Fashion Style

By Livia Soong
Lauren Conrad stood underneath the CUSP Store's spotlights, with her hands clasped and a demure smile on her face.
The 25-year-old reality-star turned-fashion-designer stood larger than life with perfectly coiffed hair, dressed in a nude camisole and floral maxi skirt from her new line, Paper Crown. Conrad made an appearance at CUSP, a series of boutiques owned by parent company Neiman Marcus, in Century City Wednesday night to promote her 2011 Holiday collection
Shoppers and fans alike thumbed through her flirty dresses and feminine separates while a DJ spun beats in the background and sharply dressed servers offered cocktails and appetizers. The former MTV reality star, accompanied by Paper Crown partner and best friend Maura McManus, was all smiles as she mingled in the chic and upbeat atmosphere.
"There's something really cool about watching a piece develop and going through fittings and picking the exact fabric and going to the factories," said Conrad. "It's a little more work and a little more stressful, but it's rewarding at the end. Plus, it was a very fun thing to do with one of my best friends."
Conrad proved her worth as a designer with her latest line. A mix of glam and elegance, key pieces from the Holiday collection include a tiered silk mini dress, a grey velvet floor length gown with an open back, and the ultimate long-sleeved lace LBD. Conrad's favorite piece of the flawless and festive bunch is the Plath skirt, a pleated lace mini with a gathered waist.
Conrad already has a 2012 Pre-Spring lookbook on the Paper Crown website and from the looks of it, we'll be seeing more of Paper Crown in the future.
"It's something that I love doing and that’s what the brand has always been about," says Conrad. "It's about pursuing your dreams and doing things that make you happy.”