAMERA! FASHION!

Emma Watson might be young, but when it comes to red-carpet fashion, she’s wise beyond her years. “I try to dress age-appropriately, which isn’t actually that easy when obviously high-end clothing is designed for women who are older than I am,” she tells WWD. “It’s a fine line to tread between looking smart and looking ready to go on a red carpet but also looking like I’m 21.” The Lancôme face shows similar maturity in her hands-on approach to developing the brand’s Trésor Midnight Rose fragrance, which she represents. “I was involved in the concept for the [ad] film and the tag line, ‘Catch my heart if you can,’” she says. “I had ideas about every aspect. I’m sure I drove [the crew] insane!” So what’s next on her plate? A continued interest in eco-friendly clothing, a possible green collaboration with Lancôme — and growing out her now-famous cropped do. “I’m excited to try to get it into kind of like a bob!” she says.

SEE CELEBS’ FRAGRANCES IN ‘SHOP YOUR FAVORITE STARS’ SIGNATURE SCENTS!’

Emma Watson may be best known for her recurring role in the Harry Potter franchise, but please, don’t call her Hermione. “I’m aware that it’s hard for audiences to separate me from my character,” she admits in the summer issue of New Zealand’s Remix magazine. So to delineate the real Watson from her on-screen counterpart, the 20-year-old is expanding her body of work to include decidedly un-Hogwarts-like projects. “Hopefully by doing things like that people will see a different side of me,” she says of her fashion portfolio, which includes stumping for Burberry, Lâncome and designing for People Tree and Alberta Ferretti. This newfound style initiative, however, isn’t entirely a marketing maneuver. “I love fashion and clothes,” she says, evidence of which can be found in her funky street style. “It’s fun playing around with different sides of your personality.” And no matter how many ad campaigns she does, she is not impervious to insecurities. “It’s been pretty harrowing at times, especially as I am so intensely self-critical,” she admits. “That’s why I banned myself from reading everything about myself on the Internet.” Aha! So we can call you Hermione! To read more about Watson’s fashion metamorphosis, pick up the new issue of Remix, on stands in the U.S. now. –Justine Harman


Courtesy Remix Magazine

STAY ABREAST OF CELEBRITY AD CAMPAIGN NEWS

Does Emma Watson ever sleep? She’s modeled for Burberry, collaborated with People Tree, started work for Lancome — and don’t forget her day job acting in the Harry Potter movies! Recently, she announced she was designing a small collection for Alberta Ferretti, called Pure Threads, and today, the line goes on sale exclusively at albertaferretti.com. It consists of just five pieces: two dresses ($1010-$1080), a shirt ($670), a long skirt ($880) and a pair of denim shorts ($340), all enriched with lace embroideries and made with organic fabrics such as cotton poplin, cotton muslin and hemp. According to Ferretti, Watson really made the line her own. “Emma was very much involved in the design process, and was very particular in how she wanted the collection to look and feel,” she tells PEOPLE. “Emma has a great freshness about her and is very intelligent, and this made it a pleasure to work with her.” Though a second collaboration isn’t planned (yet!), Ferretti says she’s happy to work with more rising stars. “I am always keen to seek new talent,” she shares. “The young are the future and I am always inspired by new ideas.” Tell us: Will you buy a piece from Watson’s line? –Kate Hogan

SEE STAR LOOKS IN ‘YOU ASKED, WE FOUND’

Get ready for some beauty magic: Emma Watson is the newest face of Lancôme. The Harry Potter star, 20, announced the news via Twitter Monday morning after leading followers through a series of clues over the weekend. “Thanks to her charm, romanticism and her incredible modernity, Emma Watson has become the icon of her generation,” Lancôme president Youcef Nabi said in a statement. “We are delighted by the new collaboration with Emma, who brings a fresh spirit to Lancôme.” Watson follows in the footsteps of such pretty women as Julia Roberts, Penélope Cruz, Kate Winslet and Anne Hathaway, and is the brand’s youngest ambassador to date. The partnership comes at a good time: Watson recently shared that she’s taking a break from her studies at Brown University to focus on her “other professional and acting projects. I will still be working towards my degree … it’s just going to take me a semester or two longer than I thought.” Tell us: What do you think of Watson’s latest collaboration? –Kate Hogan

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