HOTTER IN HOLLYWOOD

BE FINE: V-DAY TIPS FROM MARCELLAS

Our resident cultural attache, guest blogger and all-around romantic, Marcellas Reynolds, is back, ready to help y'all make this Valentine's Day one for the books. M, take it away...

You can do something normal for your lover like go to the Longs Drugs on the corner and buy a pre-printed, mass-produced card and whatever Gund teddy bear is shoved down your throat...or you be imaginative. Think outside the box. Do something extraordinary for the one you adore. I suggest you do what I'm doing for my men (yeah, I said men). I'm going to pair a romantic lyric from a song with a gift. Then, burn a CD tailor-made for that lover.

Here are five of the most romantic songs ever with a gift tailored to each. Without further flourish, here are my suggestion for a happy Valentine's Day:

The Faraway Lover: Call Me by Aretha Franklin

Armand Diradourian Travel Pillow - It comes in a variety of colors, is 100% cashmere, comes with an eye mask and both are lined in silk. No one wants to use the blanket and pillow given on the plane. This is a super luxe, super chic alternative. So as your love's neck and cheek nuzzles the soft cashmere and is engulfed in it's warmth they can't help but think of being in your arms.

The Seduction: Me & U by Cassie

It's nighttime, and you're gonna get it on. It's just the two of you. Set the scene.

Dom Perignon Champagne & Godiva Truffles - What could possibly be sexier? Dim the lights, take out a chilled bottle of champagne and feed your love the most decadent truffles on Earth. The way the truffles compliment the champagne is culinary magic. When two greats get together magic is made. Wine.com ships a vintage bottle of Dom and an 18 piece Godiva signature truffle box to you. At $199 it's an elegant steal.

The Introduction: Crush by Jennifer Paige

Sometimes you have to introduce yourself. Valentine's Day is the perfect day to tell that guy you're eying, it's so on.

Navy Bamboo Rings Flat Card by Boatman Geller - Everyone should have monogrammed note cards. They reek of class and sophistication. They are also practical. Use them as a Thank You card, calling card or just to send a friend a hello. In this case use it as a valentine's card. Find a romantic quote or song lyric and ask your object of desire "Will you be mine?" 50 for $96 at Lemontreepaperie.com.

Charlie Brown Valentine Be Mine Stationary - Be a big kid. No cartoon character is more romantic (or so gay) than Charlie Brown. Yeah he "pined" away for the the Little Red Haired Girl but you know he grew up and moved to NY with Schroder. Schroder plays for the NY Philharmonic and Chuck (as he goes by now) is a DM for Abercrombie & Fitch. Tell your crush you dig 'em with this adorable printable stationary. It's free at i-love-cartoons.com . Don't say I never gave you anything!

The Puppy Love: The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson

Kent Dualdrive Tandem - It seems silly but this is adorable. Yes it's made for two but this bike looks modern and ultra-cool. It's packed with features, including a low step-over frame for easy mounting and dismounting, a 21-speed Shimano drive train and alloy wheels. If you think the bicycle made for two is too kitschy/hokey then try matching cruisers. Schwinn makes several at a wide range of prices. You can find the Kent Tandem on-line for under $300.

The Proposal: At Last by Beyonce

When you found the one, nothing is more romantic than a Valentine's Day marriage proposal.

Garrard Half Eternity Band & 3 Stone Diamond & Platinum Ring - Established in 1735 Garrard is the oldest jewelery house in the world. It is home to the Crown Jeweler. If you want to make a statement go seriously old-school. Forget Tiffany's. Harry Winston? Eh… That's for Hollywood trash. I want to start a new trend; huge diamonds on men. And that Half Eternity Band? That's 5.19 carats. Price available upon request.

Don't worry readers I'm not buying anyone a ring. I'm still playing the field. Still desperately searching for the one. But when I find him, I'm ready! I know what boys want. And for Valentine's Day, boys (and girls) want a quirky, fun, thoughtful gift. If you wanna be my valentine, drop me a note at marcellas@marcellasreynolds.com. Happy Valentine's Day!

*M

A New Year, A New Style Hot Couture by Marcellas Reynolds

It's 2009. A new year is upon us. It's time to blissfully say goodbye to the past and herald a glorious new future. Here are a few of the things to crave in '09. It's always about now, new, next and here are the must haves!

Designers To Watch: The Elder Statesman. Designed by super-cute Greg Chait, yeah him, the one that was dating Mary-Kate, this is a collection of hand-spun 100% cashmere hats, hoodies, and sweaters and to-die-for cashmere blankets. My personal fave is the Baja Pullover Sweater which is total California cool. This kid with no design experience to speak of is becoming a fashion darling. Men's Vogue and Details have already profiled him.

Shipley & Halmos. Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos give you East Coast preppy with an ironic twist. The clothes are all about cloth and cut, and the aesthetic is a bit prepster, a lil nerdy and very quirky. Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos give you East Coast preppy with an ironic twist.  Think nerd-geek boy chic. Which leads us to the Jacket of The Moment which is the Shipley & Halmos Milton Jacket. Bomber jackets look amazingly fresh right now. For fall/winter layer them with cashmere sweaters and scarves. For spring wear the same jacket with a tank or vintage tee underneath and a pair of grey jeans.

The Pant of The Moment: www.bonobos.com. Yeah I said it; Bonobos. It's a cheesy on-line website that only sales pants. It pops up on my Facebook and now they are taking out ads in Details and GQ. I went, I surfed, I liked, I bought. Check out the Destros cut in "insanely opulent black herringbone cashmere." The site is cheesy. The names of the pants are cheesy. But these pants make your ass look rockin! I've got 3 pairs already.

The Shoe of The Moment: Jil Sander. Raf Simons is the current designer of the iconic brand. Normally I hate when a designer loses the rights to their own name but Raf has continued to push Jil's singular pure & precise, minimalist vision. The star of the Spring/Summer collection though wasn't the clothes but was the shoes. A tweak on classic themes like wing-tips and brogues. The misstep however was the heavy soled shoes. I guess on a shorter guy they could be good. On a guy with a big foot? Think Herman Munster.

The Watch of The Moment:

For Her: The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner. There is nothing sexier on a woman than a mans watch like say Sharon Stone. Forget the tiny lil jewel encrusted numbers, think big and expensive. And with Rolex it's strangely practical as Rolex is one of the few watches that holds it's value and even increases.

For Him: Nixon Ceramic Player Watch. It's white and cool. It feels retro and super modern all at the same time. Okay so $1,400 is a lot for a super trendy watch but hey it's cute as hell. If the white is too girly try the black.

The Bag of The Moment: Banana Republic Pebbled Leather Tote. Guys have stuff and you need a place to put it and a cool way to carry it. Put away that gym bag and for Christ sakes burn that duffel bag. This bag is so chic and cool it can take you from the gym to work, work to weekend and back again. It's cheap too… 100% leather and sporting a 100% cotton canvas lining with brass hardware at $230.00 it's a virtual steal.

So that dear readers should take you stylishly into 2009. With the economy in free-fall but a new President taking us into a new day it seems designers are giving the customer options that are at once classic yet hip and very cool. It's a great, great season for shopping and picking up things you'll want to wear over and over and over… Happy 2009!

M*
http://marcellasreynolds.com

Marcellas' Favorite Things Hot Couture by Marcellas Reynolds

www.marcellasreynolds.com

Time To Get Wet, Chic At The Beach Hot Couture by Marcellas Reynolds

Summer is full-on, flat out here. If you don't have that swimsuit body by now, guess what? You are way too late. It's time to step up to the plate and into summers hottest swim wear. And we gonna toss a few cute tees in and call it an outfit!

Andrew Christian Andy is as talented and as sexy as his designs. The line features 4 cuts: bikini, low cut, square cut and trunks. My fave is his Limited Edition AC Cross Low Cut. These suits are styles that Andrew produces in limited runs so when they are gone, they are gone! They feature a low waist cut with a contrast cross logo. And most importantly, they feature extra front lining!

Parke & Ronen is a super cool menswear line that is all about cut and color. The design duo uses quality fabrics and features exquisite tailoring. The line has a retro flavor that makes it uber-modern. The swimsuits come in 4 styles: bikini, 4” swim shorts, 8” swim shorts and snap shorts. I'm in love with the striped bikini!

Dsquared. Of course since this is me I have to do one over-the-top choice. This is the most amazing collection these boys have produced in ages. There is so much I want but we're talking swimsuits. The Dsquared suits are square cut swim trunks, colorful with stripes and patches, over-the-top and souped-up sexy. You need a body as great as the boys who worked them on the runway to work these!

And one for the girls:

Jungle Gurl! Remember those two words. This is a COOOLLLL line. These are one-of-a-kind, eco-friendly swimsuits made from recycled vintage garments. And the designer Natalie Galonka (model/actress/designer), is a babe! And she makes the suits for little ones too, so mommy and baby can both be equally chic.

Now that you have that sexy swimsuit you need a little something to pair it with. Even if you look amazing in your suit, there is a time and a place for everything and remember no one likes a show off. Toss on a cute tee and voilà! It's an outfit!

Aqua VI. Aqua VI is a fresh, artistic, surf inspired mens and womens sportswear line. The designer was once the creative director of Hurley. The super-lux tees are screen-printed with visions of ancient Europe, tropical paradises, anchors and nautical style. And they make killer hoodies too.

DaftBird. What do Zac Efron, Jessica Biel, Johnathan Rhys Meyers and Sharon Stone have in common? Aside from being hot and famous? They are all fans of one of the hottest t-shirt lines around, DaftBird. The super-soft spun cotton tees sport a sexy fit and a slightly deeper v-neck. These tees fit so well they seem custom made. I love the girls tee that can't decide if it's a tee or a dress. Either way it is perfect as a beach cover-up.

So there you have it. How to look Chic At The Beach. I do the work so you don't have to. Happy beach days!

marcellasreynolds.com

Outfest 2008: Opening Night Hot & Out by Hiko Mitsuzuka

Outfest 2008 kicked off last night at the Orpheum in downtown Los Angeles with the premiere of Breakfast with Scot.

The Laurie Lynd-directed comedy stars Tom Cavanagh and Ben Shenkman as a power couple who temporarily inherit an 11-year-old (the quite talented Noah Bernett) with a penchant for pink poodle belts, musical cinema and lacy fringe (that's just the beginning). The adorable film brought out much-needed laughs from the audience after they sat through 30-plus minutes of introductions and speeches, the first of which came from the lookin'-good Margaret Cho. Her opening was a passionate, and of course hysterical, speech about the historic times Californians are currently experiencing. Wedding registry jokes aside, Ms. Cho was a welcome boost of energy, a great way to start the evening.

Then, it was all about the afterparty.

A rotunda of bartenders was the centerpiece of the event, keeping the Absolut flowing throughout large lot that had been taken over by dancefloors, photobooths and comfy lounge spots. Yours truly, along with HIH's Editor-in-Chief (Michael Medico) and Managing Director (Corey Moore), had the pleasure of making new friends, meeting up with old ones (Kiss the Bride director C. Jay Cox, Grey's T.R Knight) and enjoying the fab festivities under the stars.

Darryl Stephens, Marcellas Reynolds, JP Calderone

Hot Volunteers of Outfest

l-r: Managing Director Corey Moore, fashion correspondent Marcellas Reynolds, Editor-in-Chief Michael Medico

Dancing the night away

The Men of Instinct Magazine: Senior Account Exec Doug Kushla, Kevin Connell and Editor-in-Chief Mike Wood

Photobooth Fun

Accessorize Yourself Hot Couture by Marcellas Reynolds

Just because it's summer does not mean that a man shouldn't look pulled together and polished. Accessories are the key to a sophisticated polished look. And they can also be an outfits undoing. What we know is this; women judge other women by their purses and their shoes. The first thing I notice about a man (other than his face, butt and pecs) is his shoes. Then his watch.

Let's talk the essential men's accessories; Watches. Shoes. Bags/totes. Sunglasses. Fragrance.

It is so important for a man to wear a good watch. That doesn't mean you must break the bank. When in doubt go big, go stainless. A good stainless watch from Timex to Tag Heuer to Rolex, can be worn sporty or dressed up. In the past few seasons companies like Diesel and Red Monkey have been doing funky watches in metal and leather. They each boast large even 60s/70s looking faces which read a bit hip and high-tech. Speaking of high-tech, if you are looking for something a little whimsical try a Casio G-Shock. I own two, one in baby blue and one in black. They are solar powered, feature 48-city world time, LED light, and a countdown timer.

Summer is a tough season for shoes. Most guys toss on a pair of Havaianas and blast out the door. If you must wear flip flops (which I view as giving up unless you are at the beach) please get a pedicure. And a foot and toe wax. There are few things worse than crusty, callused heels, overgrown toenails and hair on the tops of a man's feet and toes. Most importantly nothing is sexier than well-groomed feet. For summer go with a pair of slip-on sneakers. Not Vans, especially if you are over 18. Why not try classics from Izod or Sperry? Or go high-end chic with Marc by Marc Jacobs and Bottega Veneta or hip and trendy and yes, silver woven, by Boss Orange. Another super stylish option is to go old-school and try nylon Nike Cortese or Puma Anjans in a great color like dark red or baby blue with black. These work with everything from jeans to chinos to trousers to a suit. For anything else in summer don't stray from the basics. Suede brogues work. So do bucks and if you must wear hard shoes go classic with round-toed lace-ups or oxfords.

The man purse. No we don't refer to it as that! Every guy has to have a tote of some sort to carry their lives in. Summer is hard because with less layers; i.e. blazers or jackets, you have less pockets. Now you can go all-out-over-the-top-genius-glam and do the $65,000 crocodile-leather attache from Gucci. Okay who can do that? Or you can do the Prada black satchel bag with brown leather straps (LOVE!). It's $2,120 and lovely. The most utilitarian of all the bags is the messenger. Jack Spade makes a fantastic one. It's nylon so it's sturdy, has lots of pockets on the inside and is perfect to use to tote your laptop.

One must-have summer essential is a hot pair of sunglasses. Sunglasses, shades, specs, whatever you call them, you must have a pair. Actually you need a couple. Finding the right pair is easy. First look at the shape of your face. Round faces should stay away from too round. Look for styles that are angular or rectangle. A square face consists of a strong jaw, a broad forehead and wide cheekbones. Look for styles that will give the face some definition like round or oval. 2 good rules of thumb when looking for shades? Sunglasses should be in proportion to the size of your face. Small face, small glasses. Large face? Larger sunglasses are best. The second rule is the frame shape should contrast the shape of the face.

You can never go wrong with aviators. Almost any face can carry this classic shape. Try Michael by Michael Kors or the Italia Independent black plastic aviators with a keyhole detail.

I consider fragrance an accessory. You put it on and it adds that extra special something to an outfit. Every man should have a signature scent. He should also change it up seasonally. For summer you definitely want to go lighter than a musky fall/winter scent. A summer scent should be fresh. No one wants to smell like everyone else so stay away from anything Calvin Klein or Ralph Lauren and don't even think about going old school like Grey Flannel or Lagerfeld. Spend some time at the fragrance bar and look for new. Gendarme Sky is a great new scent. It has notes of sweet lime, green lemon, magnolia flower and Asian pepper oil. It's sexy without being too musky. My personal favorite summer scent is Cereus #4. With a zest of crisp green apple it has a unique blend of citrus while papyrus rounds out the body of the fragrance. Another great scent to try is Bulgari Aqua Pour Homme Marine. It has hints of grapefruit and white cedar. It's light and fresh, almost an afterthought which is just what you want a scent to be. Cologne shouldn't announce your arrival nor linger after you are gone.

So that's it men. It's all about the extras. The things that set you apart from everyone else. True style is taking a look, adding to it and making it your own.

Marcellas Reynolds is a correspondent for E! Networks' E! News Daily and host of Style Networks' Shop Like a Star. Look for Marcellas on upcoming episodes of How Do I Look? For more information, visit www.MarcellasReynolds.com

Spring 2008 Fashion Trends Hot Couture by Marcellas Reynolds

Spring has sprung. Simply because I'm tired of fall/winter. I'm pushing my clients forward. I know...I know... It's still snowing in the Midwest & on the East Coast. And we're water-logged in La La Land. But the clothes are so cute for Spring!

This is how we shop:
NOW is what we must have right away. What we must run out & buy...Today.
AGAIN is what we already own & can be incoporated into our Spring wardrobe.
DONE is what is over. Put it away. Give it away. Sell it @ Crossroad's in Santa Monica.

NOW:

Flat front, flair-legged pants in khaki or white. If you are a woman get them with a wide cuff. Michael Kors & Chloe have amazing slacks and so does Old Navy. For men, look for no cuffs from Trina Turk.

2 massive trends; brights & safari emerged huge during fashion week. From Louis Vuitton & Gucci patent leather stilettos & purses to Versace's orange jersey, it's all about color.

When Old Navy does safari it usually means it's over but it just started & honestly never goes away. Brown looks chicer than ever. Pair brown leather accessories with white cream & khaki for an instant jolt of now.

YSL/Prada

Shoes!!!!! It's all about stilettos with platform fronts (YSL), shoes with interesting, architectural and detailed heels (Prada started it last season) and gladiator sandals (which btw never go away).

Woven accessories are a must. Cole Haan's Genevieve Collection Triangle Tote is gorgeous. But when you talk woven you must reference Bottega Venetta. Woven bags & belts look great for spring and when paired with the safari trend couldn't be more au courant.

And the newest face, the model I can't see enough of is 16 year old German sensation, Toni Garrn. She is the current face of Calvin Klein Collection. She's a cool mix of Claudia Schiffer meets Nadja Auermann with a lil Kate tossed in.

AGAIN:
Skinny, dark denim. Will it ever fade? It just works. We flirted with the wide-legged trouser jean. Yeah we pulled out a boot-cut Earnest Sewn on the fat days after the Holidays but when all is said and done just give me my skinny, slightly too long Habituals.

Animal print always works. Daytime. Night. Leopard or tiger. Hell even giraffe is sexy. What doesn't work is cow. Who wants to look like a cow?

Leather jackets whether bomber or motorcycle are the perfect toss-on for spring. They add edge to any outfit. If you don't own one invest in a brown or black jacket cut close to the body (ala Michael Kors).

DONE:
Tall boots are history. Every short, fat girl in the world is wearing a high boot. While @ Beverly Center today many girls wore tights, yes tights not leggings, with shorts and high boots. It looked stupid & pedestrian. When a trend hits "critical mass" & every girl in line @ Wet Seal, H&M and Forever 21 is working it, it's over.

Leggings are done! Alicia Keys looked a hot, steamy mess in that shiny legging @ the Grammys. They are relegated back to the soccer mom wearing them with over-sized sweatshirts. Basta. Finito. No mas.

The Marc Jacobs ad campaign with Victoria Beckham is an abomination. Too tan. Too thin. Not photogenic. Ill-conceived. Does anyone find the Beckhams @ all relevant? David is only when naked. And Marc, it's time to move on from Juergen Teller shooting the ads. These campaigns aren't hip or modern any longer.

And while I'm discussing what's over let's talk models. The Victoria Secret girls are done. Gisele I love you, take a break. Heidi in Jordache? Why? And the girl who does the current Rock & Republic campaign? Looks like a girl that got cut from ANTM. The 1st week. These aren't fashion girls. They only make sense pushing knickers. But what do I know? Gisele made over $30,000,000 last year.

M*

FASHION & STYLE @ A GLANCE: FASHION'S MUST READ BOOKS Hot Type by Marcellas Reynolds

As a fashion stylist I need to know what I'm talking about. I voraciously scour international fashion mags, the net, TV, films, both classic & current, searching for inspiration. I also read. Fashion bios are a passion. Books and mags stylishly litter my home.

Here are a few of my favourite books:
The Fashion Book - Phaidon. It doesn't just cover decades of designers, it also covers fashion personalities. Small in scale, it's like Cliff Notes for style.

Tom Ford - Rizzoli International. Tom is one of the world's great designers. This wondrous, over-sized coffee table book proves he's not just a designer but a tastemaker, responsible for re-invigorating legendary fashion house Gucci & shaping the face of fashion advertising in the 90s.

Best Movies Of The 70s - Taschen. This is part of a series: ...50s, 60s, 70s... They are each great! As a stylist movies are a major inspiration to me. Who can get past the original Stepford Wives? Or Ali MacGraw's waspy, schoolgirl chic in Love Story? The modern, futuristic sleek of Bladerunner (my fave)? Jane Fonda as a hooker in Klute, which was referenced in almost every NY show this season? The books amaze with behind the scenes anecdotes on actors, directors & the real stars; the movies themselves.

Fashion Now - Taschen. Taschen partnered with the editors of i-D (the super cool British style bible) to select 150 of the world's most important designers. The book is visual fashion, eye-candy. Yummy.

Domicilium Decoratus - Regan Books. Kelly Wearstler is an interior design rock star. Gorgeous. Talented. The way she mixes styles, decades, colors, textures... It's dizzying. The book is a feast for the eyes & a treasure trove of home decor ideas. And did I say Kelly is a fox?

Lanvin - Rizzoli NY. The legendary French couture house deserves a tome this gorgeous. The book covers the entire history of Madame Lanvin's work & fashion line from 1909 until now. But it really gets good during the "Enter Alber" section towards the end. Current designer Alber Elbaz is a genius. Period.

And last but by no means least:
Deluxe: How Luxury Lost It's Luster - Penguin Press. Dana Thomas' book is a behind-the-scenes-tell-all on the culture of fashion & commerce. Have you ever wondered if your vintage Gucci mombasa was made in Italy? Odds are it was assembled in China (gasp!) and shipped to Italy where they put the handle on & voila! Made In Italy. This book is sick with the inner workings of high-end fashion. A must read for true fashionistas.

All of these book are great reads and (with the exception of Deluxe) are visually stunning. Give the gift of reading... And fashion.

--
M*
+ Marcellas Reynolds

What's Chic Now Hot Couture by Marcellas Reynolds

Every now and again we all need new. Just a lil something to lift our spirits. In my never-ending quest for the best, most stylish, most amazing things for myself and my clients I propose these 6 things.

What's Chic Now:
1) Grey Nails - a super modern twist on mod. Cooler than that re-surgence of Mac Vamp/Chanel Le Vernis black satin. Go for true grey or even metallic silver. Try colors from Rescue Beauty & ManGlaze.

2) Stripes for Men - And by stripes I mean big broad ones. Toss on a nautical inspired sweater. And please tuck in your vertical striped shirt. Oh and do wear said shirt with a horizontal striped tie.

3) Prada Watch Bracelet - My momma would say it looks like a 5 year old made it. I think that's what makes it charming.

Emerald Earrings/Bond Street, New York (before the fire)

4) Big Jewels Other Than Diamonds - Diamonds are outre. We know the industry has decimated Africa. Did you know rubies are rarer than diamonds? I propose saphires. Emeralds. Especially from Garrard.

And one thing that hasn't even opened:

5) Bond Street - The Sushi restaurant in the Thomphson Hotel on Wilshire in Beverly Hills. It can't open soon enough. Bond St. in NY is one of my fave restaurants in the world. It's about time something competes with Koi here.

And that's what's chic now.

M*

"Blog Party!" Hot & Personal by Corey Moore

Micah McCain, (Fay Wolf), Michael Medico and Abigail Carpenter

Last night we had our first "Blog Party". It was a great chance for all our writers to meet each other (a lot of them for the fist time). It was a great turnout...the drinks were flowing as usual.

Mona Holmes, Craig Nisker and Fran Nichols

"Hot Pop" Hiko played IJay. While Former Big Brother star Marcellas Reynolds chatted up Current Big Borther writer Chris Lisotta.

Julia Lee (with baby daddy, Spencer Stander) C. Jay Cox, Christina Huntington (with boyfriend Leigh Walker from the band KisTone)

Tiffany Ragain brought friend Brandon Martinez from Bravo's Blow Out who exchanged hair tips for Beauty secrets with Holly Doss.

John Barrnetine, Tiffany Ragain, Fay Wolf and Jonathan Tavss

All in all, everyone left asking about the next get together...

Me, Wonder Bright, Christine Tarallo