Blog Posts by Ariel Rivera

This is not a post about how A-MAZING Marisa Tomei looks "for her age" written by an obnoxious twentysomething. Marisa Tomei is a ridiculously beautiful, stylish and talented woman who looks great for a woman of any age. I will say, however, that this twentysomething writer can only hope she'll look as flawless twenty years from now. Well. Now that that's out of the way.

Marisa has always had an air about her; she's an incredibly believable actress and off-screen, her style is in a class of its own. It's not that her choices are so out of the ordinary, but the way she remains true to her body and personality is so admirable. Not a slave to trends, Marisa chooses chic, feminine pieces that make the mark pretty much every time. Next up, she plays a high-profile client to a lawyer (Matthew McConaughey) who operates out of his Lincoln town car in "The Lincoln Lawyer." In anticipation, click below through her sartorial choices from the last year.

Say what you wish about Helena Bonham Carter, but she probably won't care. Her irreverent, whimsical, and inherently British style is an expression of who she is. The wonderfully wacky English Rose has an acting style that runs the gamut from the dark and neurotic Marla in "Fight Club," to the bone-chillingly creepy queen in "Alice in Wonderland." On the red carpet, she's faithful to one of the UK's most prominent designers, Vivienne Westwood, and she wears her dresses well. Nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in "The King's Speech," Helena will be sure to turn heads on Sunday, February 27th. Until then, chronicle the sartorial choices of England's Queen of Weird.

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More than any other year I can remember, this year's Academy Awards Best Actress category is filled with incredibly powerful (and vastly unique from one another) women. You've got the veteran (Annette Bening), the international star (Nicole Kidman), and the Girl Of The Moment (Natalie Portman). Add

If you're anything like me, you spent your teenage years idolizing (and emulating the style of) various singers, actresses and supermodels. Then, almost without realizing it, you simply grew into your own skin, pulling inspiration from these same women but translating it into a language your body understood. For example, when I was a 17-year-old Vogue intern, I arrived to work one day in a wispy little top (minus a bra, like all the beautiful models I worked around), only to be taken aside by a lovely fellow intern and told that, ahem, my girls needed more support. Today, I avoid loose-fitting clothes (they make me look like a tent), spaghetti straps, and anything too tight in the mid-section, and I feel WORLDS more confident. Girls, heed the advice below, and be comfortable in your own skin.

BIG BUST
Women who are endowed up top can look pretty heavy if they don't take a few simple precautions. 1. Choose a dress with a v-neck. Many women will buy higher-necked dresses, but this

It wouldn't be New York Fashion Week without a kick-off Heart Truth Collection Red Dress fashion show. An A-list celebrity roster and a slew of beautiful dresses glided, strutted and danced down New York City's Lincoln Center runway to raise awareness for heart disease. Since 2003, celebrities have demonstrated their powerful ability to garner support for the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. All the beautiful donated gowns and cocktail dresses are available via an auction ending March 4th. The proceeds from the sales will benefit women's heart health awareness and research. Get ready to be captivated..

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Disclaimer: Love should be given and received all year round, not just on February 14th. That said, sometimes following the crowd and exchanging tokens of adoration can be fun. There are only two rules for buying Valentine's Day gifts: they should evoke a feeling, and they shouldn't be expensive.

GIFTS TO GET

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Buy.com 14k gold intial pendant, $34.99.Jewelmint Cleopatra cabachon earrings, $29.99.Max & Chloe rose-gold colored Modcloth.com seahorse pendant necklace, $19.99.House of Harlow 1960 horseshoe bangle, $48.00.








6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Amazon.com silver knot ring, $33.00.Forever 21 leopard mesh corset bra, $9.80.Jessica Simpson watercolor corset & thong, $38.00.Kohl's silk mini-robe, $38.00.










11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Topshop underwear, 3 for $20.Adele 'Macarons' at Barnes & Noble, $8.71.Urban Outfitters heart-shaped cutting board, $19.99. Voluspa baltic amber candle, $18.00.







1. A simple, 14K gold letter pendant tells the world she's your girl (like surrounding your initials in a heart on a tree, but more wearable). Buy.com, $34.99.
2. Funky earrings prove you get her style. Jewelmint.com, $29.99.
3. A lips pendant sends a cheeky little message. Max & Chloe, $38.00.
4. Seahorses mate for life (aww). And their likenesses make cute pendant necklaces. Modcloth.com, $19.99.
5. Horseshoes bring good luck. Give a horseshoe bangle, you'll get lucky. Shopbop.com, $48.00.
6. The sweetest little reminder. A forget-me-knot, if you will. Amazon.com, $33.00.
7. Who does sexy like ze French?

It's fun to chronicle the ups, downs, and red carpet hits of all our favorite actors, but isn't it time for some fresh new meat? Some of these faces are brand-new, and you may recognize others, but they'll ALL be household names this year. In the mix we've got a young Olsen, a couple of former models, and a computer geek-turned-super hero, among others. Behold 2011's newest faces.

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Women are held to maddening standards of beauty and appearance, and we often lament how easy it must be to be a man. Maybe we should think, again. The conjecture that President Barack Obama darkened his salt-and-pepper look earlier this month, which first lady Michelle Obama denied on the Today Show, inspired a Hollywood hair hunt of sorts, and the results are in the gallery below. Turns out Tinseltown's leading men are a bit more self-aware than we thought.

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