Last year, I discovered the glorious versatility of the oversized grey tank. Throw it on with skinnies and it’s perfect for a summer weekend, or belt it over a skinny mini, add a blazer and strappy sandals or booties, and it’s a sexy-but-not-too date night ensemble. I can see why celebs love the KAiN Side Drape Pocket Tank. You can wear it with almost everything, to almost anywhere.

KAiN Side Drape Pocket Tank
($94, Singer22)

P.S.: Also available at Shopbop, Boutique To You & National Jean Company.

Celebrities Love KAiN

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NYC Boutique “The Shark Bite Tank”

The KAiN Side Drape Pocket Tank is a wonderful wardrobe staple, but $94 for a tank top? Come on. That’s a bit much. Luckily, we’ve found an alternative that is not only cheaper, but better. “The Shark Bite Tank” by NYC Boutique has the same flowing sides and pocket, but it is less transparent. That’s good for two reasons: a dark legging or bottom doesn’t show through the shirt, and the material holds up longer. See? I told you it was a better choice.

NYC Boutique “The Shark Bite Tank”
($34, Karmaloop)

Katy Perry is very much known for her quirky fun personality. She has a soft spot for all things cute which can be clearly seen in the picture below where Katy braves LA’s rainy weather with a pink cat umbrella and a sweet racer back tank with a smiley face on it. Katy loves ♥ ♥ ♥ and we ♥ Katy!

Our Rating:

Sauce Heart Eyes Racer Back Tank

Sauce Heart Eyes Racer Back Tank
($40.60, Shopbop)

P.S.: Also available in black or white at Singer22.

Vanessa Hudgens makes casual chic look so effortless, doesn’t she? She’s just adorable, and she consistently manages to look comfy—without looking sloppy (unlike those famous twins who have elevated bag lady chic to an art form). While Vanessa likely has access to myriad designer labels and pieces, in her everyday life, she tends to keep it real. So real, in fact, that almost anyone can steal this look, as all the pieces are standard ready-to-wear, at glorious ready-to-wear prices.

Our Rating:

Free People Bohemian Flutter Sleeve Top

Free People Bohemian Flutter Sleeve Top
($49.95, Free People)

JJ Winters Buckle Fringe Leather Bag

JJ Winters Buckle Fringe Leather Bag
($239, Black Label Boutique)

P.S.: Also available at Boutique To You and Singer22.

Nudie Jeans Tight Long John Skinny Jeans

Nudie Jeans Tight Long John Skinny Jeans in Denim Stretch
($179, Tobi)

Zodiac “Panda” Boots

Zodiac “Panda” Boots
($99, Endless)

P.S.: Also available in black and taupe at Shoes.com.

You know when bad style happens? Usually when celebs—or mere mortals—are trudging through everyday life: to the gym, to the gas station, to pick up the kids, to the salon. Unlike some celebs who think sloppy is permissible (or synonymous) with casual wear, Kim Kardashian knows that casual can still be chic. Her latest wardrobe trick is to throw a blazer over a long-ish top, add skinny jeans and a perilously high bootie, and POOF! It’s the perfect, practical, photo-appropriate, running-errands outfit.

Our Rating:

LnA Striped Mesh Tee

LnA Striped Mesh Tee
($88, Free People)

P.S.: Also available at Singer22, Black Label Boutique & Boutique To You.

Madison Marcus Flash Blazer

Madison Marcus Flash Blazer
($328, Shopbop)

7 For All Mankind Gummy Denim Motorcycle Leggings

7 For All Mankind Gummy Denim Motorcycle Leggings
($178, Tobi)

L.A.M.B. “Zea” Open-toe Booties

L.A.M.B. “Zea” Open-toe Booties
($355, Endless)

P.S.: Also available at Zappos, Shopbop, DJPremium & Bloomingdale’s.

When I was younger I used to have a phase when I would refuse to wear anything else than jeans and a graphic tee. I remember how I thought I was so fab back then. Now that I’m older I fortunately am over that phase, but every once in a while I see my past obsession for graphic t-shirts rekindle. But who wouldn’t want to own the cute Lanvin bow tank below anyway?

Lanvin Spring 2008 Face and Bow Tank
(~$300, SOLD OUT)

Celebrities Love Lanvin

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Alice + Olivia Painted Face and Bow Tee

Alice + Olivia is usually not a brand associated with knockoffs, but the printed t-shirt below with the big black bow is obviously the original brainchild of Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz. I don’t know how I feel about upscale knockoffs to be honest. Take this tee for example: it’s not exactly a steal at $198. And it ain’t the real Lanvin either. If you’re willing to shell out almost $200 of your hard-earned money, do you want to run around in what’s just an expensive copy in the end? Knowing that for an additional $100 you could’ve owned the original? I don’t think so. However, if you’re not able to track the Lanvin down, you may be excused to go for this look-a-like.

Alice + Olivia Painted Face and Bow T-Shirt
($198, Singer22)

Macy’s Pastry Top, “Sweetie” Print Tunic

UPDATE (09/20/2009): Here’s another affordable alternative to the Lanvin tank (via FabSugar).

Macy’s Pastry Top, “Sweetie” Print Tunic
($26, Macy’s)

As much as I love extravagant dresses and sky high stiletto heels, sometimes it’s all about the basics. Having an array of crisp white shirts and tank tops in your closet is a must. Whenever I go shopping for basics however, I still end up always looking for fancy details to satisfy my obsession with everything studded, embellished, embroidered, sequined or torn, so it’s no wonder I have instantly fallen in love with Sonia Rykiel’s silk chiffon tank below. It may look like your regular striped tank with sequins at first sight, but upon closer inspection you will see that the sequins aren’t actually sequins but intricately beaded pearls and crystals. What an attention to detail, I adore it!

Sonia Rykiel Silk Chiffon Tank
($2.305, SOLD OUT)

Bebe Studded Silk Striped Tank

If you can’t afford spending more than 2k on a tank top (albeit a very beautiful one), this Bebe studded tank might fit your bill. Like the Sonia Rykiel original this one also has beaded, crystal and studded details running across the bodice and is also made of silk. The tank top retails for $49 and is available in either white, black, blue or dove grey.

Bebe Studded Silk Striped Tank
($49, Bebe)

I remember falling in love with this Bill Blass ruffle blouse sometime last year. The soft silk, the flattering color and the perfectly shaped ruffles were simply to die for! Most things on my wish list are either shoes or dresses, but this blouse made me swoon and shooted straight up on no. 1. However, I quickly learned that everything comes at a price… and this one was as high as $1.990.

Bill Blass Flamenco Backless Blouse
($1.990, SOLD OUT)

Celebrities Love Bill Blass

Leighton Meester wore the Bill Blass blouse (though I think hers was a modified version because it had more and smaller ruffles) in an episode of Gossip Girl while Rihanna wore it on the InStyle cover of the August 2008 issue.

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Bebe Ruffle & Rosette Bloom Halter Top

I think it’s beyond debate that Bebe’s interpretation of the Bill Blass blouse doesn’t even come close to the superb quality of the original, but if you are all about frills and ruffles this ruffled top might fit your bill as the overall look resembles the Bill Blass original. Also available in black, white and tea rose.

Bebe Ruffle & Rosette Bloom Halter Top
($79, Bebe)

If I had to make a fashion-related Things I want to Do Before I Die list, “wearing a Balmain dress” would be definitely somewhere in my top 3. After all, can you imagine NOT feeling like an ultimate goddess in the exquisite lace LBD below?

I like to think that the reason why Balmain dresses cost thousands of dollars is because they have sewn confidence into each piece, so whenever a woman wears Balmain she will be automatically oozing grace and feel sexy & fabulous. Yes, I’m fanboying again.

Balmain Fall 2008

Celebrities Love Balmain

Victoria’s Secret angel Selita Ebanks was the first to wear this racy number back in March when she attended the New York Premiere of “Valentino: The Last Emperor“. She sure turned some heads in this mini LBD. Ex-Destiny’s Child member LeToya Luckett tried to pull off the same look at this year’s BET Awards, but failed miserably not least because of her clunky Alejandro Ingelmo platform heels.

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Bebe Unzipped Lace Beaded Dress

UPDATE (08/15/2009): Apparently Bebe liked this dress so much, they knocked it off twice.

Bebe Unzipped Lace Beaded Dress
($119, Bebe)

Bebe Sequin Beaded Ruched Lace Top

I know. You must be tired of reading all my Balmain vs. Bebe knockoff finds, but I will not stop and continue posting every Balmain knockoff under the sun because every woman deserves a little Balmain in her life, no? Even if it’s faux-Balmain.

Bebe seems now to be copying backwards from older seasons. In order to not be a too obvious copycat they made a top out of their Balmain knockoff version (considering the length of the original, the change does seem logical), but even that won’t hide all the other similarities. There’s no way their knockoff is going too look or feel remotely like the real deal, but for $89 Bebe has done quite a good job I think. Call me crazy, but I actually kinda like it.

Bebe Sequin Beaded Ruched Lace Top
($89, Bebe)

Sometimes a simple oversized tee can be as stylish as any fancy dress. You can dress it up by wearing it tucked in with a pair of cigarette pants as seen on Sienna Miller or go casual and wear it with your favorite distressed jeans like Audrina Partridge.

KAiN Label Gathered Sleeve T-Shirt
($92, REVOLVEClothing)

Gentle Manner Oversized Top

If you refuse to spend more than $90 on a simple t-shirt, but still want the style, the oversized top below is a great KAiN alternative which retails for affordable $19.

Gentle Manner Oversized Top
($19, LuLu’s)

We haven’t featured Vanessa Hudgens on this site for quite some time. Not because we didn’t want to, but basically because she managed to keep herself out of paparazzi’s reach in the last few weeks. But finally we have some new candids of her from July 4, where she was caught with boyfriend Zac Efron on their way to dinner. Vanessa kept her outfit low-key by wearing a Lauren Moshi swing tank, Siwy denim shorts, a Cole Haan crossbody bag and metallic Miu Miu gladiator flats.

Our Rating:

Lauren Moshi EXCLUSIVE Swing Tank

Lauren Moshi EXCLUSIVE Swing Tank
($96, REVOLVEClothing)

Siwy Camilla Cut Off Shorts

Siwy Camilla Cut Off Shorts in Snowstorm
($158, Singer22)

The shorts can also be purchased at: Shopbop, Free People, Chickdowntown and REVOLVEClothing.