Style Tips from Celebs and Designers at New York Fashion Week

There's so much more than gorgeous gowns (and a few hideous outfits) at New York Fashion Week. With backstage access and great seats to fashion shows we seized the opportunity to ask celebrities and designers for their top style and beauty tips. Now that the whirlwind of fashion week is over, we've rounded up all the tips into one informative and fun list! Enjoy.

We bumped intoJoan Rivers filming an episode of "Fashion Police" at Lincoln Center. We asked her how we could avoid getting arrested by her crew. "In this day and age my fashion police tip is MORE. When you think you're well dressed put on something glitzy. If you sparkle you're in for 2012."

Makeup maven Bobbi Brown shared her personal favorite makeup tip with us. "After I put lipgloss on, I often take it and put it on the cheek. It's nice and hydrating and it gives a nice glow." She said beauty really comes from within, and that you should be careful about what you put into your body. "Drink a lot of water. It makes a huge difference. And eat as healthy as you can 90% of the time. A lot of vegetables, clean proteins, and the other 10% of the time you can do "healthy junkie food" as I call it. It's all about taking care of yourself."


We asked Diane von Furstenberg, the stunning creator of the wrap dress, how to instantly look sexy. "Easy," she said. "Be yourself."

Singer/actress Kristin Chenoweth shared advice on dressing a smaller figure. "I think if you're petite, and that's obviously what I specialize in, is never leave home in a flat when you have an event and look for ways to lengthen yourself. I'm very little, so I don't overdo it with bulky items or accessories. If I overdo it it looks like I've dressed up from my grandmother's closet. A fashion inspiration of mine is Nicole Richie, a friend of mine. She is a little one too, so I look to her a lot for inspiration. I look at people who are my size for ideas." She told us in the end though to never take fashion to seriously. "Last year I was picked as one of New York's most fashionable people by New York magazine and I wore an Herve [Leger] skirt on backwards, so that just kind of says it all for me."



Designer Erin Fetherston said, "I really think I like the tried and true advice my mom used to give me which is 'you wear the dress, the dress doesn't wear you.' To me I think that means it's great to be up on fashion and up on trends, but you should always be dressed to flatter your figure. It's more important to cultivate personal style than to be a trend chaser."

TV host Maria Menounos shared an awesome skincare tip for when you're in a pinch. "Baking soda is a really good last-minute exfoliator," she told us. "I ran out of exfoliator once and I had some baking soda and it was amazing. You just rub it with some water on your skin-it's insane how good it is. It's not glamorous so that's probably why we don't use it, but if you have it around it's so good."

Supermodel Coco Rocha said, "my fashion tip, as cheesy as it sounds, is pretty much being confident. You could wear a Lady Gaga outfit if you have the confidence to pull it off. And you could have no confidence wearing H&M and be horrible looking in it." She also shared an impromptu beauty tip. "Today I used a black marker on my nail because I needed to fill in some polish chips."


Singing sensation Gloria Estefan shared her secrets for looking fab at 54: "I take very good care of my skin. I never ever ever go to bed no matter how tired I am with makeup on my face. I cleanse and I moisturize and I have good genes so I like to take care of my skin. Mainly that. I only wear makeup when I'm working and doing events. I don't do heavy foundation, I do a moisturizer base that breathes."

Designer Rebecca Taylor shared a backstage trip for dressing the models. "We use rubber bands to hold their sleeves down when they put their coats on so they don't punch up," she told us. Already have a hair elastic on your wrist? That would work too. Taylor said she isn't one to follow trends and feels women shouldn't be slaves to what's in or out. In fact, there's one popular item she really dislikes. "I'm not big into the neon denim," she told us. "But maybe once the sun starts shining I'll feel differently." She also suggested one item ladies should purchase for spring. "Really lightweight leather jackets are really awesome I think just to throw on top. It's an investment piece, but it's classic and can last."

"Descendents" star Shailene Woodley told us her top fashion resource. "Thrift stores! You can find things for two bucks and it's eco-friendly and they're so great because so many people get rid of so many nice clothes. Literally like 99.7% of my wardrobe is from thrift stores except for shoes." She said she was keeping an eye open for Oscar dresses at Fashion Week. On her wish list: "Something comfortable and something different than your average satin dress."

Actress Minka Kelly told us her fitness routine makes her feel beautiful. "I do yoga every day and I have an amazing trainer that kicks my butt several times a week," she said. When it comes to her beauty arsenal she said she couldn't survive without an eyelash curler and Aquaphor.

Former supermodel Christie Brinkley told us she stays in shape by dancing.

Angela Simmons, the designer/reality star/daughter of music legend Reverend Run, told us she thinks it's it's important to mix and match clothes for creative outfits. But the #1 thing she considers when dressing is confidence. "To me I think you can wear anything if you have confidence, so pick something out you feel good in. If not everyone can tell you don't love it."

Zoe Kravitz is an actress/singer/model and daughter of Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet, and she has great individual style, so we asked her how she pulls off such unique ensembles. "I think you just have to follow your instincts and be comfortable," she said. "That's the most important thing. You should mix and match, try on lots of things and see what works." Her style icon: Sarah Jessica Parker. "From Sex and the City till now she's had the best style, I'm in love with everything she wears."

And lastly, model/designer Erin Wasson joked about her must-have beauty product during a hectic time like Fashion Week. "There's a little thing called Visine..."

Related links:
Fashion that Makes Us Sad: The Worst Looks from Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks
5 Things We Saw at New York Fashion Week: Day 7
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Watch New York Fashion Week Shows Online