Blog Posts by BeautyRiot Diva

This weekend "American Pie: Reunion" opens -- and like all reunions, you can expect a lot of change. For example, the ladies of the original "American Pie" have undergone plenty of style transformations in the last 13 years. Let's take a look back on their fashion and hair choices throughout the past decade …

Mena Suvari

Mena Suvari hit the big time in 1999 with the release of both "American Pie" and "American Beauty." Though her fashion style hasn't changed much over the years -- she usually appears on the red carpet in beautiful gowns -- her hair has. Her trademark long, strawberry blonde hair soon gave way to heavy Barbie bangs, and a wavy brown bob. But nothing compared to what came next. In 2007, Suvari shaved her head for a "movie role," and a few years later, she reappeared with a frizzy, black 'do, earning her a spot on our list of "Worst Hair of 2011." (You can check out that entire article here.)

I have -- according to many popular rap songs -- some junk in my trunk. And while I can certainly appreciate Sir Mix-A-Lot's enthusiastic love of big butts and hips, I don't always love mine. But this blog isn't about my self-esteem issues; it's about dress shopping. When a special occasion rolls around I spend weeks (no joke) trying to find something to fit my pear body shape. (Don't know your body type? Find out here.) So, with my dad's big retirement party looming in the near future, I decided to try dress shopping with a different mindset.

Related: Celeb Looks for Your Body Type

First, I called in the pros. It turns out that the best way to find your perfect dress has a lot to do with body type. Like I said, I'm a pear, so these tips are especially handy. But no matter what your shape -- petite, plus-size, hourglass -- they each have their own set of rules. (Click here to get all the tips for every body type.) And once I put that fabulous body shape advice into

Forget Jack and Rose's love story. When "Titanic" in 3D opens tomorrow, my eyes will instantly go to the elaborate costumes and jewels worn by the first class passengers. It hooked me the first time around. (What can I say? I love opulence.)

Related: OMFG Hair Accessories

This got me thinking … movies are great and all, but what did a real first class passenger pack for that infamous voyage in 1912? After some digging, I found an insurance claim filed by silent film star and model Dorothy Gibson, a major celeb for the time, and survivor of the tragedy. While her claim was fairly modest ($2,382.75) compared to the other first class passengers, Dorothy still had a lot of expensive stuff.


Related: Weekend Getaways with the Girls



How much? Here are just a few of the highlights:
(Keep in mind this was the cost in 1912, which would obviously be much higher now.)
- three evening dresses ($100 - $150 each)
- five afternoon dresses ($40 - $75 each)
- three suits ($75 - $100 each)
- six

I have a dirty little secret -- one that makes my boyfriend mad, my mom cringe, and my dentist reprimand. I'm a nail bitter. Before I graduated college, only my bi-monthly manicures kept me from gnawing on my hands like a zoo animal. But as a post-grad, I quickly learned that manicures take a backseat to gas and groceries. And while there may be a quick fix for certain beauty dilemmas, (click here to check them out), this little problem doesn't seem to have one … or so I thought.

The solution? Nail art. After checking out several insanely helpful hints here, I decided to hunker down with a bunch of polish and a manicure set. Once I finished, I had my own little Picasso's on my fingers, which made it that much harder to bite. A nibble is so not worth the ruin of a masterpiece.

Even if you don't bite your nails, you have to admit that nail polish can work wonders for your current look. Why not kick it up a notch with some fun nail art? Here are my top five new

We like to tackle the tough questions over at Beauty Riot. Are plain nails better than massively blinged-out ones? Is a smoky eye hotter than a red lip? Is straight hair sexier than curly?

For that last one, we took to the streets (aka the parking lot food trucks at lunch time) to ask a handful of guys which photo of Taylor Swift they preferred: her tousled, curly hair (use this how-to to steal the look) or her sleek and straight style (get styling tips here).

We definitely got some … interesting feedback. Some guys said the straight hair "put more focus on her face" and that "the curls are distracting." But others countered that her curls looked "more natural" and described them as both "elegant" and "wild." Hmmm …

Related: What guys really think of your hairstyle

After a lot of back and forth, we seemed to reach some sort of consensus. The winner (at least in Swift's case) is … curly hair! Ultimately, the guys thought it was a more fun and youthful look

We recently had a small photo shoot for a fashion story on how to wear belts. (It'll be up in a few days, so stay tuned!) Not quite like some crazy celeb shoot -- no secret location, weird props, or thousand dollar clothes -- but it's still a cool look at what really goes on behind the scenes.

Related: Odd Red Carpet Secrets Spilled

• The hair -- it's fake. Byron Williams of the Byron and Tracey Salon in Los Angeles says, "in 80 percent of photo shoots the hair is enhanced with extensions." When our model showed up, just like Williams said, she had extensions in her hair. She confessed to one of our editors that her hair is so damaged from styling that she needs the extensions. BUT since the beachy long waves were the look we wanted, it was a good thing she had those extra pieces of hair.
• 
  
• Tailoring on the fly. Stylist Stephanie Prommer says, "When you see a great photo of a celebrity on the cover of a magazine, you'd be surprised to know that in many cases,

As I write this, I can't help but poke at the enormous pimple that appeared on my cheek this morning. (It hurts!) Acne in your late-twenties? Completely unfair if you ask me -- especially if you've already been through it once before. The only bit of news I can take solace in is that I'm not alone with this whole adult acne thing.


Related: 7 Products Your Skin Needs Now


According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), a recent study shows that "late-set or adult-onset acne is becoming increasingly common in women in their 20s, 30s, 40s and even 50s." Apparently, 45 percent of women in my age range (21 to 30) are dealing with similar pimple problems. That number decreases to 26 percent once I reach the next age range (31 to 40). Yay?


Related: True Story: I Have Cystic Acne


So, all that's good to know, but what about the red, swollen mountain on my cheek? Well, I just learned about these three surprising tips I'm definitely going to try tonight -- gathered from some of the best

I'm the crafty type. Last year, I became so obsessed with headpieces -- inspired by the Royal Wedding -- that I made a ton of these fascinators for all my friends. And I spent all summer perfecting the feather earrings trend. (Find out how to make your very own pair, here.)

But that was last year. This year, I have a whole new slew of DIY jewelry projects that I'm in love with. From elaborately beaded fabric necklaces to studded cuffs, there's a lot of variety in this next batch. So break out your crafting kit (or head to the store), and let's get started!

Scroll down for two easy projects, or click here to see all 5 DIY jewelry ideas

Hair Comb

Even if your hair is elaborately styled in a braid or twist, you can still add a decorative comb to highlight your beautiful updo.

Supplies:

plain hair comb

metallic thread

strong glue, like E-6000

pearl beads

Get the Look:

1. Tie the metallic thread into a