Strapless

Queen Elizabeth II led a procession of horse-drawn carriages down the track at the start of the Royal Ascot races today but gray skies and cold winds drove many racegoers inside refreshment tents. On a day when Britons traditionally parade their summer finery, umbrellas and heavy clothes were the fashion, although a few brave souls shivered in strapless tops and light jackets. The temperature didn't rise above 64 degrees.

The straps have it. A New Jersey school board has ruled that eighth-grade girls attending a dance next month must wear dresses with straps -- or at least one strap -- ending a debate that raised allegations of sexism, led to a school principal being threatened, and forced the cancellation of another dance.  The decision Wednesday night in Readington Township, about 60 miles west of New York City, was not without drama. The township's school board heard more than an hour of testimony from parents and would-be fashion police, and it cast three votes before reaching a decision, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

THE always exuberant Jane Krakowski, clockwise from right, showed some leg Sunday on the Tonys' red carpet at Radio City Music Hall. Presenter Christina Applegate showed up with wrapped hair and strapless dress. Nominee Liev Schreiber was joined by actress Naomi Watts, who is expecting their baby in July. Presenter Claire Danes displayed Broadway shimmer. Ethan Hawke escorted "Coast of Utopia" costar Jennifer Ehle, who later won best featured actress in a play.

It's a chilly 56 degrees in L.A. today. So will Hollywood shiver its way down the red carpet or cover up with capes and furs? Shiver, at least judging from the strapless early arrivals. I guess you don't spend all those hours at SoulCycle to cover up. So far, I haven't been wowed by any of the gowns. Debra Messing is in a rather simple Donna Karan strapless black ruched silk organza creation, and Claire Danes is in an equally understated red carpet red halter gown by Versace. Julianne Hough's white Monique Lhuillier gown with gold, shard-like beading on the bodice has a little more spunk.

Is an office worker really “white collar” if starched shirts are nowhere to be found? The new office dress code seems to involve plenty of decolletage, body ink and gams sans pantyhose. In a smattering of cubicles, employees can be found wearing golf attire, flip flops, spaghetti straps and even sheer clothing. And while many co-workers say the office fashion show is off-putting, a good portion now consider the absence of pressed pantsuits to be acceptable. So finds a new survey of more than 600 North American workers by digital media company Captivate.

The Emmy statuettes weren't the only lithe, gold figures at Sunday night's award show. Celebrities walked the red carpet in varying metallic hues, from warm gold and bronze to shimmery shades of silver and gray. While the look was metallic, it was anything but heavy. Tones were subtle, gown silhouettes were simple and jewelry was noticeably pared down. In the downtown L.A. heat, a palette of pretty metallics made more sense than a dark, weighty gown that looked as if the wearer would need a wheelbarrow to get from the limo to her seat.

It's a chilly 56 degrees in L.A. today. So will Hollywood shiver its way down the red carpet or cover up with capes and furs? Shiver, at least judging from the strapless early arrivals. I guess you don't spend all those hours at SoulCycle to cover up. So far, I haven't been wowed by any of the gowns. Debra Messing is in a rather simple Donna Karan strapless black ruched silk organza creation, and Claire Danes is in an equally understated red carpet red halter gown by Versace. Julianne Hough's white Monique Lhuillier gown with gold, shard-like beading on the bodice has a little more spunk.

Dr. Lisa Chu and Bradford James Vesely were married July 11, 2012, at The Four Seasons Resort Maui. Pastor Roland officiated. The bride is the daughter of the Chu Family of Beverly Hills. The groom is the eldest son of the Vesely Family of Rancho Palos Verdes. The bride was escorted by her mother. She wore a white strapless silk gown cascading with chiffon, and her mother's diamond jewelry. She carried a bouquet of white roses. Australia is their honeymoon destination.

A sapphire blue tent, peacock feather head wear and bright flashes of hot pink flowers -- the wedding of 31-year-old fashion designer Wells Butler to Oliver Nathan this July will be a showstopper. "We didn't want to do anything too cookie cutter," said Butler of her eclectic, bohemian-inspired wedding theme.

Emma Stone has been very busy the last couple of years, appearing in the blockbuster "The Amazing Spider-Man," "The Help" and "Crazy Stupid Love" while becoming one of the young starlets worth watching on the red carpet. The frequent redhead, who actually happens to be a natural blond, really hit her style stride at the 2011 Golden Globe Awards when she chose a minimal, peach, cap-sleeve Calvin Klein gown. She's gone on to more daring choices with a svelte Martin Grant top and skirt at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards and a red Lanvin dress embellished with crystal flowers at last year's Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala.

Emma Stone has been very busy the last couple of years, appearing in the blockbuster "The Amazing Spider-Man," "The Help" and "Crazy Stupid Love" while becoming one of the young starlets worth watching on the red carpet. The frequent redhead, who actually happens to be a natural blond, really hit her style stride at the 2011 Golden Globe Awards when she chose a minimal, peach, cap-sleeve Calvin Klein gown. She's gone on to more daring choices with a svelte Martin Grant top and skirt at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards and a red Lanvin dress embellished with crystal flowers at last year's Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala.

Is an office worker really “white collar” if starched shirts are nowhere to be found? The new office dress code seems to involve plenty of decolletage, body ink and gams sans pantyhose. In a smattering of cubicles, employees can be found wearing golf attire, flip flops, spaghetti straps and even sheer clothing. And while many co-workers say the office fashion show is off-putting, a good portion now consider the absence of pressed pantsuits to be acceptable. So finds a new survey of more than 600 North American workers by digital media company Captivate.

Dr. Lisa Chu and Bradford James Vesely were married July 11, 2012, at The Four Seasons Resort Maui. Pastor Roland officiated. The bride is the daughter of the Chu Family of Beverly Hills. The groom is the eldest son of the Vesely Family of Rancho Palos Verdes. The bride was escorted by her mother. She wore a white strapless silk gown cascading with chiffon, and her mother's diamond jewelry. She carried a bouquet of white roses. Australia is their honeymoon destination.

When it came to fashion, the Oscar red carpet was all about fire and ice as a majority of female stars opted to wear either bold, fiery hits of red or pale, cool shades of shimmery silver. Jennifer Lawrence exhibited the power of red in a silk crepe tank dress from the Calvin Klein collection. The silhouette was the epitome of simplicity The scoop-neck, body-hugging sheath with not one bell, whistle or sequin let a vivid shade of red do all the work. Showing the more dramatic side of red, Anne Hathaway wore a strapless scarlet Valentino gown with plenty of volume at the skirt and delicate rosettes cascading down the side.

The Emmy statuettes weren't the only lithe, gold figures at Sunday night's award show. Celebrities walked the red carpet in varying metallic hues, from warm gold and bronze to shimmery shades of silver and gray. While the look was metallic, it was anything but heavy. Tones were subtle, gown silhouettes were simple and jewelry was noticeably pared down. In the downtown L.A. heat, a palette of pretty metallics made more sense than a dark, weighty gown that looked as if the wearer would need a wheelbarrow to get from the limo to her seat.

A sapphire blue tent, peacock feather head wear and bright flashes of hot pink flowers -- the wedding of 31-year-old fashion designer Wells Butler to Oliver Nathan this July will be a showstopper. "We didn't want to do anything too cookie cutter," said Butler of her eclectic, bohemian-inspired wedding theme.

Bare shoulders are a big theme in spring fashion. They show up in sleeveless, off-the-shoulder and halter neckline styles, all of which are fairly traditional. But there's another, trendier way to give shoulders a breath of fresh air. It's sweaters or blouses with necklines so wide that they slide off the tips of the shoulders, looking as if they simply don't fit. Marc Jacobs' summer sweater is a case in point.

When it came to fashion, the Oscar red carpet was all about fire and ice as a majority of female stars opted to wear either bold, fiery hits of red or pale, cool shades of shimmery silver. Jennifer Lawrence exhibited the power of red in a silk crepe tank dress from the Calvin Klein collection. The silhouette was the epitome of simplicity The scoop-neck, body-hugging sheath with not one bell, whistle or sequin let a vivid shade of red do all the work. Showing the more dramatic side of red, Anne Hathaway wore a strapless scarlet Valentino gown with plenty of volume at the skirt and delicate rosettes cascading down the side.

Love monitoring your heart rate, but hate wearing the tight, uncomfortable transmitter chest strap? You're not alone, as the sudden rise of the strapless heart rate monitor indicates. Popular with walkers and gym rats but viewed skeptically by hard-core athletes for a perceived lack of accuracy and potential danger during cycling (you have to take one hand off the handlebar to get a reading), strapless monitors come in convenient wristwatch and finger-ring form.

THE always exuberant Jane Krakowski, clockwise from right, showed some leg Sunday on the Tonys' red carpet at Radio City Music Hall. Presenter Christina Applegate showed up with wrapped hair and strapless dress. Nominee Liev Schreiber was joined by actress Naomi Watts, who is expecting their baby in July. Presenter Claire Danes displayed Broadway shimmer. Ethan Hawke escorted "Coast of Utopia" costar Jennifer Ehle, who later won best featured actress in a play.