You can achieve star quality style without breaking the bank. The key to looking like a celebrity isn’t found in a bunch of designer labels, but in how you wear an item. Here are four tips that celebrities (or rather, their stylists) use to create their star looks.

How to Dress Like a Celebrity

Accessories to the Hilt
The key to dressing like a star is to go one step further than you would normally go in the accessory department. For example, if you normally wear one pin or brooch, wear two or three. If you wear only two-inch heels, one day kick it up to a pair of three-inchers.  For example, one of the hottest trends for fall/winter 2005 is the beaded necklace. Normal stylistas wear just one necklace. A celebrity would add at least one more necklace- possibly in a contrasting color.  Find “celebrity-like” accessories for budget prices at places like Target, Macy’s, New York & Company, and Claire’s for less than twenty bucks. A great pair of sunglasses is another essential addition to your outfit.

  Get the Seasons Must Have Bag
Top the look off with the hottest bag. Accessory companies like Hype and Besso make “inspired” versions of popular bag styles, using high quality leather, for well below $200.  These bags are high-quality copies in the style of the hot designer label, but don’t claim to be made by the designer or the designer’s company. Look at magazines like US Weekly, Marie Claire, Bazaar, and Life & Style Weekly for the scoop on the hot new celebrity bag.

Mix and Match
Please resist the urge to wear one designer from head to toe. Celebrities mix and match their designers. Haven’t you seen Jessica Simpson in her Wal-Mart-esque sweatsuit, holding a fabulous Marc Jacobs handbag and wearing great shoes? Be like Jessica and throw on some Chip & Pepper Jeans boot cut jeans with a La Redoute top, and strut elegantly around in your fancy Manolos. Search for your expensive pieces, like Manolo Blahniks, on eBay. The online “flea market” is a great place to score high-fashion items below retail price. (Be careful of knockoffs, though.)

Make it Fit
In this “off the rack, on my back” shopping culture, the importance of tailored clothing has been lost. Stars like Oprah look so fabulous because their clothes are tailored. However, you don’t have to be a billionaire to have your clothes tailored: just head to your local dry cleaners. Most cleaners have a tailor on staff. And stores like Banana Republic and Saks Fifth Avenue offer free tailoring on full-priced items.