Piling It On
In a quandary over what to wear these days? Well, keep your pants on! One of this season's hottest looks calls for mixing things up, with stars like Alicia Keys and Gwyneth Paltrow topping off trendy trousers with long, graceful frocks. "Wearing pants under dresses is about making a statement," says Manhattan stylist Patti Wilson. "This is a hip way to mix a feminine and masculine look without losing your edge." Or emptying your wallet. Notes Wilson: "You can mix and match items you already have in your closet and get a totally new outfit." The result: a wow-'em ensemble that's "fancier than something you'd wear everyday," says actress Jennifer Love Hewitt. But save it for after dark. "It's more late-night than lunch," says L.A. stylist Ricci DeMartino. And go light on the layers. "It works well with sheer things on top," says Wilson. "You want to be able to see both pieces; otherwise you might as well leave one off."

with Carrie Bell in Los Angeles

behind the seams

Move over, Calvin and Donna: A group of thespians, including Tom Cruise and Calista Flockhart, are invading your design turf by decorating denim. Each received '70s-style dungarees donated by Tommy Hilfiger, along with kits of rhinestones, glitter, patches and invites to let their imaginations soar. The results will be auctioned off at the Peace & Love to Erase MS benefit in L.A. on May 10. Among the standouts: Flockhart's star-patched jeans and Gosford Park actress Helen Mirren's bell-bottoms decorated with the U.S. flag. Minimalist Cruise simply signed his....

Once a Material Girl, always a Material Girl? When Madonna appears this fall in the remake of Swept Away, directed by her hubby, Guy Ritchie, she'll be sporting a ton of status-symbol accessories. She plays a wealthy woman who takes off on a Mediterranean holiday. Plucking wares from Chanel's By the Sea line, the actress lays her yogacised bod on the $260 towel splashed with Chanel's logo. And when she shades herself, Madonna uses the $215 sun umbrella....

Angelina Jolie must be glad she's done filming the upcoming romantic comedy Life or Something Like It. The actress did her duty and got all dolled up for her role as a glam reporter, but the fashion rebel wasn't too keen on the footwear—Dolce & Gabbana stilettos—the part demanded. "The funniest thing was her in high heels," her costar Melissa Errico told me. "She can't walk in them, so she was always grabbing me and falling over."...

Ashley Judd, Jennifer Aniston and Debra Messing might want to keep a sharp eye on their mailboxes. Handbag queen Kate Spade is sending a preview of her new bath and body line to her favorite female stars. The 11 products, ranging from $25 (for soaps) to $98 (for .25 oz, parfum), are infused with Spade's signature scent, a mix of honeysuckle, gardenia, jasmine and tuberose. The collection bows in stores on May 1.

presto change-o
A recent role in regional theater left Kathie Lee Gifford with harried hair, so last week, when the run ended, her curls got the final curtain too. "Long hair was weighing her down," says Gifford's hairstylist Diane D'Agostino. Plus, "Shorter hair brings out her bone structure. Kathie Lee has a great neck!"

startalk

What's the farthest you've ever traveled for a fashion item?

Just Shoot Me's Wendie Malick
"Cross-country. There was a pair of shoes—strappy sandals—from a little Italian store on Madison Avenue. I was living in L.A., and I made a point of going to New York because of those shoes."

Singer Valerie Simpson
"To Paris. I got a gold and silver Thierry Mugler jacket."

Actress Angie Harmon
"I walked blocks and blocks through New York City during a snowstorm to Bergdorf Goodman for a Louis Vuitton bag."

Actress Kim Cattrall
"I don't think I've ever traveled for a fashion item. They come to me."

Winner's circle
Golden elegance—from her shimmering coat (and brushed velvet pants) by Marc Jacobs to her streaked mane—marked actress Amanda Feet's look for a recent premiere. Says stylist Vincent Boucher: "She looks comfortable and put together at the same time."

Pretty Pretty Bang Bang
There's a trimming trend overtaking Hollywood as young style-makers like Alyssa Milano, Milla Jovovich and Zooey Deschanel rediscover bangs. "I like bangs because they're cute," says Big Trouble star Deschanel. The look adapts well too. "They make you look sexy if you keep them long or very funky if they're short," says Privé salon owner Laurent D. of L.A., who recently created bangs on Shannen Doherty and Téa Leoni. Even better, whether your mug is round or long, having bangs is an option. Says Laurent: "You don't have to have the perfect face to wear them."

Sign Right Here
Celebrities like Pink and Jaime Pressly are getting aligned with their stars thanks to diamond-encrusted zodiac pendants. The .25-.75-carat necklaces, part of the Joseph Hami Karma Collection, are "another way for people to identify themselves," says the line's designer Ron Hami. The pavé-set baubles ($l,000-$2,000) are an echo of the '70s, says L.A. stylist Cary Fetman, noting "everyone is wearing peasant blouses and turning to symbols like zodiac signs." That means good karma for Not Another Teen Movie's Pressly, who bought a Leo sign after spying one on a friend. "I've never taken it off," she says. "It's empowering to wear. Everyone loves it."

More From This Article

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

Send e-mail to stylewatch@people.com