A special thanks this morning to fitness guru Jack LaLanne, who died Sunday at age 96. When LaLanne sprang into the national consciousness with a TV show aimed at housewives in the 1950s, his message was about keeping fit, but it was more than that. The subtext to a generation of women was, "Take charge of your life! You can do it!"  And they -- and their daughters watching alongside them -- did just that. Thank you, Jack. [LAT]

Pop star Fergie will kick off the second season of FN Shoe Star on Monday on FNshoestar.com with a special webisode of the series, in which Fashion Institute of Technology students compete to design shoes. The competition is sponsored by Footwear News and Brown Shoe Co. The winner will be offered an associate designer position at Brown Shoe. [WWD]

Tod's, known for its bags and shoes (including gladiator sandals),  has announced plans to fund the restoration of Rome's Colosseum. [Telegraph]

We told you recently about some global beauty trends, but here is a new one: in Japan some forward-thinkers are using LED attachments on their teeth, to REALLY light up their smiles! [Endless Beauty] 

FabSugar is taking its Look of the Day feature live, on Twitter, Tuesday starting at 11 a.m. PST. [FabSugar]

 Designers Isabel and Ruben Toledo will be featured on PBS' "The Artist's Toolbox," scheduled to air Feb. 3. [WWD] (Subscription required.) 

Lingerie designers are hopping on the vintage train with new collections reminiscent of the mid-20th century.  [WWD] (Subscription required.) 

André Courrèges  -- famous for 1960s go-go boots and mini-dresses -- and his wife and creative partner, Coqueline, have sold the company to two investors. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

--Susan Denley

Photo: Singer Fergie. Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Image stylist and market editor Melissa Magsaysay soothes your sartorial woes in the weekly Your Stylist post.

 

In this installment of “Your Stylist,” we address the down-to-earth footwear from the spring 2011 runways. It wasn’t the over-the-top heels or statement shoes that caught my eye. Quite the opposite, actually. It was the easy, casual and subtle appeal of all the flats and sandals styled with cocktail dresses; long, loose pants and cute day dresses that looked fresh and most appealing.

There was hardly a high heel at the Lanvin show, where ankle-strap sandals were worn with form-fitting dresses. The sandals took some formality out of the dresses and showed not only the versatility of each piece but also designer Alber Elbaz’s vision for a woman dressing for day to night. 

Michael Kors also sent many of his models (including the men, in mandals) down the runway wearing a small platform sole clog or completely flat sandals that looked great with a lot of the pants, as well as with knee-length skirts and A-line dresses.

And at Bottega Veneta, chunky but sleek toe-ring sandals were paired with leather pants and floaty, floor-length dresses for a look that was both confident and casual.

While flats are an obvious choice when it comes to comfort, some of us (especially my fellow 5-foot-5-and-under friends) are addicted to the height a heel can give us. But if there was ever a season to experiment with the versatility of flats, spring is it. Try ditching the chunky wood wedges and tie on a pair of super '70s-looking shoes like this lace-up suede-and-leather sandal/shoe hybrid from Tod’s. They are great for daytime, worn with a little white dress or a white men’s-style button-down tucked into a denim skirt.

Since you won’t be gaining height when wearing flats, make sure that your skirt or shorts hit at a flattering place on your leg. Nude or light-brown sandals will keep the leg looking elongated and will also work with most ensembles. And when trying to wear flats with long and loose trousers, it’s OK for the hem of the pants to slouch a little near the foot. The look, after all, is easy and effortless.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photos: Top left, a look from the Lanvin spring/summer 2011 runway show. Top right, a sample from the Michael Kors show. Credit: Yannis Vlamos / gorunway.com

Middle: Bottega Veneta calf sandal in nero (shown at the spring/summer 2011 runway show), $590 at Bottega Veneta, Beverly Hills. Credit: Bottega Veneta

Bottom: Tod's suede and leather lace-up sandal, $565 at Tod's, Beverly Hills. Credit: Tod's

Send your style queries to melissa.magsaysay@latimes.com

Weddings, weddings, weddings!

Carrie Underwood reportedly wore a Chantilly lace dress by Monique Lhuillier for her weekend wedding to Mike Fisher. [CMT]

Emily Blunt wore a Marchesa Bridal chiffon-draped gown with embroidered detail for her weekend wedding in Italy to Jon Krasinski. On her finger: a Neil Lane 3-carat diamond set in platinum. [People]

Their wedding came just a week after Krasinski's "Office" co-star Jenna Fischer married writer Lee Kirk in an intimate ceremony. No word yet on what she wore. [Los Angeles Times]

Also getting married over the weekend: Martin Lawrence wed longtime love Shamicka Gibbs [People]; and LaLa Vasquez wore Vera Wang to tie the knot with Carmelo Anthony. [People] 

Megan Fox, who quietly married Brian Austin Greene in June, is finally showing off her sparkler of a ring. [People] 

Meanwhile, if you're already missing all the World Cup hoopla, not to worry. Tod's is offering braided bracelets in team colors, for $225 a pop. Flaunt one on your wrist and keep the magic alive a little longer. [InStyle]

Sephora, QVC partner in Tarina Tarantino beauty launch. [WWD] (subscription required)

Word is starting to come out about who the cover girls will be on those all-important September issues of fashion mags. The lineup includes Jennifer Aniston fronting Harper's Bazaar, Julia Roberts on Elle, Lady Gaga on Vanity Fair, and Halle Berry reportedly on Vogue. [WWD]

Chanel is coming out with its first men's diving watch, with help from surfer Laird Hamilton. [WWD] (subscription required)

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Halle Berry reportedly will grace the cover of Vogue's September issue. Credit: John Shearer / Getty Images

Italian luxury label Tod's threw a grand re-opening party at its Beverly Hills flagship boutique Thursday night that lured a gaggle of Hollywood celebs, including Marisa Tomei, Kate Beckinsale, Halle Berry, Kelly Lynch, Jessica Alba and Pierce Brosnan.

The cocktail soiree, which was also thrown to commemorate the arrival of Jeffrey Deitch, the newly appointed director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in L.A., was hosted by Tod's Chief Executive and Chairman Diego Della Valle, and spanned all three floors of the freshly revamped boutique. The company's new store concept, which is meant to evoke a luxurious residence, will be rolled out to other locations in the coming year.

"I think in this town, everything is a destination," said Della Valle, who speaks with a melodious Italian accent and wears a wrist-full of colorful braided leather Tod's bracelets. "We wanted this to be an address for our customers during their Rodeo Drive shopping. They can take coffee, go upstairs, maybe touch or buy something. We wanted it to be a really friendly point in one of the most important luxury streets in the world."

The store's new design evokes the feel of a warm, luxurious manse — with sofa-and-table vignettes in shades of brown and beige placed throughout. Walls have been painted a rich burgundy and decorated with clusters of framed family photos and paintings. Side tables bearing fresh flowers abound.

"For a retail environment to go with a dark color scheme I think is very daring — but I’m selfish, it highlights what I do," said Derek Lam, creative director for Tod's ready-to-wear and accessories, who also flew in from New York for the occasion and mingled with Tomei and Vogue editor-cum-socialite Lauren Santo Domingo (in town for the Coachella music festival this weekend).

Indeed, Tod's clothes and accessories (including its signature driving moccasins) clearly served as inspiration for their new surroundings — which are chic, but not at all trendy. Because as Della Valle so perfectly put it, "We need to be contemporary and modern, but we don’t want to be fashion."

-- Emili Vesilind

Top photo: Derek Lam, left, and Diego Della Valle. Bottom photo: Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry. Credits: Donato Sardella for Tod's

It's been well-reported that the executive who put troubled starlet Lindsay Lohan in the "artistic advisor" seat at fashion house Ungaro-- former brand President Mounir Moufarrige -- was asked to hand in his resignation this month. And, shockingly, Lohan gets to stay on -- despite a roundly frowned-upon initial collection for the label for Spring 2010.

Lohan, who's not exactly taken seriously in Hollywood or fashion, was an unlikely pick for the position for two reasons: She's a tabloid staple with a shaky rep and no real experience in fashion and European fashion houses -- even ones foundering in financial woes, like Ungaro -- aren't usually keen to hire untested (not to mention all-around questionable) talent. Still, Lohan perseveres.

Which got us wondering if there were any theoretical designer brand-celebrity match-ups that would be advantageous for a fashion house (conversely, mass brands and celebs, a la Kate Moss and Top Shop, go together like eggs and bacon).

Take edgy songstress Lily Allen, who's a current face for Chanel. As stylish as she is, it's absurd to think of her advising Karl Lagerfeld on a formal basis. Ditto on Marion Cotillard for the John Galliano-designed Christian Dior label, for which she has been an ambassador in the past.

The only reasonable pairing that came to mind (though still unnecessary-feeling) is Madonna for Dolce & Gabbana. The parties have a long history of collaboration, and they both exist on a similar aesthetic plane. A runner-up might be Gwyneth Paltrow for Tod's, a house that's known for its conservative designs -- Paltrow's been the face of the brand in the past, but the company is now looking to its lofty heritage, and not celebs, to sell bags.

Granted, the house of Ungaro doesn't have a resident genius -- unknown designer Estrella Archs stepped in for Spring 2010 -- and therefore clearly needs all the hype help it can get. But contracting any celebrity to consult on a designer fashion brand, let alone the queen of tabloid chatter, may prove to be disastrous in the end.

Can you think of any high-fashion/celeb pairings that might make the grade? Tell us in the comments section below.

-- Emili Vesilind

RELATED:

Paris Fashion Week: Lindsay Lohan's first Emanuel Ungaro collection is a walk of shame

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Fashion Diary: Lindsay Lohan named artistic adviser of house of Ungaro

Photo: Estrella Archs and Lindsay Lohan at the end of the Emanuel Ungaro Spring-Summer 2010 runway show. Credit: Peter Stigter and Jonas Gustavsson / For The Times

In English, the Italian lifestyle can be summed up in three “Fs”: food, family and fashion. On Tuesday (Nov. 10), Tod’s and Vogue magazine hosted a book party for Tod's “The Italian Touch,” by inviting local celebrities and socialites to bring the kiddies for mini-pizzas, chocolate milk and cupcakes.

Guests included Debra Messing, Mandy Moore, Camila Alves, Sofia Vergara, Nicky Hilton and Angie Harmon, along with hosts Jamie Tisch, Crystal Lourd, Brooke Davenport, Alexandra Kimball and stylist Jeanne Yang.

The Beverly Hills fete was the finale for the book tour that started in the New York Tod’s flagship then hit Dallas, Chicago, Miami and South Coast Plaza. "Italian Touch" retails in the boutique for $95.

Upstairs, the Tod’s boutique was converted into a country greenhouse where Sunday-best dressed children could plant organic herbs in pots.

Famed fashion photographer Roxanne Lowit took stylized black-and-white family portraits, which were quickly printed, cropped and handed out to guests.

Debra Messing, clad in head-to-toe Alaia save for a Tod's bracelet and bag, advised that if you incorporate something Italian in your wardrobe: ”you’re raising your chic quotient 40%.” The actress added she’s jetting off to Zimbabwe on Dec. 3 for a humanitarian and training mission as an ambassador for YouthAIDS. "I’ll be out in the field," she said. (A portion of sale proceeds from the Tod's event went to YouthAIDS).

Tod’s General Manager Claudio Castiglioni said he flew in from Milan for 24 hours to promote the "Italian Touch" coffee-table tome in Beverly Hills. "The 130 families and couples in the book --- they are our clients, both aristocratic and professional people. We asked them if we could go in their home and take pictures the way they are sincerely with no makeup artist, no stylists.

"We travel around the world, especially to Asia, and talk about Italian style," he said. "When we show the pictures from the book, they understand what Tod's aspires to be with sunglasses, shoes, bags."

What about L.A. style?

 "When I come to Los Angeles, I like to see the people -- they are more casual than other cities,” said Castiglioni.

-- Max Padilla

Photo: Roxanne Lowit shooting Camila Alves and Cynthia Daniel (top); Claudio Castiglioni and Debra Messing (middle); "Italian Touch" spread.

Credit: Donato Sardella/WireImage; "The Italian Touch," both courtesy of Tod's