Off the Rack

So maybe Posh really is trying to fit into L.A: She spent well over $100,000 in some of the city’s trendiest boutiques on Tuesday. At Petit Tresor — a favorite of Katie and Britney Spears — she bought soccer-themed furnishings for her three boys’ rooms as well as a bunch of clothing for herself, including: 48 camisoles, 12 tank-tops and 12 t-shirts — plus three Mia Bossi diaper bags including this Audrey bag that Madonna also owns. On to Kitson — a fave of Paris Hilton — Posh picked up the pink logo sweatsuit (soooo L.A.!), and his-and-hers Public Library tees simulating her hubby’s famous tattoos. After all that, we can only imagine that she worked up quite an appetite for her dinner with Katie Holmes at the Ivy. Looks like Mrs. Beckham will be a Hollywood mom before we know it!

Photo: Darren Banks/Splash News

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We were so used to Nicole Richie having warm honey blonde hair that when she went red, we were totally taken off guard. But then she quickly switched to a rich brunette shade, and we grew to really like the dark locks on her. But she’s flipped it again, and we don’t know what to think! She’s back to her old golden blonde bob (was the brown reminding new beau Joel Madden too much of his ex Hilary Duff?) and looking sleek. Now, can she just ditch those headscarves? Tell us: Which look do you like for Nicole? Brunette or blonde?

Making a radical hair color switch yourself? Get expert advice from a star hair stylist first!

Photo: Tsuni/Gamma; Andy Johnstone/ Pacific Coast News

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Even though we were blurry-eyed after Monday night’s rapid-fire channel-surfing, live blogging, gown-dishing extravaganza, we still couldn’t get enough of the Golden Globes this week. Everywhere we clicked we found more juicy tidbits from Hollywood’s big night. For instance: Go Fug Yourself imagines what the Dreamgirls cast must have been thinking while this photo was being snapped (JENNIFER: I hope Beyonce isn’t mad at me…..). While the L.A. Time’s Elizabeth Snead points out on Style & Scene, that Jennifer’s dress (selected by Vogue-man Andre Leon Talley) was NAVY, not black. (Hmm. We must need glasses.) One of our favorite fashion voices, Cathy Horyn, doing a guest-stint at the New York Times Carpetbagger blog, mused about the red carpet jewelry, particularly, Hilary Swank’s earware (”I bet she couldn’t wait to have a good scratch”). But to really get the “fly on the red carpet” experience, read Kirsten’s blog at E! online. She describes in vivid detail what it’s like to be there in four-inch heels, freezing in a sleeveless dress while trying to catch the stars’ attention (”Brrr…I’m wearing long johns under my dress. Not doing me any good”). Sound glamorous to you?

Photo: Jaguar/AdMedia

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I may have been able to afford Ashlee Simpson’s Free People tunic, but her $1700 quilted Balenciaga purse is a whole different story. But thanks to Bag, Borrow or Steal, I was able to rent that exact bag for a week during the holidays. Here’s how it works: There are hundreds of designer bags and fine jewelry to choose from for weekly or monthly rentals. You can become a member for $5 a month, which gives you steep discounts on the four levels of rentals: Couture, Diva, Princess, or Trendsetter — member rentals range from $6 a week to $275 a month. When carrying my “borrowed” Balenciaga, I was convinced that everything I wore looked better, and despite my paranoia that I was going to irrepairably damage the bag, it came through without a scratch. Best of all, I was only out $80, which is a lot easier to swallow than $1700. Next up on my list is the buttery-soft Chanel tote that I have been lusting after. Note of caution: you can’t pre-reserve so leave yourself a little time cushion to get in your bag if you need it for a special occasion. The hottest “It Bags” can be waitlisted for several weeks. Even with a little lag time, why buy when you can rent? — Melissa Liebling-Goldberg

See more of Melissa’s webshopping picks in the new issue of PEOPLE’s StyleWatch, on sale now.

Photo: Courtesy of Bag, Borrow or Steal

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We haven’t seen the Simpson girls out together in a while, with little sister Ashlee vacationing in Hawaii and Jessica laying low after ringing in the New Year with John Mayer. The other night, the sisters hit L.A. hotspot Koi, and we couldn’t help but notice how much they look like each other! Are they taking cues from another famous set of sisters? We know that their styles have been converging for a while — with Jessica getting punkier and Ashlee getting girlier — but with their long wavy blond hair, bright red lipstick and black coats, they look so shockingly similar! We like the girls when they stick to their own style guns. Do you like their similar looks? Or do you miss their radically different tastes?

Click here for more on Jessica, and click here for more on Ashlee in Off the Rack.

Photo: Chris Wolf/FilmMagic

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