LC's "The Fame Game" Release Date Announced

Lauren Conrad's "The Fame Game" will be available in book stores on April 3, 2012, but readers can pre-order now for just $12.23 and save $5.76 from the price of $17.99.

"The Fame Game" is a new three-book trilogy spun-off from the "LA Candy" trilogy, this time telling the tall tales of Madison Parker, who's fame hunger is ravishing.

Lauren announced these new set of novels after having all three "LA Candy" novels go to #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List.

Along with Candy, Lauren wrote "Lauren Conrad Style," a book devoted all to Lauren's expertise about fashion, hair, clothing, and special occasions, which topped the bestseller list too.

"The Fame Game" is loosely based on real-life fame-seeker, Heidi Montag, where Heidi and husband Spencer spent frivalous amounts of money to keep their celebrity going, only to drive them broke.

Credit: Examiner (David Quintanilla)

Stephen Colletti On His New GF Chelsea Kane

She danced right into his heart!

Former Laguna Beach star Stephen Colletti told Us Weekly at Tuesday night's Hot Hollywood party that he's "having a great time" with Chelsea Kane.

"She's great. I'm so proud of her," the reality-star-turned-actor, 24, said of Kane, 22. "She's doing amazing on Dancing with the Stars."

Earlier this month, Kane told Us she and Colletti were set up on a blind date by her manager. A close friend of Kane's told Us that she's been a fan of Colletti since his days as an MTV reality star alongside Lauren Conrad. Kane's friend revealed: "She tore his photo out of a magazine to show friends!"

Colletti was tight-lipped when it came to personal details about his relationship with the Disney starlet. The sexiest part about Kane? "That's between her and me," he quipped. And the most romantic thing he's ever done for her? "That's also between her and me. We're having a great time together. She's a great girl."

The One Tree Hill actor said the couple's dueling schedules prevent them from spending too much time together. "We fight the battle of finding time," he said. "She has rehearsal a lot and works so hard on her show. So we're more laid back. We like to go on dates together."

Credit: Us Magazine

Lauren Conrad: Us Weekly Hot Hollywood Party

Lauren Conrad arrives at the Us Weekly Hot Hollywood party held at Eden on April 26, 2011 in Hollywood, California.

Credit: Zimbio

Photos by Jason Merritt/Getty Images North America

Lauren Conrad Launches Beauty Site!

Her latest foray into the reality TV world didn’t work out, but fear not, Lauren Conrad is anything but bored. The former MTV starlet, author and budding fashion designer today launched thebeautydepartment.com, a website full of hair and makeup tips she’s procured over the years. 

The photo and video how-tos star Conrad, plus her longtime hairstylist, Kristin Ess, and her makeup artist, Amy Nadine. 

Conrad says that before joining forces with her glam team, she often turned to fashion magazines for beauty help — often unsuccessfully. “Growing up, I never really learned how to do my hair and makeup correctly and the results weren’t always great,” Conrad said in a release. “Our goal with The Beauty Department is to provide girls and young women with a basic how-to of simplified versions of popular trends and styles that they can recreate themselves.” 

The site covers hair and makeup basics, as well as health-related beauty topics, like sun protection. Readers can also submit questions, which the trio will attempt to answer online.

Credit: PEOPLE (Kate Hogan)

Chelsea Kane: Dating LC's Ex Stephen Colletti

 

Lauren Conrad's ex boyfriend Stephen Colletti is dating Chelsea Kane, the Dancing with the Stars cutie, 22, tells Us Weekly.

"We were set up on a blind date by my manager," she says.

It turns out the dancer has been a fan of the 25-year-old One Tree Hill actor since his days with LC on MTV's Laguna Beach.

A source close to the dancer tells Us, "She tore his photo out of a magazine to show friends!"

Credit: Us Magazine

Lauren Conrad: "I'm Not A Sexy Person"

Plenty of men might beg to differ with what Lauren Conrad tells May's Allure Magazine.

"I'm not a sexy person," The Hills star, 25, said. "I'm OK with it. I've never been the sexy girl. Whenever I've had a boyfriend, he's always been like, 'Oh, you're cute.'"

But LC admits there have been plenty of times she doesn't even feel cute, especially when it comes to stories about her fluctuating weight.

"You're the first person to notice any weight gain or loss, and then to have it pointed out can be embarrassing," she says. "You have two good angles and a hundred bad ones. I've seen photos of myself and cringed, 'Oh, God, I can never wear those pants again!'"

In fact, the reality star and writer, who's been dating actor Kyle Howard for nearly two years, has devised a plan for those incidents. Conrad now wears skinny jeans with high heels to elongate her legs and she always carries a giant handbag.

"If I'm shopping and I see paparazzi, my bag goes directly to my thighs," she says.

But while Conrad might have some self-esteem issues, she says she'd never consider going under the knife like pal Heidi Montag, who had more than 10 procedures including breast augmentation, liposuction, and a nose job.

"I saw the magazine just like everybody else," she says. "I don't think this is a happy story at all, there's just no right answer there."

Credit: Us Magazine

Lauren Conrad: Allure Magazine Cover Girl

Lauren Conrad is Allure’s May cover girl. Inside the mag, the reality TV starlet opens up about herself and her career. Some highlights:

On being called “Reality Show Talent”:

“They called me that, and I’m like, ‘What’s my Talent?’”

Would she like to take back and on camera moments?

“I was always a little bit embarrassed when I would be drunk on camera.”

On how she sees herself:

“I’m not a sexy person. I’m OK with it. I’ve never been the sexy girl. Whenever I’ve had a boyfriend, he’s always been like, ‘Oh, you’re cute.’”

On her body issues:

“It wasn’t ‘Lauren Debuts Her Line’; it was ‘Lauren Debuts a Fuller Figure,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, no!’ because I’d put on a few pounds. If I’m shopping and I see paparazzi, my bag goes directly to my thighs.”

In a mass of lovely bikinis, cover ups, shorts and sunhats (she looks so lovely!), the former Hills star turned fashion designer takes us on a sneak peak at her shoot, and shares a few secrets...

Credit: Faded Youth Blog

Lauren Conrad Lands Mega 3-Book Deal!

A new chapter for LC!

Lauren Conrad -- whose debut teen novel, L.A. Candy, hit No. 1 on a New York Times bestseller list -- just scored another three-book deal with HarperCollins, she tells Us Magazine exclusively.

Called The Fame Game, the Hills alum's upcoming trilogy is set in the reality TV universe, and features Madison Parker, an ambitious, ruthless character from the L.A. Candy series who's ready to become a star in her own right. In her way? Backstabbing family friends, dogged paparazzi and one media scandal after the next!

"We took the mean girl of the [L.A. Candy books], spinning her off," Conrad, 25, tells Us of The Fame Game's tough protagonist Madison.

"This series is about a girl who loves everything that fame is, and that's all she's ever really wanted," Conrad explains. "[Madison] has fun with the press, she enjoys the attention, she welcomes scandal!"

If Madison sounds familiar (Heidi Montag, perhaps?), Conrad assures Us her characters aren't based on anyone real. "No. We have fun with it! We kind of take [Hollywood] stereotypes.

With a clothing empire to run as well (her third line debuts this fall), when does Conrad write?

"Between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m.," Conrad tells Us. "My phone doesn't ring, and there's nothing on TV!"

Is Conrad's longtime beau, actor Kyle Howard, an L.A. Candy devotee? "He read my first book, which was very sweet," Conrad says, laughing. "I told him he didn't have to read the rest. "I don't think he's the target market!"

Credit: Us Magazine

Lauren Conrad Show Intro Blocked By Viacom

Lauren Conrad's intro to her cancelled reality show has now been blocked by MTV's parent company, Viacom, citing it was due to copyright grounds.

Lauren's stop-motion animated intro was just released two weeks ago with an overwhelming response from LC fans and curious viewers of what could've been.

Not only is it blocked on YouTube where it first surfaced, but it's also been removed from Angela + Ithyle's website, the company that created Lauren's intro.

It looks like Viacom is laying the hammer down on Lauren Conrad, or any cultural influence that Lauren left on MTV plus pop culture as well.

Credit: The Examiner (David Quintanilla)

Lauren Conrad’s Beverly Hills Pit Stop

Taking a moment to refuel her vehicle, Lauren Conrad was spotted at a gas station in Beverly Hills yesterday (March 29).

The former “Hills” babe looked to be in a hurry as she strolled out of the convenience store, sporting a grey top, black shorts, and grey sneakers.

Credit: Celebrity Gossip

Lauren Conrad Talks Style, Designing For Kohl's

To some, Lauren Conrad might be just another reality television star turned celebrity. But, at 25 years-old, she has accomplished more than most.  Among staring in the MTV reality shows Laguna Beach and The Hills, Lauren is a New York Times bestselling author and a fashion designer with a collection in Kohl’s stores nationwide.

Lauren studied fashion at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in California.  In addition, she interned at the magazine, Teen Vogue, and worked at  the PR firm, People’s Revolution.  In the Fall of 2009, Lauren partnered with Kohl’s and launched the LC Lauren Conrad collection for women.  The line was carried in a select 300 Kohl’s stores before being released nationwide in the Spring of 2010.

The Spring 2011 line is the fourth collection to be released at Kohl’s and is reflective of Lauren's personal style.  Pieces in the collection include elegant, flowery dresses and light-weight knits in soft tones of coral, pinks and creams.

Lauren opened up to me about the inspiration for designing the Spring 2011 collection for Kohl’s, as well as influences on her personal style.  This is what she has to say.

SS:  Where do you find inspiration for designing your fashion collections?

LC: I want my designs to be representative of my personal style and incorporate things that I find beautiful, like flowing fabrics and feminine floral prints. I work to create pieces that can stand alone or be mixed and matched to complement a number of different looks, allowing anyone who wears the clothes to enhance their wardrobes each season without having to sacrifice style for savings.

SS: What is your favorite piece in the Spring 2011 collection?

LC: I recently expanded my apparel collection to include shoes, jewelry and  other accessories, so my favorite accessory is the Zander platform sandal.  The wooden platform detail is very reminiscent of the ‘70s and the neutral color allows them to work with a variety of outlets.

SS: Even though I am sure you can shop among the best designers, do you wear pieces from your own collections for Kohl’s?

LC: Absolutely! Being able to wear the styles I create is one of the best parts of being a designer. The look of the LC Lauren Conrad collection is representative of what I want to wear each season.

SS: Like me, you were also born in the 1980s.  What is one look that you sported then that would get you on a worst dressed list now?

LC:  Those parachute pants that MC Hammer wore. Those were not the most flattering.

SS: If you had to wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?

LC: Dresses. I love them because they are so versatile and can easily be dressed-up or down by adding the right accessories.

The LC Lauren Conrad collection is available in Kohl’s store and online at www.kohls.com.

Credit: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Sarah Sudar)

Lauren Conrad's Scrapped Reality Show Intro

Her fans desperately want to see her back on the airwaves and, although Lauren Conrad's new reality show hasn’t found a home just yet, the previously planned series' intro has been released.

Back in February, MTV dropped the program as it was allegedly “too high brow” for the channel’s audience.

While she's still shopping it around, the former “Hills” star's new offering focused solely on her work as a fashion designer - not her personal life.

The intro shows Ms Conrad in a claylike animation transitioning from a horde of paparazzi to rolls of strings and a large cloth morphing into a dress wrapped around her body.

Credit: Celebrity Gossip

Stephanie Pratt Talks About New Reality Show

Stephanie Pratt isn’t done with reality television. She recently signed a deal with reality show producer Bunim-Murray to create a brand new show that she says will be anything but typical. She revealed to Hollywood Life at the Genesis Awards her BFFs, Lauren Conrad and Lo Bosworth, from The Hills might join her on the show.

Since wrapping up The Hills in 2010, Stephanie, 24, has been working on her own purse line – which she began sketching at 14 years old. Check out our exclusive interview below to find more about her style inspirations and reality show!

Credit: Hollywood Life (Stephanie Wenger, Kirstin Benson)