Helen Mirren has been a fashion icon in Hollywood a long time and she still looks amazing. I recently came across this photo of her and decided to dissect her signature style. It really comes down to three main focuses.

1. The calf-length hem: This length, at any age, always comes across as elegant, but heels (no matter the height) are key.
2. Highlight your waist: Some women, once they hit a certain age, start to hide their waistline under shapeless tops and dresses. But that’s the worst thing you could do! Mirren finds flattering wrap dresses or large belts to highlight hers—an excellent trick!
3. Slim-cut sleeves: Even if you don’t want to show off your bare arms, you still need to highlight their shape. A slim-cut jacket or cardigan is an easy way to give yourself a bit of necessary structure.

Here are a few pieces I’ve found that are inspired by Mirren’s timeless style.

DKNY knit wrap front dress, $195.00 at Saks Fifth Avenue

Pinwheel cardigan, $59.50 at Ann Taylor Loft

Tre Vero Double-Buckle Wide Belt, $99.00 at Dillard’s

Lots of love,

Loren

In her latest movie, “The Proposal,” Sandra Bullock plays a publishing executive with killer instincts and an equally killer wardrobe. Exhibit A: The fitted tweed sheath she wears in the final scene (see below). It’s such a timeless, utterly feminine shape, and the origami detail at the neckline and the arc of the cap sleeves fly off the style charts – so pretty and modern. I haven’t found the exact dress just yet — let me know if you have any luck in this department! But in the meantime, I discovered some great options that share the same refined attitude and keep-it-forever appeal:

(image via blog.newsok.com)

Love,
Loren

Want to give new life to a summer dress or classic skirt and blouse combo? A hard-edged cage heel (the shoe of the moment) can ground your whole outfit. Choose a substantial shape to balance against more feminine pieces. Our favorites are actually quite walk-able, and look rich, sexy and cool in the heat.

Love,
Loren

Since looking good at home in your suit jacket while standing under an air-conditioning vent does not always equal looking good two hours later at a hot, crowded event, it’s time to put in a word for one of my favorite summer looks: a slim, tailored dress shirt and cufflinks with no tie. I see this a lot in London, and it’s ideal for evening. The shirt and cufflinks feel polished and ’60s-cocktail sleek; the open collar injects some sexiness in the mix.

Lots of love,
Loren

Even when it’s pouring outside, it’s hard to feel depressed in one of these:

Andrew Marc Breathable Rain Jacket, $395 at Saks

The North Face Venture Waterproof Rain Jacket, $99 at Macys

Lots of Love,
Loren

…please let it be this one. I love it all: the trim 1-inch width; the sophisticated nickel buckle; the fact that the burnished Italian calfskin strap easily reverses from brown to black; and the countless possibilities a fine belt like this can bring to your wardrobe. You can pair it with pretty much anything – jeans, khakis, corduroys or, or course, a perfectly tailored business suit – and it will introduce add a dash of style. But not too much.

Salvatore Ferragamo Reversible Logo Belt, $240, Saks Fifth Avenue

Lots of love,
Loren

The manliest men I know would never dream of carrying a day bag around for fear of the social implications, instead they beg their girlfriends to carry the sunglasses they don’t want to wear or the umbrella they might need later. Well, I think it’s about time we got past this antiquated notion of a man with a bag being a sissy and face the simple facts—sometimes you need to carry more than will fit in your pockets! To help us along, I’ve found a few downright masculine options that are far sexier than overflowing pockets on a guy.

Some hot bags that will make you forget the term “murse” forever.

Cole Haan Leather Saddle Bag, available at Bluefly for $375 (was $625)

Urban Outfitters duffel, $38 from Urban Outfitters

Lots of love,
Loren

Lots of men know how to make a cocktail, but when it comes to cocktailing hair products, they’re generally pretty clueless. Recommended by hairstylists, it’s one of my favorite frizz-fighting tricks — and one that’s especially useful when the barometer soars:

1. Put a dab of hair gel in your palm.
2. Mix in an equal size dab of pomade or styling lotion, like Kiehl’s Crème With Silk Groom or Sebastian’s Potion 9. (If your hair is super-unruly, use more gel than pomade.)
3. Run the mixture through your hair and slick it back. The gel factor offers hold and control; the styling lotion element adds moisture to ward off frizz and keep things real (i.e, sexy and touchable vs. the severely gelled, Gordon Gekko, “my hair won’t budge even in a wind-tunnel” effect.)

Love,
Loren

There are few beauty trends that leave me perplexed, and grey nail polish is one of them. On the one hand, I’m ready for everyone to give Lauren-Conrad-gothic-nails a rest, and grey seems the easiest next step. But I’m not totally sold on whether it’s at all flattering on hands and toes. I really want to love this shade: It’s great on clothes, and it’s been my eyeliner shade of choice as of late–Motives® Khol Eyeliner in steel, to be exact ;)

What do you think? Is grey the new black?

Love,
Loren

It’s inevitable that before we can finally enjoy the spring, we must endure the stormy days that precede it. So this season, in an attempt to sidestep the rainy-day fashion blues, I’m trading in my waterproof essentials for chic-yet-functional upgrades: bright umbrellas, ruggedly-cool wellies, and possibly the slickest raincoat ever. Now, in an unexpected twist, I’m actually looking forward to the next drizzly day.

Hayden Harnett for Target, $16

Hunter Lady N Rain Boots, $140 at Saks Fifth Avenue

Jones New York, $123 at Macy’s

Love,
Loren