Whether she's issuing social warnings as the unseen narrator of Gossip Girl or holding her own against charismatic comedic actors like Jason Segal, Russell Brand, and Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell always infuses her characters with a sort of grounded confidence that's charming to watch. Bell brings these assured sensibilities to the way she dresses too, as she executes challenging shapes and styles with aplomb whenever she hits the red carpet. Never one to shy away from a bold print—we adored the blue-and-white ikat Jenni Kayne strapless gown she wore to the premiere of Forgetting Sarah Marshall?—we give Bell props for pulling off looks that most diminutive dressers are afraid to try. Whether it's oversized ruffles, cropped jumpsuits, and cut-out frocks, whenever she tackles tricky trends, the results are divine.
Her secret seems to be relatively simple: look for pieces that are daring in one way (such as a unique pattern, unexpected cut, or interesting material), focus on a key bauble (say, a stack of bold bracelets), and if possible, pick an outfit that nips in at the waist. (And of course, help from her extremely talented stylist, Nicole Chavez, doesn't hurt either!) Bearing these wardrobe rules in mind, we've assembled a Bell-inspired look for you today. You know you love it...xoxo.
