From the water cooler at work to the hallways of Hollywood, everyone is talking about these hot new trends. Bobbie Thomas, “Today” style contributor and author of The Buzz for In Touch Weekly, helps you stay in-the-know.

Dark denim
Basic blues are taking a backseat to dark denim this season! Whether you give into the black attack or choose from an array of gray, blues are old news right now, and everyone is doing dark! Designer brands like Habitual, Frankie B., Earnest Sewn, J. Brand, Jet, Anlo and more are helping the fashion-forward set go back to black and fade to gray.

While Tinseltown’s trendsetters may be reviving the signature punk piece, more sophisticated style mavens are adding a posh twist with classics. The skinny black pant is Audrey Hepburn’s co-star in the new Gap commercials, while many mainstream labels such as Levi's, Guess, Old Navy, Express, Urban Outfitters and Mavi also take a walk on the dark side. Dark hues dress up denim and look perfectly chic when paired with classic favorites like loafers, button-down shirts and cozy cashmere wraps or belted sweaters. (Black Shio Shibuya Skinny Jean, $59, Macys.com; Lauren by Ralph Lauren blouse, $109 and belt, $74; BCBG Chunky Sweater, $198; Urban Outfitters Lux Gray Jean, $68, UrbanOutfitters.com; Club Monaco sweater, $89; Aldo ankle boots, $129)

Lashes and locks
Faking it has never been so hot. Whether you long for lush lashes or Hollywood’s hottest hair extensions, going faux has never been more en vogue.

While professional eyelash extensions are uber-expensive and require an impossibly long application process, we’ve come across some bright-eyed alternatives that are sure to make you take a second look at eyelash options. Jan Marini’s Age Intervention Eyelash protects by preventing breakage, so that lashes can reach their maximum growth potential ($160, janmarini.com). The formula promises longer, fuller and thicker lashes in the blink of an eye (well, 2 to 3 weeks), but if you can’t get your hands on a bottle of the sold-out serum, don’t despair, D.I.Y. lash extension kits are popping up everywhere.

From Lash Secrets Eyelash Extension Kit ($39.95, LashSecrets.com) to ModelCo’s Lashout individual lash kit ($14, sephora.com), you’ll be batting your eyes at every guy in town! The key to a flutter that doesn’t look fake? Select a natural looking style. For some flirty daytime fun, try Ardell Fashion Lashes number 124, or get glamorous with Andrea Modlash number 33 for a night on the town. Here are four great tips for flawless fakes: 1) apply eyeliner first and smudge; 2) cut lashes in half — they will blend into your lashline better, and you’ll get two pairs out of one; 3) Use dark-colored glue such as Duo’s ‘Dark Toned’ eyelash adhesive; 4) lightly trace some black or dark brown eyeshadow along the lashline with a flat angle-tipped brush to completely conceal. And voila, your dreamy lashes will keep them guessing! ($3 to $6, Walgreens.com)

Today’s savvy celebrities know that it’s key to keep on changing if they want to stay fresh in the minds of their fans! Style stars Carmen Electra and Eva Longoria rely on hair gurus like Ken Paves to give their locks new looks. Now, queen chameleon Jessica Simpson has teamed up with Paves to create HairDo, a new line of clip-in extensions inspired by the scene-stealing hairstyles she’s sported in the past ($85 to $500, extensions.com). Glamour girls can go from short to long, and back again in an instant, by choosing from 15 shades of human hair or 16 shades of synthetic fiber. Trust me, it’s easy. Just section off the crown of your hair, and clip up. Tease at the root and spray to help the clip-in hold. Then let down your crown, ladies, and fake what your mama gave you!

At your service
Beat the beauty bag blues! Take one more thing off your to-do list with Web sites that remember your routine for you. Drugstore.com and beauty.com are now offering an auto delivery service so you can set up supplies to arrive at your door well before you run out. Choose from items like mascara, toothbrushes, face wash and even toilet paper, select a 30-, 45-, 60- or 90-day renewal schedule, and kiss good-bye the days of dashing to the drugstore before they close! 

Vuru.com is also making it easy to regiment your vitamin routine. The online service lets you choose from over 2,000 supplements in order to create the combo that is right for you. Then, they’ll pre-pack your pills for a daily dose that you can take on the go! The individual packs are perfect to toss into your purse or briefcase. Order up to 16 weeks' worth at a time for a simple solution to a healthy routine.

Gourmet peanut butter
Good old PB&J goes gourmet! Jelly has long lavished in the upper crust of sophisticated jams and preserves, but this time it’s peanut butter that has the buzz! Melt-in-your-mouth spreads have exploded onto the scene with peanut and almond butters from Style Peanut Spread ($6.50 to $14, stylepeanutspread.com). With 139 seasonal combinations to choose from, Style is putting its spin on this sandwich staple! Exotic ingredients such as cinnamon, cantaloupe, cherry and peppermint make up the magical flavors. You can even indulge in edible gold with their Gold ‘n Dark Chocolate peanut spread, or for the true food fanatic, join their private client club and custom-create a flavor!

And for those who can’t frequent the Peanut Butter & Co. sandwich shop in NYC, owner Lee Zalben has created a cookbook that includes the recipes that made him famous (Peanut Butter and Co Cookbook, $16.95, ilovepeauntbutter.com). Learn to prepare decadent desserts like Chocolate-Peanut Butter Pie, nutritious snacks like Frozen Dark Chocolate Banana Bites, and over-the-top entrees like Sweet and Spicy Peanut Butter-Glazed Chicken Tenders. And be sure to check out the chapter dedicated to Zalben’s favorite sandwiches, which includes treats like the “The Lunch Box Special” and “The Elvis.”  Move over jelly — peanut butter is out to prove there’s a new king in the house!

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