Cummerbunds never looked so appealing. And women all over the world will be tearing up their boyfriends's tuxedos just to imitate this female-take on men's formal wear as exhibited by Hollywood's own Amanda Bynes and Vanessa Minnillo this past week. But before you whip out the scissors ladies, first make sure you ask, "Who was she wearing?" (then find a knockoff of the same dress...hey, I'm just sayin).

On the east coast, Vanessa Minnillo got all gussied up in a Chantilly lace tuxedo front gown by Monique Lhuillier for the "Hot Pink Party" in New York Tuesday, hosted by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

(AP)

On the west, Amanda Bynes took a "short cut" with a black satin backless (use your imagination) tuxedo minidress by Donna Baxter for Elsie Katz Couture, complete with a satin face organza bib, cummerbund and pearl buttons.

(Getty)

(Is that a tie? Extra points.) It was just enough formal for a Los Angeles evening out as she attended Movieline Hollywood Life's Young Hollywood Awards.

Well, You know what they say: You can take the man out the tux, but you can't take the tux away from the woman who probably bought it for the man anyway....

Or something.

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Our entry for this year's "Steppin it Up for '07" category is Chris "Ludacris" Bridges - rapper, actor and style savvy entrepreneur - who has grown up and grown into his crocodile loafers (seen below).

Bridges picked up a real award at Movieline's Hollywood Life Young Hollywood Awards last Sunday wearing a black Ferragamo corduroy suit and black shadow stripe shirt.

(Getty)

It was just last summer that the clever (and often comical) Atlanta-based artist cut off his braids that remained a signature part of his look over the span of his almost 7 year music career. Branching out into acting and working out of his own studio in Atlanta, Bridges is getting a lot more love for his work and his threads...

(Bridges, Today's Superstar Award, last Sunday)

With growing fame in Hollywood, we have just one tip: Don't unravel.

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"Dancing with the Stars" host Samantha Harris played guest at The Step-Up Women’s Network event held last night in Beverly Hills. The mom-to-be (expecting her first child in the Fall) selected a green and white floral mesh top and designer jeans from A Pea in the Pod, the maternity brand that outfits the style-conscious during a time when it's most difficult for a woman to be stylish (or conscious, really).

(Getty)

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Jennifer Garner and Lisa Kudrow were one of many women going gaga for the big O of the fashion industry, Oscar de la Renta, as they came out to support the opening of the designer's new flagship store in West Hollywood's Melrose Place.

The designer himself was stuck in New York at the time, but extended his warm sentiments and support via phone to Garner.

But he was there in spirit...and in fabric as Garner and Kudrow both left the husbands and children at home for a ladies night out and donning Oscar de la Renta creations.

(Garner in a losse fitting ODLR dress)

(Kudrow in a borrowed ODLR sweater)

Other famous faces stopped by all dressed up for the occassion, pocketbooks in hand.

(Photos courtesy of Getty Images)

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The original Idol winner is still winning fans everywhere almost five years after she was first introduced to America's text-voting public.

Then:

Was that mean? I'm just sayin...Ms. Clarkson has come a long way from the confused look (am i a vampire? am i a beach-bound 12-year-old?) of her earlier years. Last night, Clarkson (lwho has long been standing strong on her own two feet in the music industry post-Idol, I might add) attended the ASCAP Pop Music Awards at the Kodak Theatre rigged out in a Monique Lhuillier moss green chiffon dress accented by a pearl neckline.

In addition to the red carpet, Clarkson also took a stroll across the stage to accept her award (one of three that night) at an event that honors the songwriters/brains behind some of today's most popular songs.

For KClark (uh, remind me to never call her that again), it was a win-win-win-WIN situation. Not only did she receive many accolades...but the award coordinated very well with her very grown up threads.

Who knew?
(I bet Kelly did. Yeeeah she did.)
Keep it up girl!

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French actress Marion Cotillard went for understated elegance at Monday night's City Of Lights, City Of Angels French Film Festival opening at Los Angeles' Directors Guild Theater Complex. Cotillard chose Chopard's Happy Diamond yellow gold choker and a delicate multi-strand bracelet with gold citrine, blue topaz and diamonds set in yellow gold for this semi-formal affaire.

The busy actress pulling double duty in either sides of the Atlantic - last seen in the American flick "A Good Year" and the French film "La Môme" - kept the corps decor to a minimum (and the charm to a maximum) as she signed autographs for fans and mingled with friends/colleagues/lovers of everything French.

Opting for a simple floor-skimming strappless dress, Cotillard took the (tasteful) less is more approach....and left photographers and admirers with more than they could've hoped for.

Encore!

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I kid!

But really, Keisha Whitaker may have been standing by her man at yesterday's ceremony honoring the Oscar-winning actor with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but the Mrs. and former model was standing in a style class of her own with this royal blue chiffon dress by Catherine Malandrino.

Looks like someone's ready to step into their own spotlight...?

(Photos courtesy of Getty Images)

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Sara Ramirez, always the scene stealer in ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," was the star of the red carpet at Saturday's GLAAD Media Awards at LA's Kodak Theatre wearing a David Meister satin slip dress with ruched bodice that hugged (and loved) the curvy actress.

Out supporting her show, which was nominated for Outstanding Individual Episode, this do-good girl (in association with Dove) is also a part of the "Campaign for Real Beauty" encouraging women of all ages to embrace and love their bodies...now that's a platform I can stand by.

Meister was also the choice for known actress and, in recent years, better-known activist Holly Robinson Peete (featured on the cover of this month's Essence magazine), as she hit the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel dance floor in a red silk dress at last Friday's 14th Annual Race To Erase MS "Dance to Erase MS"-themed gala.

Other supporters of the event included a new and improved Tara Reid (2007 has certainly been good to Ms. Reid), in a turquoise gown with black lace trim by Dina Bar-El, and TV Personality Stacy Keibler in a light pink silk and chiffon babydoll dress by the same designer (accented by a silver clutch and crystal earrings by Daniel Swarovski Paris).

(Photos courtesy of Getty Images)

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...and the dames who love them.

Actresses Tia and Tamera Mowry like their diddies small, like these ones by Mary Norton. At
Sunday's sun-kissed premiere of "Are We Done Yet?," the twins showed their support (brother, Tahj, stars in the flick) in style, with Tamera (left) choosing a burgundy leather Zoe clutch and Tia opting for a lighter, peach-colored python Fanny clutch to compliment their spring-appropriate attire.

(@ Mann Village Theatre, Los Angeles)

To go with the sparkle in her eye (aren't they so cute!), Teri Hatcher chose this Daniel Swarovski crystal bag for Sunday night's 6th Annual Comedy For A Cure, to which she brought actor/sweetheart Stephen Kay.

(@ the Music Box Theater, Hollywood)

And last week, Jennifer Lopez gave two reasons why she's still got it! She killed the competition (whatever, it is a competition) posing in a sexy mini and a Mary Norton gunmetal-colored clutch that made even the stylish of the style divas want to wave their white flags in surrender.

(@ Echo Music Awards, Berlin)

Photos courtesy of Getty Images

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