Blake Lively at the 2011 BAM Theater Gala on March 10th in New York City.

As the temperature starts to rise, it marks the time for the always-anticipated spring cleaning.  Just as our wardrobes transition from winter to spring, so should our beauty routine. This means packing up your beloved straightener, blow-dryer and much-loved curling iron, and letting your tousles go au natural!   Every day women spend hours tugging, pulling and frying their strands. But why do we put our hair through so much damage simply for a “good hair day”? Thanks to Hollywood trendsetters like Diane Kruger, Rachel Bilson and Blake Lively, natural locks has become the most wanted hair trend this season.  With the 70s inspired looks hitting the runway, women are taking a stroll down memory lane with their bright ensembles, chunky platforms and untouched manes!

We tend to turn a blind eye to the sizzling truth about heat styling, however using hot surfaces do in fact lead to breakage, split ends, dull hair, and early hair loss. So kick up your feet, embrace your inner beauty and give your styling products the season off!

If your hair is:

Naturally Straight

To control fizz, add a nickel size dollop of hair serum into your hands, rub it between your fingers and run your hands through your hair. The hair serum will not only reduce frizz but add shine to your hair. To add more shape, twist the hair by your face pin it back, add some hairspray and let it loose.

Grape Seed Glossing Serum from the Body Shop, $14; www.thebodyshop.ca

Naturally Wavy

To enhance your wavy hair, twist your curls into tight rounds, bobby pin it to your head and spray with hairspray. Remove the bobby pins, and to have tight curls. To create soft waves, run your fingers through your hair very thoroughly. Add some hair serum to add shine and reduce fizz.

Joimist Firm by Joico, $ 24; www.joica.com

Naturally Curly

Try to avoid washing your hair everyday, this kind of hair needs the natural oils from your scalp. Also avoid using towels to dry your hair. Pick a good leave in conditioner and add some curl-defining mousse or gel. To add more shape to your hair try scrunching it and twirling pieces around with your fingers.

Dry Shampoo by Tresemme, $6; drugstores

Spray Conditioner by BC Bonacure, $18; www.schwarzkopf-professional.com

Curly Boosting Mousse by Herbal Essences, $7; drugstores

Still not convinced? More reasons why to go natural

1. Exposing your scalp to chemicals on a regular basis is not only damaging for your hair but it can damage for your health.
2. Natural hairs styles are coming back in a big way.
3. Less damage to your hair can save the cost of the many salon visits per year. Instead of going to get your hair cut once a month for $100, with healthy hair means less hair appointments. You could save approx $900 per year.
4. You have more time to enjoy your day. If you usually put 30 minutes a day towards your hair, you could use your time more productively.
5. You will learn to appreciate yourself and your natural beauty.
6. It takes less energy to embrace what you have than to fight against it.

Only two more months until I am reunited with my best friends: Blair, Serena, Nate, Chuck, Dan and Vanessa. Until then, I am left to my own speculations and guesses as to what will happen when the Upper East Siders embark on their first year of college. Shameful hook ups, chaotic house parties and nasty dorm roommates are just some of the situations I hope to see this September when Gossip Girl returns.

Gossip Girl spoilers:

• 

  Ed Westwick (Chuck Bass) and Leighton Meester (Blair Waldorf) on the set of "Gossip Girl" filming season three, on the streets of Manhattan on June 29, 2009 in New York City.

  Word on the street is we will be seeing Georgina and Blair in the same dorm – two manipulative brats in one room can only be a bad thing. But, I am confident Blair will find a solution to the infestation. Doesn’t she always? Well, not without everything going wrong first.

• Serena and Dan were seen smooching during filming in New York City. But, this could just be the actors off-screen kissing because they are in fact a couple.

• Serena and Dan’s half-brother will become a character in the new season. No idea yet how soon they will discover his true identity.

• There are two new ladies on set: Hilary Duff and Joanna Garcia (Privileged). They will both be playing new love interests for Dan and Nate. Hilary will play Olivia, a movie star who is seeking a traditional college experience. Joanna will be playing Bree Buckley a cheeky and possibly evil Miss America-type who hails from a conservative Southern family.

• The actor who will play Serena and Eric’s father has yet to be cast or his identity has been kept a secret… if they are successful in finding him…

• Jenny is now the Queen of the Upper East Side. How she will affect the new class of unpleasant teenagers?  She could return to her fashion designing roots or become a Marissa Cooper-type druggy that gets into all sorts of ugly situations. I vote for situation number two.

Keep up to date on your GG dish here at AdornedMagazine.com as we get closer to the third season.  For now we will catch a glimpse of the crew shooting on the streets of New York City and attempt to dissect the story line from onlooker’s photographs.

XOXO!!!

Nadia Swarovski, Justin Giunta, Alexander Wang, Tim Hamilton and Blake Lively attends the 2009 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall in New York City.

The CFDA awards are regarded as “the Oscars of the fashion industry”. Last night the winners of these prestigious awards were announced in New York. And of course as expected, the stars came out to congratulate the designers and pose on the red carpet. Some big names included Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively and Late Night’s Jimmy Fallon. The evening also included a well-deserved tribute to America’s most fashionable woman: First Lady Michelle Obama.

Here is the full list of winners:

Womenswear Designer of the Year: Rodarte’s Laura and Kate Mulleavy
Menswear Designer of the Year (tie): Calvin Klein’s Italo Zucchelli and Band of Outsiders’ Scott Sternberg
Accessory Designer of the Year: Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCullough and Lazaro Hernandez
Swarovski Award for Womenswear: Alexander Wang
Swarovski Award for Menswear: Tim Hamilton
Swarovski Award for Accessory Design: Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry
International Award: Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton
Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award: Anna Sui
Eugenia Sheppard Award: Women’s Wear Daily editor-in-chief Ed Nardoza
Eleanor Lambert Award: GQ’s Jim Moore
Board of Director’s Special Tribute: First Lady Michelle Obama

More Photos:

Having trouble finding that perfect summer staple for your wardrobe?

You might want to consider picking up this season’s must-have: the romper.

The trend emerged last summer and made its way onto Derek Lam, Betsey Johnson, and Alexander Wang’s runways this season. Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively is a fan, recently sporting a teal-blue ADAM romper at the CW Network Party.

The romper first appeared in 1910 as playwear for younger children, particularly boys. It is believed to have originated from the bloomer, and is known as the first “true” play suit. The romper was revolutionary in that it was the first piece of clothing that wasn’t restrictive to children and allowed for several hours of unlimited play. In the 1950s, dressier rompers were developed so that they could be worn at more formal occasions.

Now, fashionable stars like Mary-Kate Olsen, Taylor Momsen and Lauren Conrad are wearing the romper. Unlike its more casual cousin, the overall, rompers create a more sophisticated, chic, and perfectly pulled together look. They’re extremely versatile, easy to wear and comfortable, not to mention flattering for every body type.

The romper is available in all sorts of fabrics and prints, and can be worn to the office, on the street, or out to dinner.

Pair your romper with gladiator sandals and a skinny belt to cinch the waist for the daytime or dress it up with high heels and some statement jewelry. Rompers also make a perfect cover-up for the beach. Just add a headscarf and flip-flops and you’ll be ready to go.

Happy shopping!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Dot Spots Jumpsuit, $325

Roots Kate Bamboo Jersey Jumpsuit, $68

American Apparel Tri-blend halter romper, $32

The Party

The launch of The Model as Muse exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art includes an enormous gala that rivals the red carpet at the Oscars.

Justin Timberlake and girlfriend Jessica Biel were among the first to arrive at the MET for the this year’s gala. Timberlake wore a William Rast suit and geek-chic glasses, while Biel was on his arm in red Versace. Marc Jacobs, the man and host behind the exhibit, waltzed in with Kate Moss, who wore a backless metallic toga dress and a turban.

The showstopper? Had to be Madonna and her interesting Louis Vuitton ensemble. The L.A. Times said that Madonna looked “ready for Neverland … like the love child of Tinkerbell and Captain Hook.”

Christian Dior brought along Academy Award winning actress Marion Cotillard who wore his design for Christian Dior. Kanye West worked a Louis Vuitton suit, while his lady Amber Rose looked stunning in Carolina Herrera. Mary-Kate Olsen with longer messier blonde hair wore Christian Lacroix Couture. Her sister Ashley looked beautiful in backless white dress, her own design from The Row.

Jessica Alba wore a shorter number by Michelle Obama’s favourite, Jason Wu. Tyra Banks smiled with her eyes while posing for photos in her Badgley Mischka gown.

Brooke Shields wore Calvin Klein, obviously!

Leighton Meester looked adorable with her new blonder hair in a standout Louis Vuitton outfit. Kate Beckinsale wowed the photographers in her Marchesa gown. Liv Tyler channeled old Hollywood glam in a Stella McCartney dress. Blake Lively wore Versace, she was one of the last to arrive, her date Penn Badgley told reporters that they were having a wardrobe malfunction. Agyness Deyn and Twiggy arrived arm-in-arm, both wearing Burberry. And last, but certainly not least, Rihanna made her comeback to the red carpet with an androgynous look by Dolce & Gabbana.

See all these fabulous red carpet arrivals in the gallery below.

The Exhibit

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibit The Models As Muse: Embodying Fashion, takes a look at how models played a role in inspiring fashion through several eras.

The exhibition is organized by the Costume Institute’s director Harold Koda and guest curator Kohle Yohannan. It features about 80 looks arranged according to decade.

Beginning with a peek into the post-WWII resurgence of American fashion and advertising, you can find photographs of Lisa Fonssagrives, Suzy Parker, Dovima, Sunny Harnett, and Dorian Leigh in what was called the Golden Age of Haute Couture.

The ’60s “Youthquake” display pays homage to models such as Peggy Moffitt and Twiggy with ensembles from Paco Robanne, Andre Courreges and Rudi Gernreich.

The ‘70s were about the All-American athletic-looking model, when women like Jerry Hall and Lisa Taylor were the muse. The exhibit features boho looks form Yves Saint Laurent and Halston dresses.

Moving on to the ‘80s in an era of the supermodel, where the “trinity”, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington, appeared in all the designer campaigns.

The ‘90s marked a shift from beautiful supermodels to rebel girls such as Kate Moss, along with the minimalism of Donna Karan and Prada.

If you are in the New York area or traveling to the city, it’s worth checking out. The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion exhibit runs from May 6 – Aug 9.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, at 82nd St. (212-535-7710)

Gallery: