Harry Potter: Style Lessons from Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson

So there I was in New York City last weekend at the premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2."

And I cried.

It wasn't because two hours and ten minutes of prime New York shopping time was being spent in a movie theater. Tears and Diorshow mascara  rolled because I've been covering these Harry Potter movies for over a decade, and I'm sad that it's over with this final installment.

I've been inspired, thrilled and even fell more than a bit in love with this cast. If your grandchildren or kids are obsessed with Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermoine) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) then rejoice. They started off as good kids and it never changed, which is so rare for child actors.

I'll never forget the first time I talked to Daniel Radcliffe who was just 11-year-old and was starring in the first Potter film. He didn't come into his hotel suite at the Regency in New York City with a publicist. He was holding his mum's hand and wore a little Navy blue wool suit and those round specks. 

Radcliffe, who can't even go to the far reaches of Mongolia now without being noticed, told me at that tender age, "Maybe they will let me do another one of these Harry Potter movies. Maybe I could be an actor when I grow up."

Now, he's a superstar.

To this day, the cast remains crazy talented, plus polite, sweet, and they were also smart enough to stay out of trouble. None of them pulled any Lindsays. Emma Watson who plays Hermoine told me last weekend, "It was important for me to be a role model to women of all ages. We've had enough of the princess in the tower stories. Hermoine teaches us that women can get the job done." (In the new film, she throws on her jeans, a T, and red sweat jacket and takes on Voldemort while still looking very pretty. Note to self: It's not a bad look for days when I have to jump and run.)

As for style, Emma says, "It's such a joy to wear such beautiful dresses on a red carpet. I try to pull together a daily look that's crisp, neat and fun. You can't go wrong with a beautiful skirt and a simple top. It works for every age." 

This got me thinking that all these years covering Harry Potter films have also taught me some important style lessons that still apply today.

*Harry Potter Style Lesson #1: It's okay to wear glasses. Harry always had his baby blues covered in specs and I finally broke down this year and gave in to …actually seeing road signs again. Wow! Yes, those were mountains in the distance. If Harry could make specs a fashion statement with kids buying fake glasses around the globe then I could buy real ones that allowed me to see.

*Harry Potter Style Lesson #2: When on the run, jeans and a sweater with great flats will do. Hermoine was basically fighting the devil a.k.a. Voledemort. Did she opt to wear some adorable skirt outfit? No time for primping when giant snakes are coming at you. During my most harried days when I'm fighting traffic or deadlines, I've found a great pair of Levis, a warm, long sweater and my Cole Haan ballet flats (always comfy) look good and feel good.

*Harry Potter Style Lesson #3: Don't give up on jewelry. Not to give you any plot spoilers, but a major jewel in a crown plays a big part in the last movie. I'm not going to wear a tiara running around New York and LA doing interviews …although in LA no one might even think it was strange. The point is that you should stop for a moment and wear the amazing pieces you've collected for years. Even with those jeans.

*Harry Potter Style Lesson #4: Long wild curls – not good. Sure, the "riot of curls" look worked beautifully for Sarah Jessica Parker in the vintage TV eps of "Sex and the City." Harry Potter has a character named Bellatrix Lestrange played by English actress Helena Bonham Carter who has a riot of curls that look like a do it at home job. She looks like a witch and plays an evil witch. The point is if your hair is thinner now with age this is a look to avoid. It might also be time to consider head to toe black, which does look a little witchy.

*Harry Potter Style Lesson #5: Redheads are magical. Crimson hair is a big deal in Harry land. His future wife Ginny has long reddish hair and so do all the Weasleys including his best friend Ron. Looking at all that red makes you honestly want to reconsider a color that maybe you haven't visited for years. 

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