Jessica Alba
Finding My Style

Glam, sexy, funky, feminine: The Fantastic Four star talks about learning to get her look just right

Fashion hasn't always come easy for Jessica Alba. When she became a star at 19 on TV's Dark Angel, "if somebody gave me a dress for an event, I pretty much wore it whether it fit or not," says Alba, now 24. She has since learned to balance couture and comfort, whether on the red carpet or the street. "I like ladylike things," she says, and despite her skimpy outfits in movies such as Sin City, offscreen, "if I go funky, it's usually sexy in a covered-up, more conservative way. At the end of the day, you have to be comfortable and really own your look. Life's too short."

"I'm not naturally comfortable wearing things that are incredibly revealing. Whether or not people view me as a sex symbol doesn't really make a difference."

"I could dance, I could eat, I could sit. That's what's great about Marc Jacobs," says Alba, who accessorized with her boyfriend of 11 months, director's assistant Cash Warren. "Cash wore his pink tie to match me. He sure looks good in a suit."

"I love to fly in cashmere sweaters. They're so cozy and soft and comforting. Newsboy caps are cute if you have short hair. And beige trench coats are classic. You can throw them over jeans or a dress. I've always been a fan."

"I love pink. I wear way too much pink. I'm a girly-girl that way—pink and purple. But I like this because it's less about being sexy in an overt way and more about being conservative sexy."

Behind the Seams

WINNER'S CIRCLE
Least likely to be voted off The Island? Golden girl Scarlett Johansson in a Narciso Rodriguez frock at the film's New York City premiere.

FRESH GRASS: These roots are made for walking—and cleansing and soothing, among other things. The 76 items in the new Grassroots line are made with natural ingredients for the whole family, with everything from Jump for Joy energizing leg gel to Pet Project dog shampoo. They hit Kohl's stores July 15, but actress Mena Suvari, who got a sneak peek, already has a favorite—Always a Pleasure body butter....
Grassroots body products, $7.50-$18; www.kohls.com

MOTHER KNOWS BEST: Dina Lohan asked shoe designer Tracy Stern for a pair of her kukui nut sandals to give daughter Lindsay Lohan for her recent 19th birthday. Her mom says Lindsay loves them, and you can too in early August, when they're available in stores....
Kukui nut sandals by Tracy Stern, $345; 877-693-9898.

SUIT YOURSELF: Salma Hayek and Nicole Richie are among the many celebs who've autographed over 15 staples of summer from bangles to bikinis, flip flops to tank tops for the Jergens Natural Glow Like the Stars Charity Auction cohosted by celeb stylist Rachel Zoe. All proceeds go to the Skin Cancer Foundation....
Bid on the bikini Salma Hayek signed from Aug. 3-10; www.gottahaveit.com

HOGAN'S HEROES: You know you've got an It bag in the making when stylish stars like Sienna Miller, Katie Holmes, Naomi Watts and supermodel Gisele were the first to place orders. The most recent shoulder sensation is Hogan's Fall 2005 brown leather Nuovo Scout bag and "It" will be in stores the end of this month.
Hogan's Nuovo Scout bag, $745, 888-604-6426

Racks of L.A.M.B.
Mary had a little lamb, but Gwen Stefani's got a lot of them now that she's partnered with Royal Elastics to create sneakers for her L.A.M.B. clothing line (worn by fellow celebs Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu). The treads, which debut this week, are available in four styles—Love, Angel, Music, Baby (get it? L.A.M.B.)—and some are embellished with Stefani's lyrics. In "Hollaback Girl," she sings, "A few times I've been around that track." Now if she wants to run one more lap, she's got the perfect shoes to do it.

Paris Haute Couture Week...
CHRISTINA STYLE!
Christina Aguilera did more than admire the high fashion in Paris—she found herself a wedding dress (but won't say who's making it) for her upcoming marriage to Jordan Bratman. The singer did a bit of designing herself, hitting the shows in '30s- and '40s-inspired outfits she created with stylist Frank Chevalier.