–Lucky ladies like Jessica Alba and Michelle Williams remember the diamonds they received most recently [InStyle]

–Did Lady Gaga actually buy fake fashion abroad? We’re hoping the answer is no … [The Cut]

–Lauren Conrad shares one of her portable beauty musts — and it’s affordable, too! [LaurenConrad.com]

–The Limited apparently shuttered its bridal collection, and is offering some dresses for as low as $59.99 [Racked]

–Naomi Campbell returns to work; this time, for Roberto Cavalli’s spring 2012 ad campaign [FashionETC]

Some stylish stories for your Thursday afternoon …

–Oh no! A suitcase containing some of Rachel Zoe’s vintage pieces was reportedly lost by an airline [NY Post]

–The Duchess of Cambridge helped fashion brand Reiss nearly double its profits this year [Telegraph]

–Were Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson the most stylish couple of 2011? [FabSugar]

–Try this pretty braided bun for NYE by following how-to steps from Lauren Conrad‘s pros [TheBeautyDepartment]

–John Kerry, Mitt Romney named two of the best-dressed politicians this year [Huffington Post]

So it’s not rocket science, but it is an important element of style: what kinds of earrings should you wear with what hairstyles? Luckily, the ladies over at Lauren Conrad‘s site, thebeautydepartment.com, recently tackled that topic with JewelMint cofounder Kate Bosworth — a client of Conrad’s makeup artist and fellow blogger, Amy Nadine.

For starters, Conrad’s hair stylist Kristin Ess suggests “simple” hair with small jewels. “Studs and small stone earrings can get overwhelmed by too much hair,” she writes, adding, “wear a lipstick that will make the color of the stone pop.”

Bosworth also demonstrates ever-popular chandelier earrings two ways: with hair up (“chignons are best,” Ess writes) and hair down, either to the side or behind the ears so the sparklers take center stage.

Want some more weekend ideas for hair-and-jewelry coordination? Visit thebeautydepartment.com for additional illustrations — and the chance to win some JewelMint earrings.

STUDY UP ON STAR-TESTED BEAUTY TIPS

‘Tis the season to go shopping! Lauren Conrad hit the mall recently, browsing racks stocked with the latest from her namesake line for Kohl’s. But she wasn’t shopping for herself — the former reality star was helping to style four teens from the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for the holidays.

“It’s really nice to be able to give back,” Conrad says in the clip above. “The feeling of giving a really good gift is so amazing … I can’t imagine getting a gift and feeling this way, especially with something like this.”

Conrad spent the day with the teens, giving them each a $500 gift card to shop, plus a stocking packed with beauty products and accessories. See more from the heartwarming day in the clip above. Tell us: Are you giving back this holiday season?

SHOP THE BEST HOLIDAY GIFTS FROM CELEBRITY DESIGNERS

Feeling overwhelmed by the number of holiday parties on your calendar in the next few weeks? Not to worry: it’s okay to rewear dresses. At least that’s what designer Lauren Conrad says — and personally, we trust her opinion.

“During holiday parties I end up recycling a lot of my cocktail dresses, and just wearing a layering piece, like a blazer and tights, with it,” she tells FabSugar.com.

Conrad designed Paper Crown dresses, skirts and tops for the holidays, all of which take the spirit of the season into consideration. “When I was designing, I was really keeping in mind the types of things you do during these months,” she explains. “You’re going to a lot of holiday parties, and you want to look festive and still put together. So we had a lot of fun with that,” adding fun prints and details like delicate bows to various pieces.

While looks from her line are on our wish list, FabSugar wondered, what’s on hers? “My wish list for family is always something I can eat, drink or burn,” she says. “I don’t need a lot of things. So a nice scented candle, or a bottle of wine, or just treats — those are always fun.” Tell us: What’s on your holiday wish list?

YOU ASKED, WE FOUND: STAR LOOKS

Got a burning beauty question for Lauren Conrad? You’re in luck, because the bestselling author plans to address your every last quandary.

“I am currently working on Lauren Conrad Beauty,” she reveals on her personal website. ”Got questions about hair, makeup, skincare, manicures … or anything else beauty-related? Leave them in the comments below,” she requests. “I will check out all of your questions and work with my team to answer your beauty conundrums in the pages of my new book!”

Of course, this is not the first time the star has used her blog as a platform to interact with fans. She often polls readers regarding which hairstyles she should try next, even posting a tutorial for the “Vintage Vixen” hairstyle she sported at last night’s second annual Autumn Party (above). She’s also planning to launch a beauty line based on her site, TheBeautyDepartment.com, soon.

However, one question remains: How is her hair the color of cotton candy one day, her natural hue the next?

– Justine Harman

WEIGH IN ON MORE HAIR CHANGES IN: WHAT’S HER BEST HAIR?

We already knew Lauren Conrad was a peach, and now, her hair color matches her perky personality. The former reality starlet dyed the ends of her hair peach last week, after asking her Beauty Department readers if she should take the pinky plunge.

The designer (and soon-to-be beauty mogul) Tweeted some pictures of the process Wednesday, showing the results on her website Friday. Her look was inspired by an orange hue she saw on the runway, and jokingly, a peach-haired My Little Pony.

This change caps off a year of major hair changes for Conrad: in January she went brunette, returning to her golden hue in June. In July, she made another change, dip-dying the ends of her hair in shades of pink, blue, green and purple. A few weeks later she made the look more subtle, showcasing just a few hints of blue. Then after a return to blonde, she picked the current peach shade.

There are still 10 weeks left in the year — think she’ll change her look again soon?

VOTE NOW ON STAR HAIR CHANGES

Lauren Conrad seems to have found the trick to making great clothes. “Design selfishly,” Conrad, who has a self-titled collection for Kohl’s as well as her new Paper Crown line, tells PEOPLE. Her motto for creating each season’s signature look? “You know what you’d want to buy — design it.” Simple enough.

“I love floor-length pieces in pretty fabrics,” continues the former reality star, who created a resort collection for Paper Crown full of maxi dresses in a variety of silhouettes. But for fall, she’s feeling leather — faux, that is. “You can find an alternative to leather or fur, so use it,” she says. “I like that faux leather has more stretch, so we did a legging, which I love.”

There’s a continuity in each season for each line that comes from Conrad’s own vision. “The look is soft, romantic, pretty,” she explains. And she’s also figured out that style isn’t just about looking good. “Dress in what makes you feel good about yourself too,” she advises.

The California girl isn’t only involved in fashion these days; she just finished a stint as a guest writer on Forbes.com and recently announced plans to launch a beauty line based on her popular new website, TheBeautyDepartment.com.

Conrad was photographed at her Laguna Beach home for PEOPLE’s Oct. 10 issue (on newsstands now). To see her personal photos from the shoot — part of which took place in her favorite room, her “beachy and glamorous” bathroom! — see below and head to LaurenConrad.com.

Courtesy Lauren Conrad

–Blaine Zuckerman

SEE MORE CELEBRITY FAVORITES IN ‘I REALLY LOVE MY DENIM …’

Who runs the style world? These days, it often feels like one girl: Lauren Conrad. In addition to her LC Lauren Conrad line for Kohl’s and her burgeoning Paper Crown collection — not to mention two successful websites, laurenconrad.com and thebeautydepartment.com — the former reality starlet is planning to launch a beauty line.

“Right now, one of my main objectives is to expand thebeautydepartment.com into a product line,” she wrote on Forbes.com this week, in her final guest post for the site’s lifestyle section. “I am currently researching all of my options, but should begin the process of executing an actual line very soon — stay tuned!”

The Beauty Department — a joint venture with her longtime hairstylist, Kristin Ess, and her makeup artist, Amy Nadine — launched in April of this year, featuring video and photo how-tos on everything from manicures and facials to blowouts and braids.

“Growing up, I never really learned how to do my hair and makeup correctly and the results weren’t always great,” Conrad said at the time. “Our goal with The Beauty Department is to provide girls and young women with a basic how-to of simplified versions of popular trends and styles that they can recreate themselves.” Tell us: Would you buy beauty products by Conrad?

–Kate Hogan

LEARN STAR BEAUTY TIPS AND TRICKS!

Fashionistas dying for a taste of Lauren Conrad‘s newest clothing venture, Paper Crown, are in luck: it’s in stores, including Nordstrom and Planet Blue, as of late July. The collection is full of signature Conrad styles like girlie dresses, tailored shorts and jackets, and no one is more excited about it than the designer herself.

“I’m having so much fun with it,” she told PEOPLE at a recent Alice + Olivia bash in West Hollywood when asked about the line and her lower-priced collection for Kohl’s, LC Lauren Conrad. “We wanted to do something that’s just really well fitting, staples that you can build around.”

The holiday collection is up next, which Conrad said was designed with certain occasions, like holiday parties, in mind, and pieces will continue to be in the $140-$300 range. “I consider them investment pieces,” she said. “We wanted them to be very classic feeling but still special.” Tell us: Have you shopped Paper Crown?

–Alex Apatoff

GET STAR LOOKS FOR LESS

Get your stilettos ready! Fashion’s Night Out is returning to the country’s most stylish cities on Sept. 8, promising hours of couture, celebrities and probably a little champagne.

In New York City, stars will be everywhere celebrating the start of fashion week. Catch Victoria’s Secret models like Alessandra Ambrosio and Lily Aldridge at the brand’s SoHo store; watch a performance by Joe Jonas for Simon Spurr at Saks Fifth Avenue; meet Kate Walsh at Sephora in Times Square; join the Real Housewives of New York City at New York & Company; kick back with Ivanka Trump at Lord & Taylor; cozy up to Charisma model Eddie Cibrian at Bloomingdale’s; and shop with Rachel Zoe at Bloomie’s, too.

If you’re in Los Angeles, catch Lauren Conrad promoting Paper Crown at Nordstrom (some lucky shoppers will even have a styling session with her!). Favorite spots like REISS, Kitson, Stella McCartney and alice + olivia will be throwing parties, too. And Beverly Hills’s famed Rodeo Drive will turn into a fashion-filled carnival, complete with a towering Ferris wheel.

Don’t live on a coast? Cities from Chicago and Little Rock to Phoenix and Omaha will be celebrating, too, and e-tailers are getting in on the fun as well, offering online parties and special Fashion’s Night Out discounts to shoppers. For more information, visit fashionsnightout.com. Tell us: How will you celebrate Fashion’s Night Out this year?

–Kate Hogan

YOU ASKED, WE FOUND: STAR LOOKS

Kate Bosworth is taking the breakup blues to a new level by rocking turquoise-tinged strands.

Following the lead of fellow singleton Lauren Conrad, the star debuted the new hue Wednesday night, weeks after her split from Alexander Skarsgard. But unlike Conrad, Bosworth’s look is more overt, calling to mind the graduated dip-dye from Proenza Scouler’s spring 2010 runway show. Always the trendsetter, could she be taking the high-fashion look mainstream?

As it turns out, the actress dyed her hair for a photo shoot earlier in the day. BeautyHigh.com reports that Bosworth let stylist Luke Chamberlain color her locks, instead of adding extensions, as he’d intended.

We’re digging this bolder Bosworth, but want to know what you think! Tell us: Would you ever dip-dye your hair?

–Justine Harman

VOTE ON MORE STAR STRANDS IN ‘WHAT’S HER BEST HAIR?’

It’s been quite the colorful year for Lauren Conrad — hair-wise, that is. After dying her signature California blonde locks brunette in January, she went for a change in May, letting fans decide on her next hair hue. Soon after, she was back to blonde, but following her breakup from boyfriend Kyle Howard, she chose to mix things up again, dying the tips of her hair in a rainbow of colors like blue, purple, pink and green (another choice made via a fan poll). A few days later, she bid adieu to the look — but Tuesday night, at a party in Hollywood celebrating the launch of the HTC Status Social, the former reality starlet debuted yet another style: subtle blue highlights on the ends of her hair. “Attempting a more wearable version of colored tips for the evening … Compliments of @Kristin_Ess,” she Tweeted Tuesday night, crediting her stylist pal with the cool look. We think Conrad’s hair always looks lovely, but want to know what you think. Tell us: What are your thoughts on Conrad’s blue-tipped hair?

VOTE NOW ON STAR HAIR CHANGES!

Courteney Cox knows that the best hair dye can be picked up at a drugstore for $9 — but some products, like Edward Bess eye shadow, are worth the splurge. In the spirit of sharing her favorite tips and tricks, the actress is writing a new blog for xoJane.com, the latest creation of former Jane and Sassy founding editor Jane Pratt, where she’ll post at least twice a month, her rep confirms to PEOPLE. (Estranged husband David Arquette created a T-shirt for the site earlier this year.) As the designated home editor for the site, her column focuses on her lifestyle essentials, such as Clairol Natural Instincts Brass-Free For Brunette ($8.99), her favorite hair treatment for “dark-haired girls who don’t like red hues coming through.” She also revealed her Edward Bess products-of-choice, Ultra-Luminous Eye Shadow ($30) and Sheer Satin Cream Compact ($60), in her first post. But she’s not the first celeb style icon who’s taken her know-how to the blogosphere. Gwyneth Paltrow updates fans with lifestyle advice, workout plans and recipes on her online newsletter, GOOP.com, and former reality star Lauren Conrad launched thebeautydepartment.com in April, where she dishes out details on the latest in hair and makeup. With three celebrity beauties offering star-worthy beauty advice, tell us: Who’s your go-to? –Alison Schwartz

Just one month after Lauren Conrad went back to blonde, she’s changing her hair color on us again. The former reality starlet added pink, purple, green and blue to the ends of her tresses over the weekend, sharing the results on her new style site, The Beauty Department. “You voted and I did it,” she wrote to fans, referencing a poll she posted days before. “Thanks for playing.” Conrad — whose fans voted 60 percent to 40 percent in favor of the new hues — did a similar poll when debating whether or not to go from brunette to blonde earlier this year. Though the change is a big departure from the newly single star’s usual straight-and-narrow way of self-styling, we have to say her hair looks pretty cool! Tell us: What do you think of Conrad’s latest hair update?

VOTE ON STAR HAIR CHANGES IN ‘WHAT’S HER BEST HAIR?’

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

–Love the Duchess of Cambridge‘s Epsom Derby look? Get all the details! READ IT

–Kate stuns a second time, sparkling on the red carpet at an ARK gala in London. READ IT

–Reality darling Lauren Conrad returns to blonde after a brief stint as a brunette. READ IT

–Bride-to-be Sherri Shepherd admits she lied about her wedding dress size in hopes of dropping a few pounds. READ IT

–Lady Gaga bares almost all — on purpose — while receiving a CFDA Award in N.Y.C. READ IT

You voted, and she listened! After asking fans to weigh in on her next hair hue, Lauren Conrad is back to blonde. “It’s much lighter now,” she told Chelsea Handler Monday night on E!’s Chelsea Lately. “I did a poll on my website I just launched, of whether I should stay brown or go blonde, and blonde won.” The former reality starlet went brunette in January, sporting a deep color touched with a few blonde highlights. Conrad explained that her newly dyed locks — a blend of different colors — were meant to emulate surfer-girl hair. “It’s as if the sun did it, and not chemicals,” she joked. “You frame it blonde, then you do dark [on top], so it grows out naturally.” Wearing a dress from her Paper Crown holiday collection, Conrad revealed that she’s currently writing the first in her second series of three books — and needed to wrap it up. “My manuscript was due today,” she shared. Tell us: Do you prefer Conrad as a blonde or brunette?

VOTE ON STAR HAIR CHANGES IN ‘WHAT’S HER BEST HAIR?’

She became famous as a sun-kissed California blonde, then (pleasantly!) surprised us a little when she went brunette in January. Now, Lauren Conrad is debating hair color choices again — and she wants your help. The former reality star took to her new style site, The Beauty Department, to poll friends and fans about her next big change. “Lauren and I have been talking it over and we love both colors so much,” Conrad’s longtime hairstylist Kristin Ess writes in the accompanying post. “We can’t really decide on which way to go next. Back to blonde or should we do a new spin on brown? HELP!” What do you think? To weigh in, head to The Beauty Department.

VOTE ON CELEB HAIR HUES IN ‘WHAT’S HER BEST HAIR?’

Her latest foray into the reality TV world didn’t work out, but fear not, Lauren Conrad is anything but bored. The former MTV starlet, author and budding fashion designer today launched thebeautydepartment.com, a website full of hair and makeup tips she’s procured over the years. The photo and video how-tos star Conrad, plus her longtime hairstylist, Kristin Ess, and her makeup artist, Amy Nadine. Conrad says that before joining forces with her glam team, she often turned to fashion magazines for beauty help — often unsuccessfully. “Growing up, I never really learned how to do my hair and makeup correctly and the results weren’t always great,” Conrad said in a release. “Our goal with The Beauty Department is to provide girls and young women with a basic how-to of simplified versions of popular trends and styles that they can recreate themselves.” The site covers hair and makeup basics, as well as health-related beauty topics, like sun protection. Readers can also submit questions, which the trio will attempt to answer online. Tell us: Will you check out thebeautydepartment.com? –Kate Hogan

CATCH UP ON ALL THE LATEST LAUREN CONRAD STYLE NEWS

Her latest reality TV project may not have been “a perfect fit,” but Lauren Conrad‘s most recent fashion endeavor certainly seems to jibe. On the heels of the success of her affordably priced LC Lauren Conrad for Kohls collection, Cali’s golden girl is introducing a contemporary brand called Paper Crown. Comprised of pieces seemingly inspired by Conrad’s own highly coveted wardrobe, the line includes boyfriend blazers, silky blouses and breezy maxi dresses, ranging in price from $140 to $300. And while the collection is still in the midst of sales, vendors should be announced by the end of March. Tell us: What do you think of Lauren Conrad’s Paper Crown collection?–Justine Harman
CATCH UP ON MORE CELEBRITY DESIGNER NEWS

Courtesy of Paper Crown