Ancient Egyptian and Greek scriptures have depicted women in water scenes wearing short cotton skirts that were waisted below the bust and held up by two straps that mark the earliest versions of the modern monokini. However, European designer, Rudi Gernreich, holds the title for designing the first monokini in 1964. A cross between a one-piece swimsuit and a two-piece, the design consisted of a bikini bottom with straps that ran over the shoulders. He also is responsible for naming the garment and was recorded in the English language that same year. The term monokini, refers to a bikini bottom held in place by two straps which, at least partially, cover the breasts. His vision to create a garment with minimal construction and detailing to maintain focus on the body itself received mixed reviews during the conservative times. In the face of the critics, the monokini was a highly purchased item for shoppers that summer, selling over $3,000 in the suits. Although not very successful in the US, it was a great hit in Europe by the early 1970's.

After its first season, the monokini grew quickly out of style, nonetheless, the exposing suit began a new era in swimsuit design. Designers soon began experimenting with strategic cutouts and mesh coverage in swimwear design. For the Sports Illustrated cover in 2000, Laetitia Casta was photographed in a vintage 1967 Gernreich monokini, reviving interest in the swimsuit. Today, the monokini is the hottest summer trend in swimsuit since its debut. Popular designs are cut-out one-piece swimsuits with designers using fabric, mesh, chain, and straps to bond the top and bottom sections together, like Dolce & Gabbana's Monokini with Metal Ring & Gold Lurex Piping. Celebrities including Paris Hilton and Eva Longoria Parker, have been photographed in stylish monokini designs, only growing the popularity of this up to the moment trend.

Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady attended the Costume Institute Gala last Tuesday, but aside from her gorgeous gown, all eyes were on her wedding ring. Bundchen actually opened up about her two weddings to the New England Patriots' quarterback. The couple said their vows in a small and intimate Catholic ceremony in LA at dusk with only immediate family attending, including Tom's son, John Edward Thomas Moynahan, and also in a super-secret ceremony last month in Costa Rica. Gisele wore a strapless gown by Dolce & Gabbana, which also made her three dogs' lace collars, which they wore.

"We tried very hard to keep it private. Oh my God, you have no idea how hard that was," Bundchen told reporters at the Costume Institute Gala. "I think family is the base to everything. I have a lot to be grateful for but I think family is definitely number one."

Bundchen might be newly married, but Sean Penn and *Robin Wright Penn*'s marriage might be over...again. Star Magazine reports that Sean filed for a legal separation from his wife in April, and in the meantime, he's been spotted getting cozy with actress Natalie Portman. The two allegedly met after serving on the Cannes Film Festival jury. Portman is 27 and Penn is 48; not that age matters. But does it matter if one person is married when you start to date? Portman and Penn reportedly started up their love affair while Penn was still married back in March. Star reported the two had dinner at Sunset Tower Hotel's Tower Bar and were "constantly touching each other." After dinner, they took elevators that went to the hotel's spa and private rooms.

What does Ms. Britney Spears demand for her hotel room while traveling on tour? Among her requests, according to USA Today, a room that has "never" been smoked in, fresh flowers, humidifiers in all areas, Marilyn Monroe movies on DVD, a variety of current magazines, chick-lit novels and 100-watt light bulbs, among other things. She won't need special pillows because she will bring her own. And security allegedly sleeps outside her room! All in the name of protecting the starlet, we guess.

Lindsay Lohan might not be great on a surf board, as demonstrated by photos recently posted by gossip site TMZ, but she sure does look good getting wiped out by a wave. Wearing a black monokini, Lohan gives us a look at what has become one of the hottest swim wear trends.

Why wear a monokini? Aside from providing slightly more coverage than a bikini, having the cutaways on the side creates a slimming effect by making your waist look narrow. The bold shape of the suit also creates visual distraction, hiding problem areas while also helping enhance or create the look of an hourglass figure.

Monokinis are also great choices for active beach going. They're much more secure for swimming or even surfing than many bikinis. So what should you look for in a monokini? First, it's important to understand your own body shape. Monokini's come with a variety of different cut-outs along the torso, and you need to choose the right style for your body shape.

For top-heavy women looking to balance out their silhouette, Volcom offers a suit that really emphasizes the hips. While it wouldn't work on a pear shaped figure, it's perfect for creating balance for bustier gals. For those with a straight torso that want to add some curve, this Dolce & Gabana suit does a great job of emphasizing the waist and enhancing your curves, while this safari suit from O'Neill uses a v-shape to emphasize the bust and shoulders, effectively balancing out figures that are more hip heavy.

Asymmetrical cut-outs are also all the rage, but they won't hide figure flaws in the same way as the center band monokinis. They're also usually not as secure for swimming and better suited to sunning. With that in mind, don't forget to consider the tan-lines that monokinis produce and how they may or may not go with the rest of your summer attire.

Have fun at the beach, and may you have better luck with the waves than Lindsay Lohan!

Well the rumors were true. Now it's official. Singer Fergie and actor Josh Duhamel are married. The couple got married on Saturday, January 10, in Malibu California at the Church Estates Vineyards. The bride wore a long wedding gown by Dolce and Gabbana while the groom also sported Dolce and Gabbana. The couple had been dating since 2004 and had been engaged for a little over a year. I, for one, do not understand this couple at all. I'm sorry but he is way too hot for Fergie. If you have seen any pictures up close of Fergie, you will definitely agree with me, but I wish these two the best of luck. Hopefully their marriage lasts longer than the average Hollywood marriage.

Another, lesser-known celebrity also tied the knot this past week. KayCee Stroh, who had a role in all three High School Musical movies, married her boyfriend this past week. The couple, who are both 24, got married in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Another Hollywood couple that will be walking down the aisle soon (or should I say "dancing" down the aisle) are Dancing With the Stars dancers Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chmerkovskiy. The duo got engaged on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas. Karina has previously been linked with her former dancing partner Mario Lopez. Maksim and Karina supposedly go back for quite some time but have only been seriously dating a couple of months before getting engaged. So, to me this couple totally makes sense. They are both two very good looking people who like to dance. The thing that I question with them is this just lust and infatuation or is this really true love? I guess we will have to wait and see if they even make it down the aisle first.

Sources:
www.people.com
www.usmagazine.com

Like any television show or film that features a fashion magazine office (and there are a surprising number of them) Ugly Betty is a show largely driven by its wardrobe -- from the ridiculous to the sublime. With sexy power outfits, strong silhouettes and intriguing uses of color, the employees of the show's Mode magazine always dress fabulously. And even Betty's often awkward wardrobe has a charm and whimsy worth bringing to your own closet.

When trying to emulate the great parts of Betty's style, go for bright colors and mix-and-match prints. Leggings under skirts and cardigans over blouses help provide the look of layers and textures that she favors. Of course, accessories are critical for Betty, although you probably don't want to be as over the top as her. A pair of fun earrings or a vivid hair clip can bring a sense of fun to your look. Most importantly, be comfortable in your clothes and make sure you're dressing for you. Betty's outfits work because they make her happy.

For a look that's both more assertive and sexy, take Wilhelmina as your template. With a preference for designers like Dolce & Gabbana and Alexander McQueen, Wilhelmina is all about the power of clothes, and it shows both in the cut and colors of the outfits she prefers. Black with splashes of jewel tones (particularly purples) are always a hit for her. She also exhibits success going with silvers and golds with the occasional splash of red.

Even gents can take their fashion cues from Ugly Betty, by looking at Daniel's fashion choices. With clothes from Gucci and Dior, Daniel dresses in sleek, conservative styles, but always brightens up his wardrobe with a spectacular tie or stylish shoes. Classic, with one item worthy of comment, is the way to go here.

While over the top both in look and plot, Ugly Betty makes a surprising amount of fashion sense as long as you can step back from the drama queen antics of the plot and bring a bit of playfulness to the show's fashion ideas.

A big trend among celebrities right now is wearing a another person's face on their t-shirt. The person on the t-shirt is usually a well-known pop idol or famous celebrity from the past.

High School Musical's Ashley Tisdale was seen sporting a yellow t-shirt with a picture of Kate Moss on it. Rachel Bilson choose to keep it old Hollywood and wore a t-shirt of Marilyn Monroe. Naomi Campbell wore a t-shirt that had Prince on the front of it.

Now here's the ultimate in narcissism, Paris Hilton has been seen wearing a shirt that has her picture on the front. Give me a break. Did you forget what you looked like, that you had to wear a shirt with your own picture on it? These shirts are not cheap at all. A Steve McQueen picture shirt from Dolce and Gabbana retails for $245.

Another trend that is staying strong with celebrities is the wearing of vests by women.

Kim Kardashian was seen wearing a fitted black vest with a white tank underneath. She kept it casual with a pair of nice jeans. If you want to wear this trend, keep the vest fitted and wear it with a longer shirt underneath. There is no need to expose your stomach with this trend. Mischa Barton has been seen wearing vest quite a few times also. Vest can be seen all over the runway, worn several different ways. It can be seen paired with a dress or pants. You can even get away with wearing a vest to the office. Pair it with a cute pair of trousers or a pencil skirt and you have a perfect office appropriate outfit that looks super trendy and cute.

You can easily find cheaper vests at the mall at your favorite store and do not have to splurge on a designer one. Make sure that it fits well and you are good to go.

The last celebrity trend that we will discuss today is the maxi dress. A maxi dress is a long dress that hits the ankle or the floor. Tons of celebrities are sporting these dresses. The most popular celebrity that can be seen in maxi dresses is Angelina Jolie.

While she is pregnant with her twins, it seems like almost every picture you see of her, she is in a maxi dress. The maxi dress is her staple fashion piece. Another pregnant celebrity, Gwen Stefani, has also been seen wearing quite a few maxi dresses around.

The maxi dress is not just for pregnant celebrities though. Kristen Bell wore a blue and white maxi dress to her movie premier. Nicole Richie and Jennifer Love Hewitt also have been seen wearing maxi dresses, as well as Lauren Conrad for the Hills. The maxi dress can be strapless, a halter top, or spaghetti straps. Most are patterned with bright colors or floral. Although, this trend is not for everybody, it can be worn both casual or dressy. If you want to wear a maxi dress, you may have to try on a couple different styles and make sure that the dress is not too long on you. Also, you do not want a completely shapeless dress, as you may look like you are wearing a muumuu and not the latest fashion trend.

Fashions of today's popular television shows.

The average person watches their favorite nighttime TV shows in their pajamas or in sweatpants and a t-shirt, while longing to have the wardrobe that their favorite actress or actor has on the show. Fashion plays a huge part nowadays in television shows. A lot of people get their style tips of the latest fashions from their favorite TV show. So, let's take a look at the different shows that influence the style of today.

Ever since "Gossip Girl" aired early this year, young women have been copying the fashions on the show. The girls on "Gossip Girl" only wear the best in fashion. Knee-high boots, tights and tunic dresses are common fashion staples for the girls on the show. Urban Outfitters is a popular place for the clothes seen on "Gossip Girl," even selling the leggings and knee-high tights that Serena has worn on the show. Accessories also play a big part in the fashion. Layered necklaces are a big trend. A Ralph Lauren belt works good for giving a waist when wearing a tunic top. The must-have handbag is the Coach Legacy bag, which comes with all the trends of chunky buckles and vintage leather.

For a woman who is slightly older, she may look at the TV show "Desperate Housewives" for her fashion tips. The women on "Desperate Housewives" - especially Edie and Gabrielle - are always decked out in the latest fashions. Summer dresses by Chloe are often seen on the women. Pair them with a pair of Jimmy Choos shoes and you'll be a desperate housewife in the making. For a more casual look, get a pair of Beverly Jeans or Seven For All Mankind jeans and pair them with a Nannette Lepore blouse or camisole. The clothes on "Desperate Housewives" have a wide range of styles. You can keep it sexy like Edie or more casual and put together like Bree.

When looking for fashion tips for guys, tune in to "How I Met Your Mother." The character Barney Stinson is the epitome of a well-dressed man. Whether you are a woman looking to fix your man's wardrobe, or you are a man and you want to dress in the latest style, Barney gives you plenty of ideas on how to dress for a guy. He can be seen wearing $400 Prada dress shirts. Never seen dressed down on the show, he is always sporting the latest styles in business wear, although he is able to go from the office to the club and still look good. Most of his outfits are tailored suits. Some of the brand names he wears are Dolce and Gabanna and Marc Jacobs.

It can be quite frustrating to look at the actors on TV and wish that you had their wardrobe, but don't get too frustrated. Trends change so much and so often; from the beginning of the season to the season finale, their clothes have probably dramatically changed styles. I say splurge on your basics and go cheap with the trends. If you want to invest $200 for a nice white button-down shirt, then go ahead, but buy the $5 tights from Target.