Fashionator - a Blog by the Beauty & Style Editor at iVillage

On the newest addicting reality TV show, MTV's Styl'd, five sassy junior assistant stylists compete to land a spot at the Margaret Maldonado Agency in Los Angeles, CA. The show follows 'em for two months as they dress celebs like Kim Kardashian (fab) and Tyler Hilton (drool).

We're three or four episodes in, and in true reality style, the drama is already escalating: one mondo broken rule, one stylist fired (and now back on probation), one crashed car, and one potential no-no relationship! We're at the edges of our seats, and we love it.

We caught up with three of the junior stylists--Tara Ahmadi, Gary Samulian and Cody Conti--and in the spirit of the holidays, asked them for their best advice on how to survive this holiday season and stay stylish with the long winter ahead:

What are 5 key pieces every woman should have in their closets this winter?

Tara: This winter, every woman should bring out the rouge and dig into her closet for anything that evokes a little Alexis Carrington. Following that, a mohair cardigan, a leather jacket, thigh-high leather boots, a tuxedo jacket and a white mini-dress will get her through even the harshest of winter nights.

Cody: A classic little black dress, a classic black or grey suit, two staple skirts--one short and one long--a pea coat or vintage-inspired blazer, and great shoes. You only need two pairs--great boots and classic high-heels.

Gary: Cashmere pashmina, your favorite pair of dark denim either baggy or skinny, a conic leather jacket, grey suede ankle boots and a white T-shirt.

Do you have any tips on how to stand out when wearing so many bulky layers?

Cody: Keep it tailored and simple. Otherwise, all styles of knits and cashmere sweaters, crew neck, turtleneck, hoodie, or tunic will keep you trendy. I recommend this season's pea coat with a warm scarf as a stylish top layer. Just stay away from a long belted sweater, especially over layers--it tends to make everyone look like a sack of potatoes!

Gary: It's so fun to layer. Experiment with different colors like gray, navy, black and taupe. And, mix materials like suede with cashmere and wool.

What kind of statement accessories do you recommend that are both affordable and wearable?

Tara: I recommend women try fun statement accessories like chains. Body chains, a la Bliss Lau, are unexpected underneath a plunging neckline or backless dress. There are many DIY versions on Etsy.com for cheap. Also, boot chains are another affordable and wearable way to jazz up even the most simple pair of shoes. You can even use vintage necklaces or chains from Home Depot to make a plain-jane boot into a one of a kind piece!

Gary: For a statement accessory, I always think it's best to keep it simple. I really like skinny, layered rings, and also to mix metals like gold, rose-gold, silver, and black gold.

What advice do you have for women to decide which trends to invest in?

Cody: Pick up trends that are classic and priceless--ones that will never go out of style. And always have fun with accessories!

Tara: I think women should invest in wearable pieces, not necessarily trends. If a trend can seamlessly translate into a woman's wardrobe and personal style, it is worth splurging on. If not, she should save her money to build a strong basic wardrobe foundation and then play around with cheap high street trendy pieces.

What, in your opinion, is the ultimate fail-safe holiday party outfit?

Gary: My ultimate holiday outfit would be a black leather pant, with a stacked platform boot. I would add a fun colored tweed jacket, with a printed festive blouse underneath. Then layer on the jewelry and accessories, and top it off with a fur shawl!

Cody: The little black dress. This kind of dress will emphasize your best features. Also, you can use great accessories to make it look different and fun. If you truly want to mix it up, I'm loving olive green and purple for this season--don't be afraid to add a little color.

Personally, we love the body chains and the olive green. To see these junior stylists in action, tune in to MTV's Styl'd on Tuesdays at 11 p.m. EST!

--Venus Tsang

Step aside, full lips and tan skin. These days, it's all about drama in the eyes.

Sadly, I don't have much going on in the lash area--mine are kind of thin and sparse. Not to worry--I compensate with lots of liner and mascara. I'd be lost without my eye makeup, that's for sure.

For those of you who want a more intense lash solution, LashFood is another option. The natural conditioning stimulant can make your lashes thicker, stronger and more beautiful in 2 to 4 weeks. It has breakthrough natural ingredients, like Biotin (an essential vitamin), Arginine (a natural amino acid) and herbal extracts that help promote the natural growth and strength of eyelashes and eyebrows. Simply apply the serum at night along the root of the lashes, which shouldn't disrupt your daily application of makeup or skincare.

Get the serum for $129, the eyeliner for $28 and the mascara for $34 at LashFood.com, or you can take your chances and try to win it. We're giving away two prize packs with the three products to give you sweet lashes! Just e-mail fashionatorcontest@gmail.com your full name, mailing address and tell us one thing that's in your makeup bag and why you love it in order to enter.

See the official rules below for how to enter.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open only to legal residents who are 18 or older. Commencing on November 19, 2009 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time ("ET") and continuing through November 23, 2009 at 3 p.m. ET, iVillage will give away two (1) LashFood serum (2) LashFood eyeliner (3) LashFood mascara to the first two people to submit his or her full name, mailing address and what's in his or her makeup bag to fashionatorcontest@gmail.com. Emails must include "LashFood" in the subject line. Limit one prize per household. Total retail value of all prizes: $382. Winners will be notified by email. Offer valid while supplies last. Prizes selected by iVillage in its sole discretion.

Good luck, beauty mavens! Check back on Monday for another fab giveaway!

--Ysolt

I don't think there's any celebrity who has cleaned up better than Nicole Richie. Remember The Simple Life? (I watched every single episode.) She was a riot, and a bit of a liability. Since then, she has pulled herself together nicely and transformed into a fabulous designer, not to mention an even more fabulous mom. After creating her jewelry line, House of Harlow 1960, named after her daughter, Richie also developed a chic maternity line and a shoe collection--all of which are affordable to non-celebs!

With such a busy life, and now, with two kids in tow, Richie manages to balance it all while staying in style. Her wardrobe staples and go-to pieces are practical, easy and gorgeous. From maxi dresses to oversized cardigans, from fitted blazers to flat leather boots, moms and non-moms can learn a style lesson or two from her.

Shop her jewelry line now at Bebe.com. Pieces start at $38.

--Venus Tsang

You guys, I D-I-E. Rumor has it that stylist Taylor Jacobson is leaving Rachel Zoe Corporation. No surprise here. We should have seen it coming since Taylor was always complaining on every episode of season two. She didn't get to go to Paris Fashion Week, and was never seen with a smile on her face, but for some reason this was still a shock! In the season finale, Taylor was promoted, but maybe that wasn't enough. She still has bigger dreams.

According to Fashionista.com, Taylor sent a "moving on" e-mail on Friday that went something like this: "After four amazing years at Rachel Zoe Corporation. I'm saddened and exhilarated at the same time to announce my departure. After much thought and consideration, I have decided to take the challenging leap to go off and style on my own."

Ack! On the other hand, a part of us is super-stoked for Taylor. We're exhilarated by the fact that she's leaving, though we'll miss her on the Bravo reality TV show, The Rachel Zoe Project, come season three. We know she'll do great things--she's so incredibly organized and dedicated. How will RZ Corp. function without her? But then again, now there's an opening! Maybe you're interested in becoming her replacement?

Best of luck, Tay-Tay! We'll miss seeing your super-fabulous outfits!

--Venus Tsang

Oprah mentioned Spanx awhile back and the world turned upside down. Well--not really, but women everywhere started to claim that this undergarment is a godsend. Really, ladies? Don't crucify me for saying this, dolls (errr, Spanx supporters), but I don't get shapewear's appeal. (Sorry, Oprah!)

My Reasons

1. Wearing a minimizer is painful. Yeah, yeah, some might say those high heels are just as painful. My feet might ache in them, but I draw the line at suffocation. A girl's gotta breathe.
   
   
2. Shapewear gets rid of curves. And sorry, stick figures, I'm a huge fan of curves. Why minimize them when they should really be embraced? I say, shake what your momma gave yah and let it all hang out in its rounded goodness.
   
   
3. You'll be presenting a facade. On the one hand, onlookers will think you're super-tight and tone everywhere--because yes, shapewear can work wonders--but in reality, it's all a lie. You may be duping your date! It's false advertising if you think about it.
   
   
4. When your clothes come off, it's not a pretty sight. Remember that scene from St. Elmo's Fire when Rob Lowe's character reached into the skirt of that one nerdy-esque girl--sorry, kind of graphic here--and discovered shapewear? He tugged at its end and the unsightly undie recoiled and smacked the poor girl's leg? Can you say humiliating?!

So maybe it's not such a good idea to wear it on a first, second or third date. You never know how frisky you might get. And if one thing leads to another, you may end up embarrassing yourself. You can, however, excuse yourself and take off the minimizer while you're in the bathroom, but how will you dispose of it? Or, do you just walk out of the bathroom with it in your hand? Uhhh yeah, because that's not weird.

I wondered if I was alone on this matter, so I asked my gal pals on their Spanx stance. Here's what they had to say...

Where Does the Fat Go?
"I'm not sure how I feel about Spanx. I mean, sure, they make your mid-section and your upper legs appear thinner, but then where does it all go? In my case, I feel like it gives me a roll on my thighs where they end. I could just be imagining it, but I can't help but be self-conscious about 'thigh rolls.' However, if you like them, then I think you should feel free to wear them whenever you want." --Jill Sabato

Oh, Bridget Jones
"I just remember that part in Bridget Jones' Diary when she was about to do the 'deed' with Daniel... He saw that she had on what just appeared to be enormous underwear! LOL!" --Iris Asuncion

Beware of Muffin Tops
"For me, Spanx for a date? Not so much a fan of that. But, I am a fan of wearing them when it's a formal engagement with plenty of photo ops, like a wedding. LOL. I'm with Jill though--it has to go somewhere, right? You just have to be sure a muffin top isn't amplified!" --Claudine Principe

On the Fence
"I agree with the girls. I am back and forth on the Spanx subject. My fear would be if someone put their hand on my waist, they would feel the outline, and may mistake it for a--gasp!--girdle (which it sort of is)!" --May Walker

Confused
"What are Spanx? Are Spanx like spandex? --Hannah Halili

Formal Occasions Only
"I have personally never worn Spanx, but I don't think I would chance it for a date based on what May said. I might consider wearing Spanx to a formal occasion though." --Liz Caputo

Where do you stand on Spanx? Discuss shapewear on the iVillage message board!

--Ysolt

It's safe to assume that by now, you've perused the Anna Sui for Target line and picked some items that are evocative of your favorite Gossip Girl character. (Blair, you can be my queen any day!) But before you start getting bored, listen to this: Jean Paul Gaultier is the next designer who's signed on to collaborate with Target for a line--it comes out in March 2010!

Earlier this month, during the Gaultier spring 2010 ready-to-wear runway show in Paris, the legendary French designer served up some seriously edgy designs. They included more denim and khaki than you probably know what to do with (such as a one-piece that is best described as a long-sleeve denim shirt under a strapless denim dress with a denim coat tail and a denim belt, and a similar contraption in khaki). Also, we saw lots of body-conscious ruching, shredded shirts, pants and some ferocious over-the-knee lace-up boots.

I realize that most (if not all?) of the aforementioned fashion is unwearable by people who are not 6-foot, size-2 models, but since the purpose of these Target designer collaborations is to cater to the general public, I'm so curious to see what he whips up for us regular folk.

It's not lost on me that Gaultier has that fabulous French training to make the most perfectly tailored blazers and divine red-carpet gowns, so I'm just going to cross my fingers and hope for the best!

In the meantime, don't forget to check out the Carlos Falchi for Target collection at Target.com after November 1!

--Venus Tsang

I don't know about you, but I'm super excited to see Sex and The City 2, especially because my daily dose of Samantha and Charlotte (my favorites) has been reduced to watching SATC reruns on TBS...

As I wait patiently for the movie to come out, I'll make due with this gorgeous photo taken of Kim Cattral and Miley Cyrus filming a red carpet scene in New York City. They were wearing identical dresses--how cute?! But each star accessorized their ensembles differently.

So who wore it better? I'm a little afraid of Miley's killer choker and dominatrix gloves. However, I love Kim's statement necklace (right). While it's a little much with her dress and belt, I feel like I could wear it with a white tee, jeans and a cardigan--it would look amazing.

I don't know where hers is from, but I found a similar piece at ShopTheLook.net for just $24! It's a similar color and baubles, and I can't wait to get my hands on it to spice up my wardrobe.

--Venus Tsang

Okay, I'll admit it -- I like Olivia Palermo. And despite MTV's best efforts to make her seem like the Wicked Witch of the (Upper) East compared to Gilda-esque Whitney, she's become a real-life Blair Waldorf, the high-society queen bee whom you end up rooting for in the end. Plus, she always looks fiercely flawless, even during this season's turf wars with Elle's PR director. So how does she do it? I got the scoop from The City's uptown girl on fall fashion, her to-die-for skin and, of course, the show:

What are your must-have items for fall?
Roberta Freymann's statement necklaces, designer Brian Reyes' gorgeous jewelry collection, Chloe's Gemma bag and Topshop's grey lace-up booties (pictured).

What makeup products can't you live without?
I can't give away all my secrets, but I am a huge fan of Guerlain and YSL products.

Do you shop online? What are some of your fave shopping and fashion sites?
I do buy some things online, mostly shoes because I know they'll fit. But there are so many great fashion sites out there -- WhoWhatWear.com, Style.com, WWD.com, Grazia.Daily.co.uk.

In one episode, we saw you shopping on Canal Street. Do you shop for bargains?
I always love a bargain, but I think it's easier to find a deal in a situation where you can negotiate prices. I've found great pieces at antique markets, flea markets or road shows.

Do you have any fashion regrets? Anything you've bought that you'll never wear?
I always try to buy things that I know will work with what I have in my closet, or something that I know I'll grow into.

Do you think you're portrayed accurately on the show?
I think that what you see of me on the show is a very small aspect of my life on the whole -- you only see me in a very limited capacity at work. I don't think that anyone can really get a true sense of what I'm like as a person by watching those few minutes I have on screen each week. And, of course, it's entertainment television, so things tend to get played up and dramatized. I don't think anyone really has that much drama in their everyday life!

Do you ever cringe, laugh or cry when you see yourself on the show?
I do cringe occasionally when I see something on screen that didn't play out quite the same way in real life, but it's a half-hour show and I realize there's not room for everything to make the final edit. The editing can get frustrating sometimes, but at the end of the day it's all for the sake of entertaining our viewers.

Are you friends with Whitney? Do you hang out with her?
Whitney and I don't really get the opportunity to hang out much. We're both so busy with work and filming, and then trying to catch up with our regular lives. But when we do see each other we are absolutely friendly. I enjoy running into her and catching up on how she's been.

--Michele Laufik

Hello, tutus, military jackets and funky high-top sneakers... for babies, toddlers and kids! Stella McCartney for GapKids has finally arrived, and fashion-y moms everywhere are stoked. "For years now I've wanted to create a collection for kids. It's really exciting for us to do a boys and girls collection with Gap for the first time. I think it has a mix of the playful and practical. I tried to create a whole kids wardrobe," says Stella McCartney. "There are pieces that are classic and sort of timeless and hopefully very chic, mixed with more playful and a little bit cooler pieces. It's a reflection of our brand and a great way to experience it."

The only snag, say some moms, is that the collection is a little steep compared to the other choices out there, like The Children's Place and Kohl's. "My son, who's four, is growing by the minute," says stylish mom, Iris Asuncion. "If I buy him an $80 sweater now, we'll only get a handful of months out of it--if we're lucky--and that's too much to spend on a seasonal item." It's not the wisest choice for many parents with growing toddlers--even for the fashion-forward ones who like to style their kids super-hip.

Regardless, many moms are loving the new children's clothes. Some are gaga over key pieces, like leopard print knits ($98) and velvet tuxedo jackets for girls ($78), and monster and superhero tees ($28) and signature corduroy pants ($58). And rumor has it that T-shirts in XLs and XXLs at various stores are out of stock with adults buying children's tops for themselves, according to Gap shoppers who went to the store yesterday to do the same!

What do you think of the collection? Love it or hate it?

--Ysolt

"Every man wants to be Don Draper and every woman wants to be with him," says Michele Laufik, iVillage producer and fan of AMC's Mad Men. If you want to live like a Mad woman, it's easy with some classic '60s lifestyle advice.

For one, you can bring back cocktail hour--here are recipes for a Tom Collins and an old-fashioned cocktail. You can also wear red lipstick, which is very old-Hollywood chic, yet so hot right now. And what goes better with crimson lips than a Mad woman body a la Betty Draper (who's played by January Jones)? "She was told by producers to gain weight... because they want a soft, voluptuous woman," adds Laufik.

Need some fabulous dresses to go with your curvy Mad woman body? We hunted and discovered affordable Mad Men style a la Shabby Apple's Manhattan collection...

From left:

Upper East Side: bright blue dress with pleats on skirt ($72 at ShabbyApple.com)

Washington Square Park: plain cranberry dress with pleats on skirt ($72 at ShabbyApple.com)

Fifth Avenue: brown and white giraffe print skirt and white shirt ($82 at ShabbyApple.com)

--Ysolt