Rachel Bilson: California Cool

Fashionable actress Rachel Bilson is taking a surprising step in her career – designing dinnerware. Not wanting to fall into the celebrity-turned-fashion-designer category (at least not yet), the petite star took a 180 by developing a line of porcelain dinnerware called Edie Rose Home by Rachel Bilson, available at select Macy's stores and on Macys.com.

From dishes to dresses, there's no denying Rachel has style. Consistently one of the best-dressed stars in Hollywood, she's a convincing ambassador for that laid-back Cali vibe.

Rachel does her research, actively attending fashion shows; she was just in London to check out Burberry's A/W 2011 presentation. It's almost always been smooth sailing for Rachel on the style front. Just check out the playful red lace-up tank dress and oversized Gucci clutch the former The O.C. cast member selected for Fox Upfront 2004-2005 at the Boathouse in Central Park. 

The Wunderkind gown from the Spring 2006 collection Rachel slipped on for the 2006 Vanity Fair Oscar Party had a negligee feel since it featured black lace overlay. It wasn't exactly a miss, but the selection was not quite on par with her usually stellar picks. Her innate fashion sense kicked in for the 2007 Independent Spirit Awards; Rachel's simple yet red-carpet-appropriate Olga Kapustina white cotton dress with three-quarter length sleeves was a fresh choice. 

What makes all of us really in awe of Rachel is her ability to fashion everyday wear so it appears avant-garde and effortless. The floppy black hat she added to her yellow cardigan, white top, jeans, and grey boots, provided just enough 70s cool for an April 2009 lunch with then-fiance Hayden Christensen at Marmalade Cafe. The star played down a ruffled crochet coverup with prim khaki shorts and faux combat boots in Los Feliz.

Rachel is now far more recognized for her fantastic fashion sense than her on-screen roles, but the working actress still needs to hit the occasional casting session. Arriving at the Bluewater Ranch Casting Agency in Santa Monica back in 2009, she looked comfortably chic in relaxed boyfriend pants, army green jacket, loose patterned scarf and old-school saddle satchel. Chanel's black top and geometric color-block accessories were strategically paired with a short Isabel Marant skirt for the September 2009 Coco Before Chanel showing in New York City.  

Rachel's Fall 2010 Louis Vuitton dress was prim and proper for the 2010 Met Costume Institute Gala. Brights were all over the S/S 2011 runways, so it's no surprise Rachel incorporated this vivid trend into her wardrobe. The starburst orange pop of color came courtesy of a cropped sophisticated blazer which amplified a neutral dress on the last day of January. Nude open-toed booties added textured dimension.

It's great that Rachel is designing for the home, but we still have our fingers crossed she'll develop a clothing line. 

Images: WENN