Hair: SS14 Trends - Bob It & Gypset

Carrying on from my last SS14 hair report here are two more trends you may want to consider when styling your hair in the upcoming season.

L-R: Paul Smith, Chanel, Mary Katrantzou, Badgley Mischka all via Pinterest

Bob It

Bobbed haircuts are making a comeback if the catwalks are anything to go by. Personally I think Karlie Kloss cutting her hair into this chic shape has had a huge influence on the opinion of bobs too, let’s face it all of us with long hair think we will do it when we turn 40 or for ‘Mum’ hair to “save the hassle of blowdrying” but not so anymore. Chanel used wigs to give the models a 60’s flicked bob in a pageboy cut to accompany their colour make-up and models at Paul Smith, Steve Alan and Lacoste were spotted sporting this length. If you go for the chop make sure you keep it on trend by having a blunt one-length between chin and shoulder length. Fringes are optional but most bobs were seen centre parted with no shape around the face. If you are having a cut like this please keep in mind you will need to keep a regular 4-5 week appointment with your hair stylist to keep it fresh and the right length. If you dont fancy a chop try a faux bob a la Badgley Mischka and pin your hair into a roll at the back while keeping a bobbed shape at the front.

L-R: Topshop Unique, Alexander Wang, Balmain, Burberry Prorsum all Via Pinterest

‘Gypset’

Gypset is a bohemian styling for the Jet Set so try to think of hippy hair with a polished finish. The Topshop Unique show seems to have coined the word by opting for curls and waves that look like they have maybe been slightly exposed to humidity with a rougher finish while Alexander Wang models got an almost second day hair with polish effect. Balmain went for a polished natural dry and Emilio Pucci left the roots and ends straight but curled the mid-lengths. The Gypset trend is going to be a bit wear-your-hair-your-way, so work with the natural texture a little and tweak. L’Oreal’s new Tec.Ni.Art Wild Styler in Crêpage De Chignon would be great for the texture of this look whether you wear it straight or waved on dry hair or to get natural texture while drying naturally and a later day booster Kérastase Spray à Porter would be a great product and is also an ELLE's International Beauty Award winner.

Hair: SS14 Trends - Poker Straight & Textured Braids

I haven’t done a Fashion Week report for a while but since some of my most visited posts are my fashion week hair reports {and NYFW kicked off this week} and I have made a promise to myself to blog about hair a bit more I’m going to digest down the Spring/Summer 14 catwalk trends for you today.

L-R: Proenza Schouler, Valentino, Chloe, Ralph Lauren all via Pinterest

Poker Straight

I have a feeling the poker straight trend will be quite a big one as a lot of celebrities already embraced it with open arms at the Golden Globes. From Up-dos to Day-to-Day prepare to love your straighteners again girls {but please use heat protection!} as a poker straight finish was seen at Chloe, Preen and Marc by Marc Jacobs to name a few. This season sees hair having a lack of volume too opting instead for a natural or rough dried volume finish so ditch your round brushes, rollers and volume boosting products for a catwalk finish. My favourite product for getting a sleek and straight finish is L’oreal Tecni.Art Liss Control+ as it has very little hold but will smooth down fly-away hairs with ease.

L-R: Moschino, Rachel Zoe, Giles,  Rebecca Minkoff all via Pinterest

Textured Braids

Braids are still going strong on the catwalks and I think this has something to do with their versatility and suitability for every hair type and length. For the SS14 season you will be looking at adding texture to your braid whether it is voluminous roots on a side braid as seen at Giles or messed up scalp braids a la Moschino a good texturizing product will ideally need to be in your arsenal as well. No matter which style you are trying start by rough drying your hair with a little salt spray or moose and then apply a small amount of texture product like Redken Rough Paste and then braid your hair. For more texture rough your braid up after or pull it looser gently or for a flyaway effect get an old blusher or kabuki brush and brush some fly-away hairs out. 

AW13 Style Inspiration

I always think it is a good idea to get inspiration for your style and as I mentioned back in January when I did a post about Style by Inspiration I keep track of anything I find stylish on a Pinterest board. Well I am still doing that and for AW13 I’ve even made a private board of things for the upcoming season so I can spot my more recent trends to inspire.

So far I am loving leather skirts with tees and converse, chambray shirts layered under jumpers, oversized coats and jackets, floaty midi skirts with sweatshirts and heels, ankle boots with gold details and hats (even if the British weather is a bit windy for them at times). Ripped jeans, monochrome also feature but I still stay true to my love of relaxed mixed with edgy with a touch of girlie or Bohemia.  I find this way of looking at style means I spend my money more wisely and even look at what I currently own to update for the new season. As Vivienne Westwood once said "Buy Less, Choose Well". 

Ticking Off Trends

Why hello there, sorry I've been astranger but now my life is calming down I'll be getting back to blogging andwith some new ideas for my blog I'm hoping you will like.

Today I want to discuss trends with you, more importantly how to tick more thanone trend box. Shop smart so to speak. In the current unrelenting economicclimate we just don't have the funds to splash around here there andeverywhere. So I'm going to take some of the main trends and look at how you can mix them to tick off more than one trend box at the same time.

Monochrome is a big trend for SS13 and has been reoccurring over the last fewyears on and off, but how can you update it for 2013 while ticking off more than one trend box? Stripes were big on the Spring Summer catwalks as seen at Paul Smith. Sheer panelling will tick another box like the Asos dress above or the adorable lace skirt from Topshop with a longer overlay. If doing a solid monochrome outfit feels a little too dull for you add a pop of colour with accessories.

Yellow was all over the SS13 catwalks seen from Erdem to Issa and Topshop Unique. Yellow is a tricky colour to pull off so consider sticking to accessories to tick off this trend without making you look ill. If yellow is not a colour you'd choose to wear Cobalt blue was another colour featured on the catwalks. So make sure to give your outfits a pop of colour with one of these to tick off this trend.

I think the most important thing to think about when ticking off your trend boxes is how transferable the items are. If you can only wear it one way, you may not get many wears out of it before the trend disappears, so ideally you want items that you can wear in a variety of ways but always update to transfer you into the next season.

If you want to see my trend reports from SS13 please check out my posts here and here

How will you tick off your trends?

Emmie xo

Spring Summer 13: Beauty Trends

There are so many fun beauty trends to try this coming season it will be hard to get bored. So get excited and read on for my mini break down of the trends!

Bold lips

L-R Giles, Richard Nicholl, Missoni, Dries Van Noten

This Spring-Summer there’s 2 ways to go bold. The first of which is to wear a bold lip with very little eye make-up. Pink was the popular choice in every colour from bubble gum to magenta. Other hot picks were very dark burgundy and corals. Most will have been done by a lipstick however if you don’t like the feel or coverage of a lipstick go for a lip stain for a bright look with a weightless feel.

Bold Eyes

L-R - Anna Sui, Chanel, Chloe, Dior

Bold eye colours were one of the many eye trends at SS13 catwalks giving a bright and playful appeal to the catwalk. Colours ranged from Metallic silver and bronze to pink, blue, orange and red. Diors beauty teams even went so far as to decorate each of the models eyes with diamantes with a different pattern and colour combination. Now that’s dedication.

Enhanced Natural

L-R Giambattista Valli, Ralph Lauren, Marni, Valentino

Last Spring-Summer no make-up was a popular choice however SS13 beauty experts used make up to create a natural look that has clearly been enhanced by make-up. Two choices were made with foundation either a matte finish or light dew feel but never overly shiny. Cheeks were enhanced with a rosy blush, brows shaped but not filled; no eyeliner was used and minimal mascara.

Lower Lids

L-R Stella McCartney, Christopher Kane, Lanvin, Fendi

Your lower eye lids are going to be the most fashionable area of your face this coming season. Designers’ beauty teams were making this a clear focus point for SS13. Going with every version from natural at DVF, smoky and smudged at Christopher Kane and lined with coloured tape at Fendi.

Brown Eyed Girls

L-R House of Holland, Marc Jacobs, Roberto Cavalli, DVF

Brown was another popular eye colour choice on the catwalks. It is a softer alternative to black and if you aren’t a fan of a bright bold eye and prefer a more natural look it is a good choice to make. Did you know that brown is a great colour as you get older too as its softer than black liners so will make you look younger. I think that is what the beauty teams may have gone for, a youthful feel as spring always makes you want to feel fresh faced after the winter months because even if you go for a more dramatic eye it still looks chic.

Hope this has given you some inspiration. How will you be wearing your make-up this season?

Emmie xo

Spring Summer 13: Hair Trends

The Spring Summer season will soon be kicking in and as such to compliment your new season styling here is a breakdown of a few hair trends.

Centre Parts

L-R Bogetta Veneta, Missoni, Rochas, Roberto Cavalli

Centre partings were featured heavily on the catwalks, the time of the comb over is over! Whether you choose to wear it sleek or messy, done up or down a centre parting will be a simple way of making your hairstyle SS13 accessible with no cost and no time spent.

If you have been wearing your hair in a side part for a few years you many need to gently train your hair into its new parting. You can do this by making sure to comb in your new central part each and every time you wash your hair and dry your hair into place. Another option is to tie or pin your hair once you have done this to ensure it stays in place for longer. A little perseverance is needed but it shouldn't take long.

Nape Knots

L-R Chanel, Christian Dior, Gucci, Bogetta Veneta

The nape of your neck is now a fashion hot spot. Most if not all catwalks session stylists chose to put their buns, ponytails and knotted styles low and into the neck. While buns were still going strong the new up-do choice seems to be heading towards knotted styles as seen as Chanel and Altuzarra, placed into the hair band and pulled back into itself and covering the band over.

2 in 1 Texture

L-R 3.1 Phillip Lim, Burberry, Derek Lam, Paul Smith

Think mixing up your style for 2 in 1 texture. Wear it sleek at the root and messy at the ends. Slicked back with gel at the top and messy at the ends. Most styles worn on the catwalk had a messy texture, almost like the models had styled their own hair. up-dos were loose and dishevelled 

Side Fringe / Bangs

L-R Chloe, Moschino, Valentino, Marc Jacobs

Side fringes or bangs were prominent at fashion week, generally made by pulling models long hair across the face and pinning into place as part of a updo. This is a simple and easy way of switching up your style for a day or night without the commitment of having to grow it all out when you get bored.

Hope you have fun playing with some new styles.

Emmie xo

Spring Summer 13 Trends : Part 2

Following on from last weeks SS13 Trend Report here are a few more of my predictions for SS13

Trend - Shift Style Tailoring

L-R Antoni & Alison, Mary Katrantzou, PPQ, Matthew Williamson

I am a huge fan of shift dresses and tops and I feel they suit most body shapes. Length can vary to suit the wearers taste and confidence levels but most designers kept the skirt either knee or mini length. You can channel a modern 60’s vibe like at PPQ or make a shift more exciting with patterning as seen at Mary Katrantzou.

Trend - Stripes

L-R Paul Smith, PPQ, Temperley London, Zoe Jordan

Stripes were everywhere. Mixed with another print, bold, thin multi-coloured, monochrome you name it you can wear it. Stripes can be a great tool for accentuating your figure too, slimming you down or lengthening you if you need it.

Trend - Beige and Blush

L-R Burberry Prorsum, Felder Felder, J. Js Lee, Maria Grachvogel

Beige and Blush tones are perfect spring shades, light and airy but again you have to be careful which shade of these you choose. Wear with white for a perfect casual evening outfit, switch out your usual cream top for a beige one with jeans or even wear blush shoes to give the illusion of leg length.

Trend - Jackets

L-R Zoe Jordan, Topshop Unique, Preen by Thronton Bregazzi, Mulberry

Jackets are your SS13 go to cover up. Leave the cardigans at home ladies and instead opt for a lightweight jacket that nips in slightly at the waist. Tailoring is looser but still has shape, sleeves worn between mid-forearm and wrist, though is you do want a shorter length take your mid-arm length and push up to your elbows as seen at Zoe Jordan for a casual feel. 

I hope having done these reports it will help you pick out some of the trends you would like to incorporate into your wardrobe. Remember to keep your own style and not try to replicate something. Originality is key to being stylish. As I said last week these are just the trends I have noticed and are therefore by no means what will be coming in but I am looking forward to seeing if I’m right about any of them.

Which of these trends will you try? What trends do you predict for SS13?

Emmie xo

Spring Summer 13 Trends : Part 1

With the sales over and the new seasons trends starting to come into the shops I’ve had a go at breaking down the SS13 London catwalks into the trends I spotted and will probably be coveting this coming season.

Sheer

L-R Christopher Kane, House Of Holland, Temperley London, Erdem

Sheer panelling seemed to be everywhere to me and I will admit I always will love it as a trend as it can carry you through seasons and add a touch of girlishness without being frilly. It can lighten up a heavy garment and if the fabric is right give you an ethereal floaty look. For SS it has been used to add length without heaviness and to give a degree of coverage to peek-a-boo styles.

Yellow

L-R Erdem, Issa London, Jenny Packham, Meadham Kirchoff

I don’t know why but yellow seemed to jump out at me on the Spring-Summer catwalks. Its bright and cheerful and came in shades between lemon sorbet to sunflower. Depending on your skin tone depends on if you can wear this shade as you could end up looking ill. If yellow is a tone you know you can’t pull off consider using it to accessorise rather than as a clothing item, this is what I will be doing.

Shorts

L-R Paul Smith, Sass and Bide, Matthew Williamson, Zoe Jackson

Always wanting to give an alternative to dresses, shorts seemed to be making a comeback but we are not talking about denim hot pants here, we are talking about city shorts. Longer and looser than hot pants making the city short easy to wear for day or night. Wear with a tank, hat and heels like at Zoe Jordan for a sporty paired down day chic or with a shirt and jacket for evening sophistication.

Monochrome

L-R Acne, Michael Van der Ham, Topshop Unique, Jasper Conran

Black and white will always be a year round staple for me. It is timeless, effortless but always seems to be the epitome of chicness and can easily be accessorised as you don’t have the worry of ill matching colours and can be brightened with a pair of shoes or bag to give some night-time glamour. Use patterns to give a pop to your outfit or go all out with a monochrome floral patterned suit for some extra pizazz!

What SS13 Trends have you noticed? Which of these Trends do you think you'll be trying?

Emmie xo

The New Neutral

So while I have been floating around the Internet looking for photos to go with my Spring Summer 13 trend reports I stumbled across this image of the nails as showcased at Rodarte SS13 catwalks. I thought it was a really interesting way of playing up nude and neutral shades without being boring or over the top.

Photo by GoRunway via VogueUK

I think this would be a wonderful way of dressing up your nails for and event that you could then wear everyday and the texture it adds to it is brilliant for the beauty texture trends heading our way from the SS13 Catwalks. I will definitely be giving these a go soon and will share photos and maybe a tutorial when I do.

What do you think? Would you wear these nails?

Emmie xo

Wish List: December

Zara V neck Jumper - £25.99

ASOS Blanket Cardigan - £45.00

Warehouse Fluffy Cardigan - £50.00

ASOS Black Denim Jegging - £20.00

New Look Studded Peep Toe Court - £24.99

ASOS Slouchy V Neck Tee - £12.00

New Look Studded Ankle Boot - £24.99

Topshop Holly Sweater - £50.00

Pink Friday

I've always fancied having pink in my hair especially like a dip-dye, however I've never wanted the commitment just in case I didn't like it. I read a while back that you can temporarily add a pink tone to blond hair using colour conditioner for 5 minutes. I tried it and I will admit I love it. it only lasts a few days so there is no great worry about if you don't like it. I started by just doing a few streaks but I am  thinking of going for a bolder effect.

Left - with flash

Right - without flash

I left my streaks on for about 10 minutes (I got distracted, opps) so they did appear a little red at first but once it was dried it was almost a perfect baby pink. Next time I think I'm going to do all of my blonde ends for a really pink effect as it fades off really nicely too.

Have you ever tried this or any funky colours in your hair?

Emmie xo

Trend: Novelty Knits

It seems as though looking back at old photos and looking at that Christmas jumper your Grandma got you thinking "Oh Dear!" is set to turn into "How Stylish!". There seems to be a trend emerging for christmas of novelty knits is bright colours and patterns emerging in every store from Primark to Asos.

Top Row L-R

ASOS Christmas Jumper - £32.00

Topshop 'Sheepish' Jumper - £50.00

Wildfox '4th of July' - £150.50 (on sale at ASOS at time of posting)

Bottom Row L-R

A Wear Penguin Jumper - £35.00

ASOS Christmas Cat - £30.00

Topshop Robin Jumper - £50.00

Will you be sporting this Trend at Christmas?

Emmie xo

Catwalk Report 3 : LFW SS13

Last one and then I promise I will get back to normal posting, though it may be less frequent than usual as i have just taken on a college course in addition to my normal job! Busy busy busy. So please bear with me. Parts One and Two of the SS13 LFW collections can be found here and here 

Ashish

Meadham Kirchhoff

Moschino Cheap and Chic

Mulberry

Paul Smith

PPQ

Preen by Thornton Bregazzi

Roksanda Ilincic

Simone Rocha

Photos sourced Via the official London Fashion Week website which i would recommend checking out as they have now uploaded their video highlights which are always a good watch.

What trends are you looking forward to for SS13?

Emmie xo

Other posts you might enjoy
Autumn/Winter Hair Trends
Fall into Winter - Trends Part 1
Fall into Winter - Trends Part 2
Catwalk Report : AW12
Catwalk Report : AW12 Part 2

Catwalk Report 2 : LFW SS13

Acne

Burberry Prorsum

Christopher Kane

Erdem

J. JS Lee

Johnathan Saunders

Mary Katrantzou

Michael Van der Ham

Antonio Berardi

Peter Pilotto

Temperley London

Only a few more shows after this report. My previous report can be found here. Photos sourced here. I did not take these photos myself and therefore do not own them.

Which looks do you like?

Emmie xo