Full Circle

A little welding anyone? Juliette Lewis, Patricia Arquette and Diane Keaton are taking up the offer as they and other fashionistas find themselves riveted by the return of groovy leather grommet belts. The breezy style, which dates back to the 1960s, has been "resurrected nearly every decade," says Nicole Wachs, owner of L.A.'s girly-chic Sara boutiques. "It's sort of a western-rocker look but somewhat refined."

Accented with gold or silver eyelets, the heavy metal waist cincher is a "very expressive piece of adornment," notes New York City designer Tracy Watts, whose grommet belts have been snapped up by Jennifer Lopez, who owns three—including a funky denim version. It gives an outfit a "tough look," says Avalanche's Hilary Shepard-Turner, who wisely held onto her old grommet belts from the '80s. "It's a great way to add edge to your wardrobe." The haute hardware adds punch to dresses and skirts and also looks "incredible with very low-cut denim jeans," notes L.A. accessories designer David Galan. For 24 star Elisha Cuthbert, part of the appeal is the attention the belt draws to her midsection. "It gets your eyes to look at that area," she says. "It just hangs off your hips."

Although the style has endured over time, it's probably best not to go overboard with a total fashion flashback. "When I was in an all-girl rock-and-roll band, I wore five of them at once," recalls Shepard-Turner. "Now I just wear one at a time."

with Karen Brailsford in Los Angeles

behind the seams

In homage to her Puerto Rican heritage, Jennifer Lopez made a special wardrobe request for her Nov. 20 NBC variety show. Since she was taping the show on the island, the newlywed superstar asked designer Brooke Dulien of White Trash Charms to create a Puerto Rican flag necklace especially for her. Dulien constructed the $8,500 mini-banner pendant as a sapphire triangle with ruby and white-diamond stripes dangling from a 14-karat yellow-gold chain. "I love it," J. Lo says....

Not that it's always about La Lopez. Just prior to getting hitched, the bride and her groom Cris Judd gave the male members of the wedding party the diva treatment, hiring a filer-and-buffer to pay a house call and pamper the chaps with manicures and pedicures. Their nails were painted with OPI's Matte Nail Envy, a macho man-approved clear finish....

The little black dress is the ultimate wardrobe staple, and this month it's being celebrated for a worthy cause. Avon, which recently launched a new fragrance dubbed Little Black Dress, is sponsoring an eBay auction to benefit breast cancer research, featuring fab black frocks donated by stars including Sharon Stone and Brooke Shields. Stylist Phillip Bloch came aboard to do some celeb arm-twisting, but the stars didn't need much convincing. Christina Aguilera happily coughed up the size 0 strapless number she wore for her ABC Christmas concert last year, while Elizabeth Taylor called to ask whether her size 10 long-sleeve Valentino was good enough to make the cut. No surprise, it was....

Seen: Six-months-pregnant Faith Hill, makeupless but still stunning in a crisp black button-down shirt, black trousers and Nike slip-on sneakers, as she dropped $2,500 on picture frames, a collector's teapot and a trendy Isabella Fiore handbag during an after-hours spree at the ICE Accessories shop in Las Vegas.... Hilary Swank in a gingham dress with her mom, soaking their feet in golden bowls as part of the citrus pedicure in a Moroccan-themed private room at Manhattan's Warren-Tricomi Salon.

presto change-o
"I was bored," says That's Life star Debi Mazar. That's why the raven-haired beauty recently enlisted a pal, colorist Jasen Joseph Sica of Lépine New York, to fashion bangs from her previously all-one-length sleek black locks. "It seemed less drastic than chopping off the back," says Mazar, adding, "I've been getting a lot of positive feedback."

star talk

Some count blessings, some count baubles. What's the most valuable gift you have ever received?

Lord of the Dance's Michael Flatley
"My father's grandfather clock. It is in the hallway in my London home."

Country singer Trisha Yearwood
"My college education from my parents."

Rosie O'Donnell
"Warner Brothers gave me a Volvo [in honor of] my TV show."

Producer Trudie Styler
"Most definitely the diamonds given to me by my husband, Sting."

Rapper L.L. Cool J
"My life."

Jenny McCarthy
"When my husband, who doesn't sing, sang to me at our wedding."

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Do you have questions about star style? E-mail Steven at seams@people.com