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Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009

Dress like an It girl

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Miley Cyrus is It.

As in the It girl of the moment.

She's a trendsetter who has become a fashion star for tweens and adults. The camera loves her.

Today's news video

Miley, the TV, movie and pop star who will perform at the Colonial Life Arena Saturday, is the latest in a long line of trendy squeaky-clean It girls.

Miley is the anti-Britney, if you will, in appearance and appeal.

Stylist Summer Brooks put together five updated looks based on former good girl It girls for Life&Style.

We have Denise Huxtable from "The Cosby Show"; Joey Potter from "Dawson's Creek"; Blossom Russo from "Blossom"; Punky Brewster and Blair Warner from "The Facts of Life." (Brooks also put together an outfit you - or your 9-year-old daughter - can wear to look like Miley.)

"Fashion is cyclical; so many elements of each character's personal style are relevant," Brooks said. "All of the looks are an attempt to capture the essence of the character, and to speculate how they might dress as a young woman in 2009."

Some of the actors didn't quite live up to the image they portrayed on the screen.

But at least they looked good - and squeaky clean-for the camera.

PUNKY BREWSTER

The character: Penelope "Punky" Brewster, played by Soleil Moon Frye, was a spunky and bright kid being raised by a foster parent on "Punky Brewster."

After Punky: Frye has settled down as a mom away from the Hollywood spotlight, save a three-year stint on "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch." But she does have more than 1 million Twitter followers. She had more than Miley!

The look: Side ponytails, ripped denim, and high-top sneakers. Punky mixed colors, and she had flair.

Brooks said: "Instead of block colors, I chose to emphasize the accessories. The multicolored embroidered flats are a more feminine version of the Rainbow Brite high tops she sported in the '80s."

Model: Caitlin Hicks, 20

CLOTHES

Archives pins, $55 and $85, Bohemian

B-Low the Belt stackable round belts, $98 each, Coplon's

Current/Elliot jeans with long zipper, $220, Coplon's

It Jeans denim jacket, $98.50, Mary Oatt shirt, $48.50, Boutique Basement

Cynthia Vincent "Tashi" flats, $220, Kick's

JOEY POTTER

The character: Katie Holmes embodied the all-American teenage good girl with her character in the small coastal town on "Dawson's Creek." Joey was as unaware of the challenges of adolescence as she was of her own beauty.

After Joey: Four words: "Batman" and Tom Cruise.

The look: Simple, with nothing too flattering and certainly nothing that will draw too much attention.

Brooks said: "I didn't watch 'Dawson's Creek,' but my impression was that she was a typical hometown girl. Classic American style with a little tomboyishness, but nothing too out of the box."

Model: Kara Collins, 18

CLOTHES

JPK Paris 75 bag, $199, Just the Thing

Golden Leaf necklace, $25, Just the Thing

Rich and Skinny bootcut jeans, $162, Bohemian

Hazel layered top, $88, Bohemian

525 America cardi-sweater, $88, Bohemian

Etienne Aigner jacket, $30, Sid & Nancy

Bronx Cool Clog, $93, Kicks

BLOSSOM RUSSO

The character: Blossom, played by Mayim Bialik, was quirky and individualistic. She wasn't a typical on-screen beauty. Remember her nose? But she was fun and smart, the type of girl the cool kids wanted to know. And her brother, Joey, was hot. Whoa.

After Blossom: Off to college. She earned a PhD. in neuroscience.

The look: Of course, the extravagantly flowered hats come to mind. Blossom was a teenager who dressed older than her age.

Brooks said: "In the early seasons, she had a penchant for pairing oversized tops with leggings and, of course, her trademark headgear. By exchanging her comfortable-looking ankle boots with a chunky heel, the look becomes more sophisticated."

Model: Becky Gunter, 25

CLOTHES

Diane Von Furstenberg top, $245, Coplon's

See By Chloe cardigan, $385, Coplon's

T Los Angeles leggings, $80, Bohemian

Max Studio shoes, $198.50, Mary

Cockamamie Jewelry bracelets, $42 each, Bohemian

Hat from Sid & Nancy, $18

DENISE HUXTABLE

The character: On "The Cosby Show," Lisa Bonet, as Denise Huxtable, was the Huxtable child with an independent streak. While she was cunning (some might say conniving), Denise also dispensed wise advice to her younger siblings.

After Denise: Denise went to college, where it was "A Different World" - a "Cosby Show" spinoff - for Denise and Bonet.

The look: Bohemian, but the blazers and cardigans added a dab of sophistication to her go-my-own-way cool.

Brooks said: "Her look needs very little modification to make it current. Besides, Denise always looked cool."

Model: Kyara Massenburg, 19

CLOTHES

Big Buddha bag, $98.50, Mary

Autumn Cashmere ribbed drape coat, $280, Coplon's

3.1 Phillip Lim top, $85, Van Jean

Vince pants, $225, Van Jean

Frye "Ellie" ankle booties, $168.50, Mary

Bracelets, $10 to $75, Just the Thing

BLAIR WARNER

The character: Blair, acted by Lisa Whelchel, was pretty, preppy and rich. She could also be a brat, but she learned that life isn't always how she perceived it at the all-girl boarding school on "The Facts of Life."

After Blair: She founded Momtime Ministries, and she held a parenting seminar at Northside Baptist Church in 2008.

The look: The material girl liked to flaunt the goods - herself and her expensive clothes and jewelry.

Brooks said: "This is a really iconic look. There's a play on the elements of masculinity and femininity. The boots and broad shoulders juxtapose with the lace and pearls. Very current."

Model: Kathryn Langston, 25

CLOTHES

Pearl and Ribbon necklace, $39.50, Just the Thing

Be Cool top, $68.50, Boutique Basement

Trina Turk tweed skirt, $198, Coplon's

Karlie jacket, $118.50, Mary

Matisse Benjamin boots, $198, Kicks

MILEY

The Look: Modeled after her "Party in the U.S.A. video."

Brooks said: "When attempting to emulate Miley's look, load on the bracelets. In order to make her 'Party in the U.S.A.' styling cold-weather accessible, her short shorts and tank top were swapped for a scoop-neck long sleeve T and jeans."

CLOTHES

Corral Boots, $128, Pistol Creek

3.1 Phillip Lim fur vest, $750, Van Jean

Current/Elliot jeans, $233, Coplon's

Rag Market scoop-neck top, $38, Bohemian

Rings, $17.99 to $19.99, Hip-Wa Zee

Turquoise and silver Native American bracelet, stylist's own

Stackable brackets, three for $16, Bohemian

WHERE TO GET IT

Bohemian, 2736 Devine St., (803) 256-0624

Coplon's, 4825 Forest Drive, (803) 790-0015

Mary, 713 Saluda Avenue, (803) 256-3255

Boutique Basement, 707 Saluda Avenue, (803) 343-0730

Kicks Exceptional Shoes, 2921 Devine St. (803) 254-3937

Just the Thing, 2732 Devine St., (803) 771-9969

Sid & Nancy, 743 Saluda Avenue, (803) 779-6454

Van Jean, 2734 Devine St., (803) 252-4339

Pistol Creek, 600 Cherokee Lane, West Columbia, (803) 791-4624

Hip-Wa Zee, 940 Harden St., (803) 376-1500

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