Vanessa Minnillo

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Like every girl, Vanessa Minnillo is obsessed with shoes. So how many pairs does she have? “Too many,” she tells PEOPLE at the Reebok Shoe and Apparel event. “I don’t have any numbers, but I do know that my closet is overflowing — and now I have to put them in the guest room!” Vanessa defends a woman’s right to shoes as a way to express her personality. Her motto? Different shoes for different moods. And how does live-in boyfriend Nick Lachey feel about her obsession? The singer may be like just about every other guy when it comes to himself, owning only black and brown dress shoes and multiple pairs of sneakers. But when it comes to her, he definitely doesn’t mind high heels taking over their living quarters. Vanessa even calls on him sometimes when selecting her footwear, but that doesn’t mean she always follows his advice. “He will go, ‘I think that one’, but then I will go with the other one!” she laughs.

Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage; Dean M/Gabo/Bauer-Griffin

We all know that Lauren Conrad and Audrina Patridge have enviable style — and we can’t stop drooling over their glossy Treesje bags. Lauren totes her black patent Asher Grande, $680, from coast to coast while traveling, and switches to the smaller black patent Metro Clutch , $340, for nights out on the town (we’ve spotted Lindsay Lohan and Vanessa Minnillo with the same style!) Audrina opts for the Divino Grande, $705, in black patent with a girly ruffle detail. We love Treesje’s vibrant colors and shiny patent finishes, and most styles can easily get you from day to night. Check out how to get the girls’ bags and check out our picks for Great Bags Under $100 for some similar — and way more affordable– looks.

Photo: Dara Kushner/INF

Can you please tell me who makes the black dress that Vanessa Minnillo was wearing at the opening of Atelier? Where can I find it? I love it. Thanks! –Kelly.

To celebrate the opening of the New York City apartment building that she and boyfriend Nick Lachey call home, Vanessa Minnillo kept it simple and classic in a little black dress by Catherine Malandrino. Vanessa’s scalloped halter dress is actually on sale for $245 (down from $326) at neimanmarcus.com. Or get the look for less with this black Issac Mizrahi for Target party dress, $25, at target.com.

Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage

A far cry from her cute plaid shorts and casual L.A. look, Vanessa Minnillo turned city chic for a party at NYC’s trendy Big Drop Boutique thrown to celebrate her Lucky cover and new cosmetic line Flirt!. The ET correspondent, showed off her fabulous legs in a Laila Azhar silk jersey side cowl halter dress and Giuseppe Zanotti Design jeweled heels. Get Vanessa’s dress at bigdropnyc.com, $475, and be sure to check out our picks for her look at much more affordable prices.

Get the Look:
Jersey chain strap dress, $23, forever21.com

Strappy jeweled ankle strap sandal, $40, victoriassecret.com

Vince Flores / celebrity photo; London Entertainment/Splash News online

Staying stylish in the summer can be a challenge — less clothes can definitely translate into less effort. But shorts are always a great way of keeping cool, and adding in a dash of preppy plaid is just enough to take them from functional to fun. Pair them with a trendy summer scarf like Heroes‘ Tawny Cypress or with layered tanks like Vanessa Minnillo. Here are a few of our favorites to get you started:

Splurge with Joie “Little Thoughts” Plaid Shorts, $160 at bloomingdales.com or Vince Laundered Plaid Cuffed Shorts, $109 at shopbop.com.

Go straight to the preppy source with these Sconset Patchwork madras shorts, $58 at jcrew.com.

Get the look for a steal with these Madras Rollup Shorts, $35 at %20womens&productId=2331_3791″ target=”_blank”>ae.com, or these Plaid Shorts, $18 at forever21.com.

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Sunset Photo and News

From the sand in the Bahamas to the streets of L.A., Vanessa Minnillo’s bright summer style has been catching our eye. We love how she dressed up a casual tank and denim bermuda shorts with girly heels and a big bright bag to match. The best part is Vanessa’s look doesn’t have to cost you a fortune — we’ve recreated her whole outfit for $101! Pair this sparkle stripe racer-back tank, $12, from urbanoutfitters.com with these denim capris, $22, at forever21.com. Don’t forget to accessorize with Mossimo’s red buckle tote, $25, at target.com and these comfy red wedge slides with bow by Unisa, on sale for $42 (from $69), at macys.com. How is that for bargain shopping?

Click here to see our Ultimate Guide to Summer Style. Everything you need to beat the heat — from the hottest shoes to the coolest shades and the sexiest bikinis!

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We’ve had some issues with Vanessa Minnillo’s wardrobe in the past — too tight, too shiny, too sequined. But last night at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation Hot Pink Party in N.Y.C, Vanessa looked absolutely elegant, from her sideswept updo to her bib-front lace Monique Lhuiller gown to her Swarovski clutch. At the event, she told PEOPLE that she was moving on from TRL because she didn’t “want to be 48, saying, ‘Hey kids, now it’s Sean Preston Spears’s video,’” so maybe this heralds a new, more grown-up version of Vanessa. With her attention focused on her new makeup line for Flirt, which she calls “foolproof”, we hope to see Vanessa keep up the stylishly good work! Tell us: What do you think of Vanessa’s new look? Like it better or miss the old version?

Click here to discuss Vanessa’s style in Off the Rack.

Photo:Charles Sykes/Rex USA

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