14 : December : 2010 : InStyle.com What's Right Now

Live From the State Department’s “Diplomacy at Home for the Holidays” Event

Dec 14, 2010 @ 5:45 pm

InStyle partnered with the State Department to decorate the Diplomatic Reception Rooms for the holidays, where this afternoon Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hosted her annual “Diplomacy at Home for the Holidays” event honoring the families of State Department employees who are stationed in foreign places without their loved ones. “For those who are serving far from home every day, but particularly during the holiday season, we know that this is a big sacrifice; we know how much you miss them, and we thank you because you’re also serving our country because of what they are doing,” Clinton told the attendees. For the rooms, InStyle brought on famed event planner David Stark to create the elegant holiday decorations, where Clinton—who wore a chic, red tailored blazer—invited all of the children in attendance to take a photo with her. “The biggest surprise is that there are real people here behind all the politics and diplomacy that happens in this building,” Stark told us. “Everybody loves the holidays, good cheer, and optimism.” Click here to see the elegant and modern holiday décor Stark designed for the State Department.

Red-Carpet Trend: Stars Dripping in Gold

Dec 14, 2010 @ 4:18 pm

Getty Images

Gold dresses have been popping up on a lot of red carpets in the past few weeks, and the look is so shiny that it’s hard not to notice. Katy Perry wore a strapless gold Georges Chakra dress to the Grammy Nominations Concert Live, Olivia Wilde wowed at the Hollywood premiere of TRON: Legacy in a liquid gold Emilio Pucci gown, Anne Hathaway attended the Love and Other Drugs Sydney premiere in this Oscar De La Renta gold sequin minidress, and Shakira wore a gold, one-shoulder number to the Bambi Awards. If you want to try this festive look yourself, take a cue from these stars and keep your accessories to a minimum.

MORE:
• See the hottest color for 2011.
• Shop the InStyle Holiday Trends Boutique.
• View the season’s must-have dress.

— Anne L. Fritz

Courtesy of Versace

See January Jones’s Sexy Shots for Versace

Dec 14, 2010 @ 3:45 pm

January Jones’s Spring 2011 Versace ads are finally out, and the results are steamy! Fashion photographer Mario Testino shot the 32-year-old Mad Men actress in the nude, sporting only minimal Versace accessories, like heels, a bag and sunglasses. “I am always on the lookout for the next Versace blonde,” Donatella Versace said in a press release. “In January, I feel I have found a perfect Versace woman for the 21st century. She is chic and elegant but deeply sensual too—it is a dramatic combination.” View the gallery to see some of Jones’s most memorable Versace looks.

MORE:
• See Mario Testino’s royal engagement photos

— Anne L. Fritz

See the Photos

Courtesy Photo (3); Wenn; Getty Images (2)

Julianne Moore for Tom Ford, Doonan’s Quirky Holiday Ideas, and More!

Dec 14, 2010 @ 2:00 pm

1. More photos from Tom Ford’s secret fashion show leaked and they’re fabulous (like Julianne Moore strutting on the runway!). [High Snobette]

2. Simon Doonan of Barneys New York and his quirky holiday decorating tips will make any Scrooge crack a smile. [Slate]

3. Congrats to our January cover girl Gwyneth Paltrow, who received the 2,427th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday. [E! Online]

4. Cher accessorized her outfit for the London premiere of Burlesque with a fiery orange wig. [Coco Perez]

5. For every purchase of the Airwalk Hope Shoe through February, Payless will donate a pair of shoes to a child in need. [Glamour]

6. The largest H&M ever is being built in Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Of course, Vegas. [Grazia Daily]

Jessica Alba’s Hairstylist Dishes on Her New Modern Bob

Dec 14, 2010 @ 1:36 pm

Getty Images; Startraks Photo

Jessica Alba‘s new haircut (photo at right) may look like a simple trim, but according to her hairstylist Renato Campora, the cut is actually very deliberate and incredibly precise. “I wanted to give her a modern take on the bob,” Campora told us. “The hair was meant to fall under her chin but above her shoulders. That is the perfect length to frame her face and still allow us to do updos if we want.” Campora first cut the star’s hair over the weekend, but in preparation for her appearance on The Jimmy Fallon Show to promote Little Fockers yesterday, he decided to take it just a touch shorter. “Jessica trusts me, so she let me do it,” the Frederic Fekkai stylist said. “This is a new direction for her and she’s incredibly pleased with the cut.” (Indeed! Alba posted a picture on her Twitter yesterday afternoon with the message: “New haircut tweeples -thx @renatocampora.”) What do you think of the star’s swingy bob? Tell us in the comments below.

MORE:
Try on Jessica Alba’s best hairstyles with our Hollywood Makeover Tool!

— Hannah Morrill

Decades Two.1

Balmain’s Nautical Sequins

Dec 14, 2010 @ 1:20 pm

The following is a guest post from one of our favorite blogs, DecadesTwo.1.

The editors of DecadesTwo.1 go through every piece of clothing shown by their consignors and hand-pick the best items for its Editor’s Picks section. (Great gig, right?!) Therefore, this section is bound to be full of great treasures, like this sequined striped sailor top by Balmain. With its sharp shoulders and decked-out sequins, this is a luxurious take on a sartorial staple.

Getty Images

2011 Golden Globe Nominations Announced

Dec 14, 2010 @ 12:17 pm

Josh Duhamel, Katie Holmes and Blair Underwood convened in Beverly Hills early this morning to announce the 68th Annual Golden Globe nominations, and so many of our favorite stylish women received nods! While it’ll be the first time at the Globes for some nominees—Jennifer Lawrence (nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama for Winter’s Bone) and Mila Kunis (Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for Black Swan)—many have been to the Globes before, like Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman, Michelle Williams and Nicole Kidman, so we can’t wait to see what they will wear to the big event on January 16th. In the meantime, check out their previous Golden Globes gowns in the gallery.

MORE:
• Check out InStyle‘s Golden Globes Central.
• See the costumes from Black Swan.
• Check out the complete list of Golden Globe nominations here.

— Anne L. Fritz

See the Photos

Our January Cover Girl Is… Gwyneth Paltrow!

Dec 14, 2010 @ 9:45 am

Michelangelo Di Battista

Gwyneth Paltrow showed off her singing voice by guest-starring on Glee this season, but turns out, that was only a warm-up! The Oscar-winning actress, GOOP.com editor, mother of two and our January cover girl turned herself into a full-blown singer for her role in the upcoming movie Country Strong, in theaters January 7th. “I’ve never prepared for anything more in my life,” Paltrow told us. “There was studying with an accent coach, learning to play guitar, and of course the singing. My voice didn’t have any power or strength at all, and I wanted to try and sing properly.” And she’s proud of how it turned out: “You know, last night when I was watching the film, I thought, This is the best job I’ve ever done,” she said. “Normally I can’t stand to see myself, but with this film I felt like it all came together, all that hard work and putting myself in such an uncomfortable position where I felt so scared of how I was going to do it. I’m happy with how it turned out. I am.” For more of our exclusive interview with Paltrow, check out the January issue of InStyle, on newsstands Friday.

— Sharon Clott