The thought has probably occurred to you while standing in a long security line at the airport, wondering if you’ll make your flight. Wouldn’t it be nice to live like a celebrity? No, celebrities don’t get to cut the security line. If they’re flying commercial they’re stuck like everyone else. Yet the biggest stars forego that process entirely. Instead they fly on their own personal jets. It must be some life.

There was a time when even more A-list celebrities and other recognized personalities owned private jets. While the economy was booming in the late 90s — and fuel prices were still reasonable — plenty of celebrities took to the skies in the super-popular Gulfstreams. Once the purview of big-time Wall Street power brokers, celebrities started to buy them up and fly them at will. That trend has changed a bit, though.

See, even celebrities have limits on how much they’ll spend on extraneous luxuries. Once fuel prices stated to climb and the economy sank, many sold. That must have been quite the downer, right? After all, can you imagine going from flying on your own personal jet to waiting on line at airport security? Of course, celebrities didn’t make quite that drastic a downgrade. Instead they turned to fractional ownership.

This is still a preferred method of travel for many A-list celebrities. The costs of fuel and maintenance make a private jet unjustifiable even for some of the richest celebs. Some companies saw an opportunity here, though. They created something like a timeshare for private jets. Celebs — or anyone who can afford it, really — pay into a pool, and get to use the jet if it’s available. These payments are smaller than normal payments, but pooled together with others it helps take care of fuel and maintenance costs.

What’s odd is that some of the celebrities whom you’d think would own private jets actually pay into the fractional fund. Think Jerry Seinfield and Tom Hanks are hard up for cash? How about Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts? They all use the fractional ownership company NetJet. In fact, according to TMZ, Roberts flew 1,749 miles while shooing My Best Friend’s Wedding. This seems to be the most popular choice for many celebrities.

Still, there are those who would rather shell out the dough to own the jet outright. It must be nice. Of course, you’ll notice that these are the top of the top listing celebs: Oprah Winfrey, John Travolta, Harrison Ford, Jim Carrey, and Tom Cruise all fly in complete privacy. Travolta is a story unto himself. He not only flies his own private jet, but he actually owns a Boeing 707. He even has his pilot’s license, which surely helps him get where he’s going in the quickest time possible. Plenty of others fly their own jets, though they’re very much the realm of CEOs and other business magnates.

The rest of us, of course, have to fly in the traditional way. We go to travel sites and try to find cheap flights that leave at acceptable hours. We try to bundle hotels and rental cars to save even a few pennies. That’s par for the course though, right? We schlubs have to pull out all the stops, and even then we have to wait plenty before we get to our destinations. It must be nice, flying in privacy and style, like the celebs.

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If you were to take the next step and ask these people about their smartphones, you’d get pretty standard responses. Most iPhone users would love their phones and wouldn’t think of switching. Many Android users would say the same, but there is a portion of Android users who are stuck with their phones and would rather have an iPhone. Most BlackBerry users will talk about how much they hate the device and how much they wish they had iPhone or Android. It would seem the BlackBerry is doomed.

Photo Credit: Celebrity BlackBerry Sightings

While these people in restaurants, on the street, and on college campuses do in some ways indicate the latest fashion and style trends, they do not dictate them. Typically the dictation comes from a smaller, elite group: celebrities. All it takes is one celeb to do something differently and start a trend. When it comes to smartphones, it appears they don’t agree with the general population. Celebrities, for whatever reason, are drawn to the BlackBerry.

In fact, there’s an entire website dedicated to the cause: Celebrity BlackBerry Sightings. While its archives go back to only 2008, it has been in existence, in some form or another, since at least 2007. The concept is simple: find pictures of celebrities who are using the latest BlackBerry smartphones. Despite the general trend towards iPhone and Android, sites such as Celebrity BlackBerry Sightings have continued to find pictures of today’s most popular celebrities carrying phones such as the new Verizon BlackBerry Bold. So not only do celebrities carry around BlackBerry smartphones, but they go out and get the newest ones, rather than getting and iPhone or Android.

That isn’t to say that there’s a shortage of celebrity iPhone users. The site TiPb has a regular feature dedicated to capturing celebrities with their iPhones. Yet that’s to be expected. As we see everywhere else, the iPhone is by far the most popular smartphone on the planet. Of course plenty of celebrities use one — especially the younger ones. On the Android front, though, there’s not much to report. The Tumblr Celebrity Android Sightings doesn’t even warrant a link; it’s mostly photoshopped. (As you can tell, since the clock somehow always reads 12:05.) It would seem that Android still has a ways to go before it enters the celebrity mainstream.

Why might celebrities continue to use BlackBerry devices even when they’ve become largely unpopular? BBM certainly plays a part in that. For years people loved their BlackBerrys and BBM, the messaging service that keeps them all connected. Plenty of celebrities have probably kept the BlackBerry solely because of their large BBM contact list — which ranges from other celebrities to their managers and agents. There’s also the physical keyboard, which is much better for messaging than the touchscreen keyboard on the iPhone. Celebrities who text and email a lot might not care about the latest smartphone trends, instead sticking with what works best for them.

It’s unlikely that any celebrities will bring the BlackBerry back into the mainstream by themselves. But it appears they’re not ready to let the BlackBerry go out of style. While the people you and I know might not feel the same, they’ve chosen to keep their BlackBerrys. That makes them a continuing fashion emblem.

photo credit: Shutterstock/Serg Zastavkin

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When you spy Beyonce just glowing from the red carpet or J-Lo looking preggers yet stunning in a ball gown—and with twins no less—expectant women must wonder, “How does she do it?” I mean how can Hilary Duff appear radiant in pregnancy every minute of the day, and even when she’s running errands in her yoga pants? And, how can Jennifer Garner appear with her flawless complexion and Ben Affleck’s bun in the oven, not one, but 3 times? It’s just not fair!

Yes, it’s not difficult to be critical of your own pregnant visage, especially when you spy the stunning onslaught of expectant celebrity mom’s just glowing from every magazine cover at the supermarket. It’s enough to send you running home on swollen feet to douse your sorrows in a tub of mint chocolate chip and have your hubby clean up the mess. However, before you get too hard on yourself, believe you me, those beautiful belles with buns in the oven are putting in double time behind the scenes to ensure they look preggers and gorgeous every time they step into the spotlight! It’s that extra effort: taking prenatal vitamins, which can be purchased at reduced costs via a Canadian Pharmacy online, reducing sun exposure and eating super mom diets. Star moms don’t know any secrets, they’re just using every preventative skin measure in their diaper bags.

We can agree that pregnancy does bring some welcome changes to our skin. For instance, the extra blood flow, natural production of oils and the unrelenting emotional roller coaster that a pregnant woman is on is sure to cause a healthy flush to the cheeks that might be mistaken as a radiant glow. However, with the good come some more than nasty and downright offensive changes in expecting bodies as well, for instance:

• Gas
• Indigestion and heart burn
• Weight gain and hunger cravings
• Morning sickness and nausea
• Emotional swings
• Pregnancy acne
• Chaffing or heat rash due to weight gain (especially between the thighs)
• Swollen feet and ankles
• Spider veins
• Skin discoloration or pregnancy mask

Why didn’t J-Lo get pregnancy acne?

Actually, she probably did. However, starlets and their teams of beauty consultants are ready to combat the negative things that come with pregnancy the minute the strip turns pink. How? By making changes to diet and skin regime in order to keep skin glowing and supple during pregnancy.

The good news is that we’re not shy about sharing the simple secrets of how celebrity moms stay so radiant with you. Here they are:

1. January Jones reduced her sun exposure

We can take a good and healthy lesson from Hollywood’s porcelain goddesses, pregnant and not pregnant, when they slather on the sunscreen and put on a wide brimmed hat and extra large sun glasses: too much sun is harmful for your skin. Not only does excess exposure to UV rays increase your chances of skin cancer and skin discoloration; all of that squinting causes premature crow’s feet and wrinkles.

2.  You are what you eat

Take it from stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Gisele Bündchen who look sexy enough when preggers, only to bounce back with what seems like little effort weeks after delivery.  Gwyneth would probably tell you, “Your unborn baby is directly affected by the food mom eats.” That’s why an expectant mom’s diet should be balanced with lean protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, calcium-rich dairy products, whole grains and heart-healthy fats (which also help keep skin supple and hair shiny). Also, take prenatal vitamins as prescribed by your doctor.

3. Maintain good skin care—even while pregnant

Just because your preggers, your skin care regime shouldn’t go by the wayside. If you do suffer from pregnancy acne, don’t squeeze your zits. It can cause skin to scar. Instead talk to a dermatologist about some acne-fighting, natural treatments that are safe for expecting moms, such as tea tree oil. Also, a pregnancy skin care regiment should include the following, both morning and night: cleansing with a mild, non-drying soap, a natural toner (try witch-hazel), and seal it all in with a moisturizer for your skin type (e.g., if you suffer from breakouts use a light coverage moisturizer).

4. Drink a lot of water

Drinking 8 glasses of water a day will help expectant moms remain glowing in a number of ways, by:

• Flushing away salt retention to eliminate the excess swelling of the feet, hands and legs
• Squelching oil production, keeping your face, neck and back free of blemishes
• Leaving your skin clear—without the need to mask it with excess makeup

5. Get regular massages

Dreading stretch marks as your baby grows? So did Halle Berry, Mariah Carey and Angelina Jolie when they were preggers. However, getting regular massages during and after delivery, especially in the areas affected by stretch marks, will encourage blood flow to lessen the signs in those areas. It will also quicken the disappearance of stretch marks post-baby.

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ballet flats

It’s easy for moms to get in a style rut. After all, you have to worry about changing the baby, getting the kids off to school, cooking, cleaning, soccer practice, dance lessons…and the list goes on and on. With everything going on in your world, there’s not much time left to worry about your wardrobe.

And though no one expects you to dress to the nines, if you find yourself in sweat pants, a t-shirt and sneakers every day, it may be time to update your mom style. One of the easiest ways to change your look is with shoes. Sneakers can make anything look sloppy. So instead of pulling out your Keds or Nikes every morning, change things up a bit.

When it comes to footwear, comfort is probably high on your priority list. So eliminate high heels (particularly stilettos) from your everyday shoe possibilities. Fortunately, flats can be not only comfortable but also quite stylish. In the summer, you can wear flat sandals. But if you are looking for a comfortable, flat shoe that you can wear year round, consider ballet flats.

Ballet flats come in every fabric and color imaginable. They can be worn with everything from pencils skirts or trousers to leggings or jeans. They slip-on easily and keep your feet looking (and feeling) fabulous all day long.

When shopping for ballet flats, avoid light colors, which can get dirty very easily. Also steer clear of patent, which can get scuffed quickly. Charcoal grey, chocolate brown and, of course, basic black flats are terrific options. If you want to infuse a little color into your wardrobe, consider red, hot pink or turquoise blue.

The Graduate flat from Dr. Scholl’s features a round toe and oversized buckle accent. Its padded footbed and arch support will keep your feet comfy all day long. This shoe comes in a variety of materials (suede, leather or fabric) and over a dozen colors. Priced at $49.00 or less at Endless.com, these shoes are a fantastic choice for moms or anyone looking for a comfy-chic pair of flats.

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Carrie Underwood

Former American Idol winner Carrie Underwood exchanged vows with Canadian pro hockey player, Mike Fisher on July 10th, 2010 at the Ritz Carlton Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Georgia. Underwood and Fisher kept their relationship relatively quite while they were dating. Mike Fisher proposed to Underwood at his home in December 2009 with a 12-carat engagement ring estimated to be worth more than $1 million. On her wedding day, the gorgeous Underwood donned a Monique Lhuillier gown made of Chantilly lace and silk organza. Sporting an exquisite diamond tiara (made by Johnathon Arndt), Underwood was the picture-perfect beautiful bride. The diamond tiara, a gift from her soon-to-be-husband, was over 40-carats set in 18-carat white gold with diamond flowers and vines. A unique piece that Underwood hopes to pass down to future brides in the family. Underwood’s dog was also touched by the wedding fashion bug. Ace, a 4-year old rat terrier, wore a pink tuxedo that featured Swarovski crystals. Ace played a very important role in the ceremony — he was the official ring bearer. After the elaborate wedding, Underwood changed into a short, flirty “party” gown for the wedding reception. Underwood told People magazine that she wanted to “get my boogie on, so I had to change.” Prior to the wedding, Underwood treated her 200 guests to the wonderful spa facilities at the resort.

Emily Blunt

Another wedding that occurred on July 10th was between British actress, Emily Blunt, and actor John Krasinski best known for his role on The Office television series. The engaging couple tied the knot in a private outdoor ceremony in Como, Italy. Blunt wore a beautiful Marchesa gown for the intimate affair. The dress was a custom creme colored chiffon wedding gown with sweetheart draping. Embroidered detailing highlighted the gown, creating a delicate elegance. The happy couple celebrated with friends and family after the ceremony aboard the Concordia yacht in Lake Como. Krasinski proposed to Blunt in August 2009 with a three-carat Edwardian diamond ring designed by Neil Lane and rumored to have cost $100,000.

Wearing a strapless Vera Wang dress, actress Hilary Duff married hockey player, Mike Comrie, in an intimate sunset wedding at a Southern California estate located near San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California. The ceremony took place on August 14, 2010. The 22-year old bride was escorted down the aisle by her mother. The bride’s sister, Hayley, was her maid of honor. In comparison to most large celebrity weddings, only a hundred of the bride and groom’s closest friends and family were in attendance at the magical event. The happy couple have been together for three years leading up to their blissful day. Comrie proposed to Duff in February with a stunning 14-carat, radiant-cut diamond ring said to have cost a whopping $1 million.

Alicia Keys

Songstress Alicia Keys and music producer Swizz Beatz (real name Kasseem Dean) entered into their blessed union on July 31, 2010 in an intimate wedding that took place at a private residence in Corsica overlooking the Meditterranian. The beautiful bride wore an ivory silk Vera Wang gown with georgette draping and jewel detail on the back shoulder. Finishing off the outfit were Christian Louboutin shoes. Though six months pregnant, Keys was still a stunning bride and glowed with happiness as she was escorted down the aisle by both of her parents. Deepak Chopra was the officiant of the ceremony.

Four celebrity weddings, all very different. From opulent and elaborate to quiet and intimate, celebrity wedding styles are a reflection of who they are. Newly engaged brides will be tearing out the pages of celebrity magazines to replicate the trends each one has set forth hoping their day will be just as special.

Roman Grinev is a Baltimore Wedding Photographer, who has over 10 years experience photographing weddings in Maryland. They have three offices in Annapolis, Baltimore, and Maryland.

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Summer Satins

From Vanessa Hudgens to Reese Witherspoon, the Hollywood starlets have been rocking the satin dresses. With cool embellishments and super short, feminine styles satin dresses are making a cool comeback this year.

Not in the dress mood? Satin tanks look incredibly sexy when paired with a pair of low-rise jeans and heels and are a perfect choice for a dinner out with the girls or a night of clubbing.

Belt Buckles

Belt buckles are no longer a trend limited solely to men like David Boreanaz or cowgirls. Everything from sports teams, to animals to trendy phrases and rhinestone glitz are showing up on fashionable women’s belt buckles across the United States.

Pair your belt buckles with a simple tank and low-cut jeans to get simple, low maintenance and fashionable looks with some extra pizazz.

Lucite Heels

Once considered to be something only, ahem, “dancers” would be “caught dead in” in public, Lucite has been a popular choice with designers for their summer shoe lines this year. Hollywood actresses have been pairing the daring shoes with fun and flirty dresses.

Style tip: Keep the dress a bit on the modest side to avoid going overboard in the sex appeal department and turning a potentially cute ensemble into something more fitting for a “woman of the night.”

Anything and Everything Raspberry

There’s always a hot new color every summer, and for 2010, that color is Raspberry. From shirts to dresses to shoes to accessories to hats – Raspberry is the “in” color of the season. It seems all of “Young Hollywood” – from Leighton Meester to Megan Fox has been spotted sporting the color this summer.

But don’t invest too heavily in increasing your Raspberry colored wardrobe – this is one of those colors that we love, but don’t expect to stick around for long.

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clutch

Satchels, hobos, shoulder bags … they are all fine for everyday wear. But if you are headed for a special evening out, you have to carry a clutch.

Clutches come in all shapes and sizes. From teeny-tiny bags that barely hold a lipstick to oversized foldover clutches that are big enough to carry all your necessities.
If you are looking for the perfect evening clutch, look for something in between. A dazzling bag that is seven to nine inches wide is ideal. Shop for stunning bags that are adorned with beads, sequins, crystals and other embellishments.
If you want to really splurge, consider these designer favorites.

Nancy Gonzalez Hexagonal Python Clutch – The unique shape makes this bag extraordinary. This clutch is create from black reticulated python and features a luxurious suede lining. You can find this clutch at Neiman Marcus and other retailers for $1,400.

lattice clutch

Judith Leiber Crystal Minaudiere – If you have ever watched an awards show or movie premiere, you’ve caught a glimpse of a Judith Leiber bag. Celebrities and fashionistas alike adore these gorgeous crystal-encrusted bags. They come in fun shapes (like cupcakes and elephants), as well as more traditional silhouettes like the rectangular Judith Leiber Lattice Crystal Minaudiere. This classic bag features faceted Austrian crystals and beaded trim. This clutch is priced at $1,995 at Bergdorf Goodman.
If these designer clutches are a bit much, don’t worry. You can find affordable little bags that are beautiful too.

At Nordstrom, you can find this Jessica McClintock Sequin Bow Clutch for just $58.00. Available in gold or black, this bow-shaped bag features all-over sequins and a drop-in chain strap.

sequin clutch

You can also find beautiful clutches at a fraction of retail prices by shopping at thrift shops, estate sales, or online sample sale sites such as Gilt Groupe, ideeli or HauteLook.

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aviator sunglasses

When the summer sun fades away, it’s time to tuck your bathing suit, sandals and shorts into the back of your closet until next spring. But not your sunglasses! Chic shades are a year-round accessory. They not only protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays, but also add a touch of high-end glamour to your look.

If you still haven’t found the perfect pair of sunglasses, you certainly have a variety of styles from which to choose. Round Jackie O’s, funky cat-eyed lenses, modern shield sunglasses…the list goes on and on. For a cool pair of glasses that looks good on almost anyone, stick with aviators.
Aviator sunglasses, also known as pilot shades, were originally developed by Ray-Ban in 1936. However, these days almost every eyewear designer and brand offers aviators. And they aren’t just for military men anymore; everyone is wearing them.

The aviator style is defined by their reflective or dark lenses and metal frames. Everyone from General Douglas MacArthur in World War II to Tom Cruise in Top Gun has been spotted wearing aviator sunglasses. Though fashion trends in glasses change season to season and year to year, aviators always seem to be popular among both men and women.

If you are looking for an affordable pair of aviators, turn to your local department store. These Ray-Ban Bubble Wrap Aviator Sunglasses offer the classic silhouette and give it a chic, modern upgrade with their curved wrap-around shape. These sunglasses are priced at just $129.00 at Macys.com.
When selecting a pair of sunglasses, the general rule is to pick frames that are the opposite shape of your face. For example, square faces look terrific in totally round lenses, while round faces look best in square frames. Oval frames (such as aviators) look fabulous on almost anyone.

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wrap dress

In 1972, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg introduced the wrap dress and it was quickly adopted by everyone from housewives to celebrities. The cotton jersey dress wrapped in the front and tied at the waist. It was flattering to almost every figure and easily dripped dry. Diane von Furstenberg had created something comfortable, practical and oh so stylish. DVF quickly became one of the most marketable designers since Coco Chanel.

Five million wrap dresses later, von Furstenberg is still gaining fans young and old. She re-launched her line in 1997, and the wrap dress once again was a huge favorite. Today you can find many other designers with their own version of the wrap dress. But Diane von Furstenberg remains the standard of quality and design.

If you are looking to add this essential dress to your wardrobe, look at department stores such as Sak’s Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. Stick with Diane von Furstenberg and other high-quality labels when purchasing a wrap dress. Poorly constructed dresses in cheap fabrics won’t drape properly or flattering your curves.

This season shop for wrap dresses in unique prints and bold colors. Right now, you can get the Diane von Furstenberg tribal-print wrap dress at Neiman Marcus for just under $300. This silk dress features a multicolored pattern and 3/4 length sleeves. Of course, this splendid dress also has the traditional wrap front, v-neckline, and a tie belt at the left waist. If you aren’t into prints, look for a wrap dress in basic black, navy, or charcoal gray. These neutrals can be worn year-round and you can easily change the look with different jewelry, handbags and other accessories.
Effortlessly-chic, timeless and sophisticated, the Diane von Furstenberg dress can be worn just about anywhere.

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jeggings

They aren’t just jeans. They aren’t just leggings. They are jeggings. Jeggings are leggings that look like ultra skinny denim jeans. In 2009, jeggings began to gain popularity when celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie were spotted jogging in them. But jeggings didn’t stay reserved for the fitness world for long. By the beginning of 2010, they were being worn everywhere and they took the fashion scene by storm.

Traditionally jeggings are created from a denim/spandex blend. They usually have faux pockets, belt loops and zip-fly fronts to give the appearance of jeans; however sometimes they have just a basic elastic waist. Jeggings are versatile. Like leggings, they can be worn under a skirt, dress or long tunic. However, because they are made of denim, you don’t necessarily have to cover up your rear end. So, you can wear them with everything from a tee to a blazer to a cardigan.

Unlike rigid skinny jeans, the lightweight, stretchy jeggings move as you move for better range of motion. Denim jeggings give you the comfort of traditional leggings, but they aren’t as casual – making them more versatile.
Premium denim brands such as Citizens of Humanity, Paige Premium Denim, Joe’s Jeans and 7 For All Mankind all offer jeggings. You can wear jeggings with flat sandals, high heels, or even ankle boots.

If you aren’t sure if you love jeggings yet, you don’t need to spend a bundle. Brands such as American Rag, Levi’s and Jessica Simpson offer a variety of different jeggings at Macy’s and other department stores. Selections include cropped styles, distressed fabrics, and both dark and light washes. Priced around $40 a pair, these jeggings are a fantastic way to try out the style without making a big investment.

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