Off the Rack

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She sparkled in over 125 carats of flawless Van Cleef and Arpels diamonds and shone in a graceful Oscar de la Renta gown — but it didn’t end there. Jennifer Garner’s chic hair and makeup were the final essential components in creating her perfectly poised red carpet look for Sunday night’s Academy Awards.

Makeup artist Paul Starr’s first step in designing her Old Hollywood look was to create an all-important base with Chanel Teint Innocence foundation, $55, in Soft Beige. Next he made those famous brown eyes the focus. “I wanted to make them pop,” Starr says, “but I didn’t want to do anything that was too smoky.” He lined the upper lid with Chanel Intense Eye Pencil, $27, in Noir I, then used the Quadra Eye Shadow palette, $55, in Dunes to give her eyes further definition. Starr worked the palette’s creamy taupe color from the inner part of the eye out to the center. Next he applied the beige-brown hue along the crease, and followed with a couple sweeps of Inimitable Mascara, $28, in Noir. The Juno star’s mouth was the final step. “Jennifer has the most beautiful lips in Hollywood,” Starr said, “so I really didn’t have to line them.” Instead, he used a brush to apply Rouge Allure lipstick in Tender, a pinkish-gold beige, $30, over the entire lip.

For an equally stunning coif, Fekkai Celebrity Hair Stylist Adir Abergel, went with his vision of a romantic, Edwardian look for Jen. He started by rubbing Fekkai Shape and Set Mist, $28, from the roots to the ends to change her hair’s texture, and followed by blow-drying it while using a round brush. Abergel then made a severe side part and followed by creating curls with a 1″ iron which he pinned back in a low knotted chignon twist at the side. He used a touch of Neutrogena Shine Serum, $7, on the ends of Jen’s bangs, and ensured the look would last all night long with a final spritz of Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray, $23.

Joe Kohen/WireImage, Courtesy of Versace, inset: MICHAEL GERMANA/GLOBE

Sure, we’re curious who’ll take home those coveted gold statues at tonight’s Academy Awards — but what we’ve really been dreaming about is what everyone will be wearing. If you’re celeb-fashion obsessed like us, check out our Predict-a-Gown gallery, which lets you be a stylist to the stars for Hollywood’s biggest night of the year. It’s your call: Should Jennifer Garner make a bold statement an a yellow Temperley London gown, or would turquoise Versace Couture be a better fit? How about mom-to-be Nicole Kidman? Should she go all-out glam in L’Wren Scott sequins or keep her look sleek and simple in black John Galliano? Click here now to test out your styling savvy on all your favorite stars. Tell us: Who are you most excited to see on the Oscars red carpet?

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Presenter Jennifer Garner is going for Oscar-night hair that’s “really youthful and sexy,” says hairstylist Adir Abergel for Frederic Fekkai, who is collaborating with stylist Rachel Zoe to come up with Garner’s final look. “We could leave the hair shiny and wavy and a little bit undone or we can go a little bit more period-more old Hollywood. At the end of the day, it’s just about making her beautiful no matter what.” Jennifer always looks gorgeous so we can’t wait to see her hit the red carpet. In the meantime, vote on what you think Jennifer will wear in our Predict-a-Gown poll.

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After making the big move to New York City, Jennifer Garner and daughter Violet have been a sweet fixture on Manhattan’s playgrounds. To navigate the busy streets of their new hometown, Jennifer keeps baby Violet safe and comfortable in a City Series stroller by Baby Jogger. Unlike other strollers, the City Series swivel wheel makes it easy to weave through crowds even in inclement weather. The stroller even folds up into a light, compact, easy-to-carry position so it can be tossed into a cab or the subway in one quick step. Get Jennifer’s City Series Stroller, $350, at babyjogger.com and for an even more compact ride, check out the City Series Mini, $199, babyjogger.com.

Maryannakis-Mitchell/Splash News Online

Jennifer Garner didn’t need to snuggle up to husband Ben Affleck to keep warm as she strolled around New York City with daughter Violet recently. The Juno actress looked warm and cozy all on her own wearing an updated take on a fur-lined hunters’ hat (reminiscent of one of our all-time favorite Looney Tunes characters, Elmer Fudd). We’ve tracked down the plaid cap so you can fight off winter’s chill just like Jen. Click here to buy her Plaid Trapper cap at hatattack.com, $85.

Roger Wong/INF; Jim Spellman/WireImage

Jennifer Garner is one busy lady! Making the talk show rounds in New York City, The Kingdom star is taking the muggy weather in stride in some fun and flirty dresses in fall’s bright colors. For a morning stop on NBC’s Today Show Jennifer showed off a purple silk Derek Lam dress and then changed into an Alberta Ferretti green sheath for an afternoon taping of Letterman. We love her change of colors so much, we had to find some similar–and more affordable– dresses to get the look. Check out our favorites:

Get A Purple Dress Like Jennifer:
Nicole Miller cap sleeve stretch sheath, $220, nordstrom.com

C&C California Kaylan dress, $110, candccalifornia.com

Knit v-neck dress, $20, forever21.com

Get a Green Dress Like Jennifer:
Catherine Malandrino puff sleeve dress, $395, shopbop.com

Silk shift dress, $148, bananarepublic.com

Lux Grecian dress, $58, urbanoutfitters.com

Matt Sayles/ap

Whether you’re lucky like Halle Berry and look hot in anything or know how to sex it up when necessary like Jennifer Garner (at this week’s VMAs), we want to know what clothing or accessory item brings out your inner seductress. For us, it’s a draw between a low cut cami with lace trim paired with skinny jeans and a body-hugging strapless dress paired with killer stiletto heels. Tell us: What dress, pants, shoes or top makes you feel instantly sexy every time you wear it?

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