You Can View These Beautiful Pop Stars' Wedding Dresses

When we think of weddings, we will think of Vera Wang at first. Which is all the more impressive when you realize that Vera Wang has only been designing for brides since the early 1990′s. All the ladies in the world all want to own a Vera Wang wedding dress. There are some pop stars who have chosen Vera Wang wedding dresses which are different styles.

Khloe Kardashian

Khloe wore a form-fitting, strapless A-line wedding grown with a lavender sash when she wed Lamar Odom after a whopping one month of dating.

Jessica Simpson

10 years ago, Jessica wed Nick Lachey wed traditional church ceremony in Austin, TX. The bride wore a custom, strapless beaded Vera Wang.

Avril Lavigne

People were taken aback when Avril played it classy in a shinning princess wedding dress at her 2006 wedding to Sum 41 frontman Deryk Whibley.

Alicia Keyes

Alicia Keyes was absolutely radiant when she wed rapper/producer Swiss Beatz in a maternity style one shoulder Vera gown at her wedding at a private home in the Mediterranean.

Hilary Duff

Hilar's Vera Wang looks suspiciously similar to one of Kim Kardashian's wedding dresses. The ex-Disney starlet wore this slinky little number when she wed her hockey star beau Mike Comrie in 2010.

Clothing Cosmetics Lines From The Movie

It's not uncommon for products associated with big-budget movies to be on the market several months before the film hits theaters, and Memoirs of a Geisha is no different.
But you won't find them tucked into fast-food kids' meals or children's toy shops. Instead of plastic, the items inspired by this movie are made of rich velvet and satin and invoke a world of luxury.
In a confluence of art and commerce, the romantic epic that opens today depicting a young girl blossoming into a legendary geisha has also become a style - one found in Banana Republic, Bath & Body Works, and high-end department stores.

"We see this collection very much appealing to our customers," explained Deborah Lloyd, executive vice president of design for Banana Republic. "They appreciate fashion, art, and cultures from around the world and this film, as well as the collection, combines all three."
Based on Arthur Golden's bestselling novel, Memoirs of a Geisha tells the story of a young girl who was taken from her home and sold into slavery to a renowned geisha house. She transforms as she learns the arts of the geisha, including dance and music, wearing kimono, and elaborate makeup and hair.
The film acknowledges that her life is sometimes dark. But what shines through on the big screen are the colors and costumes, images nothing short of glamorous.
"What we wanted to create for the film was a sensual feeling using the traditional
Japanese kimono as our key starting point," said Academy Award winning costume designer Colleen Atwood in a phone interview. "We took the creation of the kimono and changed it to make it something that the modern, western audience would relate to."
These less traditional and more universal items are what filmgoers may find familiar if they've recently been to a shopping mall.
The Banana Republic limited-edition collection appeared in select stores and online in November. It includes a silk floral kimono top ($88), Asian tassel necklaces ($58), and a satin kimono dress ($168).
At Bath & Body Works a special display is dedicated to products such as a Rice Face Wash ($32), Flower Petal Mask ($35), and Shimmer Powder with Crushed Pearls ($38). Created by the cosmetic and skin care company Fresh, the collection is inspired by the film and arrived in stores in September. The products can also be found online and in stores such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Sephora.
The food industry was not to be left out, and from The Republic of Tea comes Cherry Green Tea ($10), which features the film's star, Ziyi Zhang, on the packaging. The Japanese Sencha green tea is available at natural grocery and gourmet food shops.
And Tonner Dolls, which has offered everything from Wizard of Oz dolls to miniature Harry Potters, plans to introduce a Geisha collection soon. The Sayuri limited edition doll ($175) depicts a geisha in a silver kimono, custom embroidered to match the film's costume.
Noel Palomo-Lovinski, an assistant professor at Kent State University's School of Fashion, Design and Merchandising, said fashion has often been inspired by a costume designer's vision in a movie. Dating to the 1930s, glamorous styles seen on the big screen often made their way - in less expensive forms - to the department stores, she said.
"They liked it in the movies and it sold in the stores," Ms. Palomo-Lovinski said. "You get people to buy it because they saw it in the movie and you get people to go see the movie because they like the style."
A teacher of design history and popular culture, Ms. Palomo-Lovinski said selling the public on Asian-inspired designs likely has been easy. Similar to animal prints and metallics, it something that "just keeps coming back," she said.
Banana Republic officials said it is the "rich colors and luxurious fabrications" that keep designers intrigued by eastern-inspired styles.

Costume Designer Colleen Atwood: I Could Not Have Come Up With Anything Better

Incorporating all of the goth creepiness one expects from Burton, the film showcases the talent of costume designer Colleen Atwood in creating eccentric fashions from the buttoned-up 1790s and the campy 1970s.

Costume designer Colleen Atwood was more than up to the challenge after numerous previous collaborations with director Tim Burton (her efforts for the director's"Alice in Wonderland" earned her a 2010 Academy Award). This time around, instead of going down the rabbit hole, her challenge was to bring a touch of 18th century style to the coastal Maine of the Me Decade in a way that didn't alienate fans of the original gothic television soap opera, which became a cult classic during its run from 1966 to 1970.

Tim Burton's big-screen remake of "Dark Shadows" might not be everyone's cup of fresh AB-Negative, but since it reunited the director not only with Johnny Depp but with another frequent collaborator -- three-time Academy Award-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood -- on a period movie set in 1972, we knew the costumes would be a rich vein to tap indeed.

My Q&A with Atwood about the costume inspirations (which include everything from a Virginia Slims ad to David Bailey books and DIY crafts) and the provenance of some of the key wardrobe pieces appears in this Sunday's Image section.

Among the things we learned from Atwood? Apparently American heads circa 1972 were a wee bit smaller, something she said made it challenging once she'd found the right vintage sunglasses for the characters.

"And, once I found the perfect pair for Johnny [Depp] I needed to get several pair made -- since he's a principal," she told us. "And I couldn't find anyone here willing to do it. Finally, when I got to London, I found someone there who would rise to the occasion."

For the '70s-inspired costumes, Atwood supplemented her memories of that trendy time with period magazine images. For instance, Eva Green's vengeful witch, Angelique, wears costumes reminiscent of a Virginia Slims cigarette ad. "My inspirations were also Ossie Clark, Biba and early YSL pantsuits -- very sleek women's tailoring."

Achieving cult status - Madonna's also a big fan - Dark Shadows has rarely been off American TV screens ever since.

The actor who many feel was the main reason Dark Shadows reached 20 million viewers in its hey day was leading man Jonathan Frid, who makes a cameo in Burton's movie, saying hello to Johnny at a party. And goodbye to Barnabas Collins, the character he had made him famous, and who was now being channeled by the biggest movie star in the world.

It's a moment made all the more moving by the fact that Jonathan Frid passed away in April, at the ripe old age of 87.

"It certainly adds a whole new layer to his cameo," says Atwood. "And to the movie itself. The love that was there for Jonathan when he shot his scene with Johnny was so apparent, and I'm sure he felt that. To have this big movie star treat you like an idol, that's got to feel pretty good..."

For Frid, that day on set must have also felt like a sort of homecoming, given that three of his former co-stars from the TV series - Lara Parker, Kathryn Leigh Scott and David Selby - were also there for their turns as party guests.
"They were like this dysfunctional family, all meeting up after years of not talking to one another," smiles Atwood. "So, that was emotional to begin with. The nomadic life of the actor often sees people being very, very close during a shoot, and then just not seeing each other again after that. I'm just so glad Jonathan - who was very frail on the set - lived to have this special reunion. He was so excited that the movie was coming out..."

As for Michelle Pfeiffer, who plays the grand dame of the Collins family, she's stuck in an 18th century time warp. "She is very ladylike and still dresses for dinner, telegraphing the family's affluent past," says Atwood. Her costumes are a mix of newly made and vintage, including a black chiffon high-necked dress the costume designer discovered at a Los Angeles thrift store.

Says Atwood: "I could not have come up with anything better. Of course, it fit her perfectly, as everything does."

Costumes Of The Avengers Feature Hollywood Costumes

From wigs to light-up costumes, make the jump and check out specialized Halloween costumes & products based on the much-anticipated big-screen assembly of Marvel's The Avengers. Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, & directed by Joss Whedon from a screenplay by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since.

Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when “Marvel’s The Avengers” assemble on May 4, 2012. The film is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. In addition to "Marvel's The Avengers," Marvel Studios will release a slate of films based on the Marvel characters including "Iron Man 3" on May 3, 2013!; and “Thor 2” on November 15, 2013.
　　

Maybe a suit of Mark VII armor is too expensive to make, you say, or that security wouldn’t let you inside with a viking helmet and a giant hammer. Maybe your physique doesn’t lend itself to being half-nude and painted green or stuffed into a form-fitting black leather one-piece. Well, I have good news for you, my crafty friends! In a sponsorship deal for The Avengers, Farmers Insurance (of all people) have some do-it-yourself costume guides tailor-made to each of your favorite superheroes. Just in time for Comic-Con 2012! Hit the jump to check them out.
　　

The red, white and blue shield. The red and gold armor. The red cape, giant hammer and silver helmet with little wings. Marvel took on a tall order when they began bringing their iconic super heroes to the silver screen, and in this spring’s upcoming blockbuster — The Avengers — they were tasked with costuming Hollywood A-listers to look like Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Sure, it’s easier with some than others — Hulk just needs some big ol’ ripped up purple pants — but with fans being notoriously nitpicky, it’s easy to make a super-powered fashion faux pas that will send blogs across the internet talking. So we’re going to take a look at how Joss Whedon’s team took decades of comic book costume history and made it a real world mega-movie reality.

Costume Ideas May Come From Traditional Culture

Coming up with funny Halloween costume ideas can be tricky. Butcostume ideas abound if you think about culture. Your own culture, pop culture, or the cosmopolitan spot you happen to be living in at the moment, offer great costume ideas.
　　
While Halloween comes mostly from Celtic origin, people in North America have taken the celebration - in particular the costume party - to new heights. Over 60 percent of Americans decorate their homes in October, too.
　　
Americans love to dress up as television or movie characters. For example, you will likely see renditions of Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow for a few years to come, given the popularity of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series. A coupe of years back, my nephew dressed up as the Joker from the Dark Knight movie. His outfit had an eery combination of humor and evil. Quite creepy it was, and perfect for the October occasion.
　　
When I lived in Japan, culture popped out at me on Halloween.I saw strange masks and costumes I couldn’t figure out.That first year, I learned a lot about Japanese mythology just from partying in Tokyo. I discovered, too, that culture can play a strong role in how different people relate to funny Halloween costume ideas.
　　
One of my earliest memories has to do with the story Pinocchio. My mother read me the original version of the tale--which is a lot scarier than the Disney version. In one scene, Pinocchio gets tired of the cricket's constant lectures. So he takes a big wooden mallet and smashes the cricket against the wall. Later, Pinocchio falls asleep with his feet on the wood-burning stove and burns both his feet off!
　　
Thanks to Pinocchio, I always liked the idea of a wooden puppet coming to life. And so I eventually invented Slappy and wrote three Night of the Living Dummy books for the Goosebumps series.

Manufacturers and retailers predict that this year's top costumes will be inspired by the same Hollywood characters that dominated the big and small screens.
　　
The National Retail Federation picks princesses and pirates, often of the Disney variety, and Spider-Man to be the top children's costumes of the year, while Yahoo! Shopping adds "Star Wars," "Hannah Montana" and "High School Musical" as favorites with trick-or-treaters.
　　
"Sometimes I feel I'm either on Wall Street or a movie mogul, I pay such attention to the box office," says Mary Ellen Turner, Party City's divisional vice president of seasonal departments -- aka the company's "queen of Halloween."
　　
At Party City, "Transformers" and "Hannah Montana" costumes are on top, while Amazon.com's Halloween store suggests "Harry Potter," "Shrek" and "High School Musical."
　　
And it's not just movies -- the big names in toys are another source of costume inspiration. Barbie-themed costumes are consistent performers, and Transformers were in toy chests before they stormed the movie industry, notes Mark Randall, vice president of toys and baby for Amazon.com. Randall will be looking at the fall '08 toys next week for inspiration for next year's costumes.
　　
"A licensed character is a powerful engine, whether it starts with a DVD, a Saturday morning cartoon, a network or a book like 'Narnia' or 'Harry Potter,"' agrees Turner. "They're such powerful influencers for children and, quite frankly, adults, too."
　
As you might expect, Halloween was my favorite holiday when I was a kid. I always wanted to be something really scary. A ghost. A mummy. A--duck? One year, my mother bought me a duck suit. Other kids thought it was pretty funny, but I didn't think it was funny at all. When I wrote The Haunted Mask for Goosebumps, I remembered that duck costume and how embarrassing it was. And so I gave Carly Beth, the girl in the book, a duck costume, too.
　　
The idea for the Goosebumps book Stay Out of the Basement all started with a crazy picture that flashed into my mind. I imagined a father taking off his baseball cap. Leaves were growing on his head instead of hair. How did the leaves get there? Who is the father? Is he turning into a plant? Is he ALREADY a plant?
　　
The Avengers – Although “Avenger” themed costumes will be sported mostly on an individual level, it would make for an excellent group costume theme. This would a perfect time for the costumes, as “The Avengers” film is due out next May. Those who choose these costumes would be ahead of the game in previewing a major attraction for next summer. “The Avengers” combination is also great because no one has to fight much over who gets to be whom since every character is equally awesome. Thor and Captain America will be especially popular alone after their hit films from this summer, coupled with Iron Man, the Hulk, Black Widow, Nick Fury and Hawkeye. The villain Loki could also be incorporated, as well as other “Avengers” that did not make it into the film for legal reasons. If the group is too big for these names given, Spiderman and a couple X-Men could be seamlessly included for a superhero filled night.
　　
The Dark Knight Rises – This group costume theme would again be a preview of a major film release coming out next summer. It would be great to base costumes off the upcoming film this Halloween to beat the crowd that will inevitably be around next Halloween after the film is released. Batman is obviously the titular character from the movie and is always a favorite, but newcomers Catwoman and Bane would be fun costumes to incorporate. For those who want to avoid looking at spoilerish pictures online, Warner Brothers have released official photos of Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman and Tom Hardy’s Bane. Just like “The Avengers,” several other Batman characters could be added to the group that will not be appearing in this film. The Joker and Two-Face from “The Dark Knight” would still serve as great costumes, as well as the Scarecrow from “Batman Begins.”
　　
The Walking Dead – AMC’s television series begs to be used as a group-themed costume. The zombies are obviously a major attraction, as many members of the group could all share this role. Group members could have a ton of fun creating differing and horrifying zombie makeup and clothing. Additionally, Rick’s sheriff costume would stand out and juxtapose well with the zombies. The characters of Shane, Dale, Glenn and Daryl could be included, even though they are slightly less exciting than Rick’s outfit. They would still be fun and something different.
　　
Eastbound and Down – Kenny Powers has been a popular costume since “Eastbound and Down” premiered in 2009. With the mullet being the key contribution to the outfit, any other combination of Kenny’s various attires could be used. His multiple baseball uniforms and all black attire would be the best options. Additionally, the characters Stevie Janowski and Ashley Schaeffer would be fun costumes to create, though Stevie would be a little challenging, with his hard to imitate hairstyle being the only main feature. The costume would be more in the performance, as his voice is easy to imitate and his dialogue is hilarious. Ashley Schaeffer – played by Will Ferrell – sports flowing white hair and cheap, outrageous suits. This themed group would be perfect for a group of three guys.