camilla belle

With an eye for fashion that's made her one of our favorite Young Hollywood style setters, it's only fitting that we'd find Camilla Belle stepping out for Cotton's 24 Hour Runway Show in Miami this past weekend. Before the catwalk, we caught up with the actress, whose off-duty brand of street style manages to be just as chic as her red-carpet wares, to find out just how she preps for the glamour of, say, the Met Gala, and her tricks for styling up your basic cotton t-shirt. Read on for all the details from the gorgeous Camilla Belle — straight from Miami.

Above: Camilla Belle showed off two looks in Miami for the Cotton 24 Hour Runway festivities.

POPSUGAR: When you're reaching for something like a regular white cotton t-shirt, how do you put your stamp on it and style it your way?
Camilla Belle: That's when everyone's personality comes into play, and for me, I'm a fan of jewelry and I collect jewelry whenever I travel. I just got back from Brazil and I came back with quite a few new pieces and trinkets to add to my wardrobe, and that's something I like to play around with and to have fun with.

PS: On the opposite end of the spectrum, we love watching you on the red carpet in these amazing, high-drama gowns. Is there one moment that stands out in your mind as your absolute favorite red carpet moment?
CB: One of them is probably the first year I went to the Met Gala and I wore Jean Paul Gaultier Couture. The dress was so dramatic and the event was so beautiful, and so many amazing people that I respect were walking on the red carpet — and Cate Blanchett was right next to me. It was so over the top in so many different ways — the dress included — and I'll never forget that. The dress will always be something really special. Another one that pops into my mind is also the Met Gala, last year. I wore Ralph Lauren, and that dress was very different from any look I had worn before, and also just the whole look — the makeup and the hair. It was all very much put together in a certain way, and I think that's the moment that will always pop out as well.

Keep reading for Camilla's red-carpet dressing strategy, favorite essentials, best fashion advice, and more.

There are party dresses of the usual sort — LBDs, fit-and-flare confections, maybe something in lace — but on NYE, don't reach for the usual suspects; instead, let Camilla Belle inspire you to reach for something sequined and totally glamorous. Sequins might seem like a forgone conclusion on New Year's, but that's just because nothing feels quite so festive — and there's nothing wrong with that. So we're taking cues straight from Miss Belle and embracing the high-wattage shine on a silvery, stem-baring minidress. The best way to complement a mini like this isn't with added glitz, but with a few well-placed jewels and a metallic clutch in hand to play off (but not upstage) the glitter. And the ultimate secret-weapon finisher? A pair of sky-high nude pumps (with a comfy platform!) that make your legs look even longer. All you have to do is shop to get the look just in time to make a jaw-dropping arrival at any of your NYE soirees.

The annual Met Gala not only inspires fashion's finest to come together for an epic showing of couture, avant-garde, and wildly fantastic gowns, but it also allows us to catch up — if only for 60 seconds — with some of our favorite style setters. Last night's affair was nothing short of eye-catchingly chic, and to add to our plate, we caught up with the likes of Rachel Zoe in her own fringed creation, the beautiful Camilla Belle in Ralph Lauren, and Monique Lhuillier-clad Ginnifer Goodwin. Wondering who's bringing sexy back, which model isn't worried about wardrobe malfunctions, and which cool girl gets nervous about those infamously treacherous museum steps? Keep reading for the best quips, all in a Met Gala minute, of course.

• Rachel Zoe, on how long it took her to get ready: "Me? Me? Not very long. I care more about her [points to Karolina Kurkova], so . . ."
• Karolina Kurkova, on bringing sexy back (literally): [Turns around to show off her back] "I always love open backs. Very simple and chic in the front and then the back, it's like, 'Wow.' . . . In the back, I have a zipper, so I can completely unzip it, so you know, if you want to loosen up, if you want to get a little more, you know, sexy in the back, show a little skin!"
• Ginnifer Goodwin, on her custom Monique Lhuillier creation: "To have a dress made to your proportions makes you realize how every other day of the year you wear a dress that doesn't fit!"

Click through for more Met Gala minute quotes.