Courtesy Lauren Conrad
Lauren Conrad must have heard that we were wondering if her favorite hairstyle was starting to feel a little same-y, because she just shook things up in a big way.
Earlier this week, the star said on Twitter that she was “flirting with the idea” of bangs, but we figured she was bluffing: Conrad has had the same long, sideswept, slightly ombré waves for years.
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Anyone who’s ever seen her on The Hills (or read her blog, or followed her on Pinterest) knows that Lauren Conrad knows how to have a great time and be a terrific host.
Which is why, when we caught up with Conrad at an N.Y.C. party for Malibu Island Spiced, we immediately grilled her for tips on how to make our summer parties as picture-perfect as hers seem to be.
“The great thing about summer … is that you can entertain outdoors,” she says, “and [outdoor parties] tend to be more casual so you can have fun with the décor. I’m obsessed with Pinterest so anything on Pinterest, I’m like ‘I have to do that!’”
And that Pinterest obsession means Conrad’s parties aren’t just any old come-as-you-are occasions: They’ve got themes. “I like ‘be your own bartender’ tables where you lay out all of the different mixers, with mint and the salt to make your own [drinks],” she suggests. “I did a party where we did all small diner food, like tiny pizzas and mini-milkshakes and little cones of fries, which was really fun.”
PHOTOS: See all the spring trends we’re loving lately!
But lest you start to crumble under all that Pinterest-y pressure, Conrad advises lots of preparation and a few easy tips to make the party a success — withtout the stress. “I think it’s important to get prepared, make sure you’re stocked up on everything you need and then enjoy your own party,” she says. As far as food and music goes, “We usually do flatbreads … with all different toppings. They’re finger food, they’re easy, so almost all my parties have flatbread at them.”
She adds: “Have [a playlist] made by someone who knows music. One of my best girlfriends is a DJ so she always makes me my playlist and she’s great. Or use a Pandora or something, where you don’t have to [make one] at all.”
Conrad is partnering with Malibu Island Spiced (which clocks in at 70 calories a serving) “because it’s geared towards a healthier lifestyle, which I love” — so you can expect lots more party-planning tips from the star this summer.
Tell us: What are your secrets to throwing a perfect party?
–Alex Apatoff, reporting by Kiran Hefa
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Splash News Online; WireImage; AP
Are you a few mint juleps in already? Have you placed your Uggie-assisted bets?
Then you’re ready to check out three of our favorite looks from the Kentucky Derby weekend.
We’ve seen some fabulous hats in the past, but once again, the stars pulled out all the stops in terms of their fancy toppers.
Courtesy Lauren Conrad (2)
Lauren Conrad has dip-dyed her ponytail magenta, experimented with peach ombré and rocked rainbow tips. But even she was surprised by her latest hair color adventure.
“So apparently it doesn’t wash out… Looks like I’m sporting pink locks for the rest of this trip,” the star wrote on Instagram along with a photo of her newly carnation-colored strands.
PHOTOS: Vote on star color changes in our Celeb Makeovers gallery!
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Courtesy Redbook
If you have items in the back of your closet with the tags still on from, oh, a year ago, you’re going to want to read Lauren Conrad‘s interview in the latest Redbook magazine. The designer and PEOPLE StyleWatch contributor shares her simple tips to help “make [shopping] fun again.”
“Whenever someone comes up to me and says, ‘I’m having trouble shopping,’ I tell them to pull out their 10 favorite, most-worn pieces,” Conrad says in the April issue, on newsstands March 12.
“Figure out what you gravitate toward, what makes you feel good,” before hitting the mall, she advises, so that you you know exactly what you’ll actually wear before putting down any plastic.
The next step: “Build a wardrobe around [those 10 favorite pieces].” So if you realize you’re wearing tons of LBDs, you can zero in on accessories to pair with those specific dresses, rather than buying things on a whim and then realizing they don’t match anything you actually wear.
The designer also talks to Redbook about expanding her design horizons past her own personal style. “At first, I was just designing for myself,” she says.
“Then I started getting comments from women who didn’t have my body type, saying things like, ‘I have a larger chest and can’t wear this tent-shaped dress.’ So I’ve learned to make pieces that don’t necessarily flatter me but look great on someone else.”
Luckily, her go-to look, an A-line, waist-cinching style, happens to flatter just about everyone.
For more from Lauren Conrad, go to Redbookmag.com and pick up the April issue of Redbook, on newsstands March 12th.
Tell us: Do you like Conrad’s style? Will you take her shopping advice?
INF, FameFlynet, Pacific Coast News
With 1,440 looks walking down the runway at the Cotton 24-Hour Fashion Show this weekend, we were bound to see a ton of adorable outfits. And as it turns out, three of our faves were spotted on the celebrities attending the massive style event. (And two more were seen on our editors, Susan Kaufman and Kate Dimmock!)
First up was Camilla Belle, who has a knack for finding adorable dresses. After being snapped in a cute French Connection number ($198 here), she stepped out in a gorgeous print A-line dress, which she paired with blue Jimmy Choo wedges for some color and a leather jacket for a little edge.
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New York Fashion Week wears us out, and we’re only there for a few hours a day. So we are giving major credit to the models, DJs, stylists and celeb participants helping to make Cotton’s 24-Hour Runway Show a smash hit in Miami March 1 — we feel exhausted just thinking about it!
Among the brave celebs signing up for the massive runway show are hosts Giuliana and Bill Rancic, PEOPLE StyleWatch columnist Lauren Conrad and our Twitter party pal Louise Roe. “I am so excited to be a part of this huge fashion event happening right in the heart of South Beach,” Conrad exclusively tells PEOPLE. “I can’t wait to see [all] 1,440 looks.”
Twelve of those cotton looks will be styled and introduced by PEOPLE StyleWatch editor Susan Kaufman and fashion director Kate Dimmock live in Miami — and we’ll have the outfits available to shop on our site from head to toe. As Roe tells PEOPLE, “From jeans and T-shirts, dresses and suits, even wedding dresses — it’s amazing to see how cotton is so dynamic and versatile.”
Be sure to vote for your favorite looks here, and tell us: Are you excited for Cotton’s 24 Hour Runway show?
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