Lauren Conrad: ""I am proud that I have parlayed what could have been a fleeting reality career into viable business ventures"

Former MTV reality starlet Lauren Conrad is the latest voice of Forbes.
Conrad, who is listed as a "celebpreneur" columnist for the digital version of the storied financial magazine, made it clear that while people are likely to dismiss her as just another reality TV castoff, she has earned the right to be taken seriously.
"I run two clothing lines, two Web sites and a book franchise on top of directly managing my brand and endorsement deals," she wrote in her debut column. "I've made a career out of allowing cameras to capture my personal life but that doesn't make me 'just another reality star' looking to start a clothing line."

Being a young businesswoman is a challenge, especially when you're an alumna of the vacuous world of reality fantasy," she wrote. "My situation is unusual because I am my brand and every decision I make affects it."
Conrad doesn't just bite back at MTV, the network that made her a star on the shows "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills" - she also writes about her frustration with Kohl's, the department store chain that worked with her on her clothing line.
"I like to wear a lot of chiffon, which is a sheer, lightweight fabric. I wanted to design a couple of chiffon blouses, but Kohl's research said that customers wouldn't buy a see-through top," she said. "Instead of accepting that the customer might not understand how to wear the piece, we decided we would educate her. We made tags with styling tips that read, 'I love lightweight tops, layer mine over a camisole and pair it with jeans ' "
She said that after Kohl's opened up to her point of view, their relationship grew into a "great, healthy partnership."

Conrad's popularity on MTV her book deals, a chance to design her own clothing and spots on the covers of Allure, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Shape, Rolling Stone, Elle and Seventeen.
In 2010, MTV nixed a show which would have featured Conrad working on her nascent clothing line Paper Crown.
Despite the fact that she was disappointed at MTV's decision, she wrrote that "many thought the show cheapened the brand because of the stigma attached to reality shows."
So while she may be the product of reality television, Conrad seems anxious to leave it all behind.
"I am proud of the fact that I have parlayed what could have been a fleeting reality career into viable business ventures," she said.

Click here for all the latest news on Lauren Conrad
credit - Lindsay Goldwert @ NY Daily News
~Kelli at Hills Freak

Olivia Palermo Attends Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Show at Paris Fashion Week

Olivia Palermo attends the Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011/2012 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 5, 2011 in Paris, France.
Guess what? Olivia says she’s stepping into the blogosphere!
Palermo, in Paris for the couture shows, told WWD that she’ll issue styling tips from her fashionable life on a blog set to launch this summer.
Considering her outfit-building nous, the only surprising aspect of this discreet announcement is that it has taken so long. Whether she’s wearing a floral dress from Zara (as she did yesterday, for Stephane Rolland’s couture show) or a beaded Marchesa dress, Palermo’s way with accessories and high/low fashion mixes make her a style star.
On the other hand, considering that other projects she’s mentioned in the press have failed to materialise (reality show, acting career, clothing range: we’re waiting), we won’t bookmark oliviapalermo.com just yet. But we did check, and it has been registered... so come on, Olivia!

Click here to see more of Olivia at Paris fashion week
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credit - tlfan, gossip center, stockholmstreetstyle,elleuk.com
~Kelli at Hills Freak

Video: Heidi Montag Dishes on Exercise, Famous Food & Learning To Love Her Body

Heidi Montag stopped by Access Hollywood to chat with Kit Hoover (remember her from Road Rules?) and guest host Latoya Jackson. Heidi dished on everything from her exercise routine to filming Famous Foods to finally being at peace with her looks.
So funny to see Latoya gush about Heidi! She calls her stunning, gorgeous (x2) fabulous and wonderful. Can you imagine if the two of them became friends? Tabloid Heaven!
Click here for all the latest posts on Heidi Montag
~Kelli at Hills Freak

Olivia Palermo Attends Giorgio Armani Haute Couture Show at Paris Fashion Week

Olivia Palermo wearing an elegant trouser suit at the Giorgio Armani Prive Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011/2012 Fashion show during Paris Fashion Week at Palais de Chaillot.
Click here to see more photos of Olivia during Paris Fashion Week
credit - zimbio, tlfan, vogue.it
~Kelli at Hills Freak

Whitney Port Dishes on Jay Lyons and Her Recent Break-Up with Ben Nemtin

Whitney Port delighted her male fans in Ireland by confirming that she is 100 perecent on the market.
Breaking her silence for the first time since going separate ways from her ex-boyfriend Ben Nemtin, she said: "I am single, recently single. I'm up for anything, I'm not going to say no."
Whitney jetted in to Ireland this past weekend to formally unveil and sign her new Tote bag that she designed for Barretstown children's camp while meeting fans at the Kildare Village.
Whitney (26) also confirmed that her arch-rival on spin-off show The City, Olivia Palermo, was a genuine diva while they were filming.
"Olivia was not the nicest person ever. She had her moments. She was not so easy to work with, we don't keep in touch, that's for sure. She's not someone I would spend my energy being friends with. Olivia stirred up her own stuff," she explained.
Whitney, who has had a new fashion line Whitney Eve and appeared on Miriam O'Callaghan's talk show on Saturday night, also said she much prefers life off-camera now that The City has ended.

"It was very difficult. I never showed my personal life on The Hills because I was so scared of the cameras and then the producers approached me about doing The City, I realized I would have to kind of make that sacrifice if I wanted to do it. I would have to be full on.
"The hardest part was the dating aspects and I'll never do that on TV again."
Speaking about her dramatic relationship with Aussie musician Jay Lyon, she said she would definitely question his motives.
"My first date with my second boyfriend ever was on camera. It was so intimidating, as if the first date wasn't scary enough, to have three cameraman and a whole van load of people watching you.
"I actually met him when I was filming a girls' night out. He was performing in a club and they caught us meeting on camera and I said, 'actually I do have feelings for you but my life comes with cameras right now, are you cool with this?'
"And he was a musician at the time and I think that he was cool with it, who knows his motives? I don't know now. I think he loved it. You have to be really comfortable with yourself and want that publicity to do it."

Click here for all the latest news on Whitney Port
credit - Melanie Finn @ Hereld.ie
~Kelli at Hills Freak

Olivia Palermo Attends Giambatista Valli Haute Couture FW 2011/2012 at Paris Fashion Week

When we first saw these pictures of Olivia Palermo on the front row at the Giambattista Valli couture show in Paris, we naturally assumed she'd be wearing high fashion to match.
But we were pleased to discover that her gorgeous lemon yellow midi dress wasn't straight off a runway - it was in fact a well-disguised high street buy.
The City starlet donned this £46 frock from Topshop to the couture show, teamed with golden lace-up heels, layered statement necklaces, a clear clutch and skinny tan belt.
Go girl!

credit - zimbio, MyDailyUK
~Kelli at Hills Freak

Whitney Port Visits 'Saturday Night with Miriam'

Click here to watch Whitney on 'Saturday Night with Miriam' (great interview!)
Click here for all the latest news on Whitney Port
credit - tlfan, thanks for the heads up anon! :)
~Kelli at Hills Freak

Olivia Palermo for Carrera y Carrera Mediterráneo

Olivia Palermo models for the new Carrera y Carrera jewelry collection Mediterráneo. The photoshoot took place in glamorous Ibiza. Click here for some behind the scenes photos.
Olivia really looks beautiful. I love this set of photos. You?
credit - Carrera y Carrera
~Kelli at Hills Freak

Kristin Cavallari & Fiance Jay Cutler: Take Me Out To The Ballgame

Kristin Cavallari and fiance Jay Cutler watched the Chicago Cubs play the Chicago White Sox on Saturday, July 2, 2011, in Chicago.
The couple took in Saturday's game from box seats behind the Cubs dugout.

Click here for all the latest news on Kristin Cavallari
credit - Paul Sullivan and Brian Cassella @ Chicago Tribune, sports.yahoo.com
~Kelli at Hills Freak