Feeling Stylish

Lanvin

One of the quickest and easiest ways to enliven a tired wardrobe is with a dramatic hairstyle change. Use this guide for a little hair inspiration, straight from the autumn and winter catwalks to the high street.

Major trends from the autumn/winter 2012 shows

Waves

Whether glossy or mussed, loose waves were all the rage on the runways of Pucci, Rodarte, Versace and Anna Sui. To bring that classic old Hollywood glamour to one’s personal style, use large rollers or a wide-barrel curling wand; gently brush through the hair and secure with hairspray for a uniform wave that will hold all day.

For those with naturally curly or waved hair, simply spritz with spray gel and allow to air dry. A stylist specialising in London hair extensions can help add length for even more romantic waves.

Alexander McQueen

Braids

Designers like Marc Jacobs, Elie Saab, Fendi and McQueen embraced the braid this season, with plenty of variations. Halo braids across the top of the head took the place of traditional bands, while cornrows and random multi-braid styles kept things edgy. To elevate the simple braid at home, don’t be afraid to experiment. Tight or loose, in pigtails or singles, straight down the back or pulled to the side – the versatility of the braid is endless.

Deep side partings

The middle parting has dominated the catwalks for a few seasons now, but deep side partings were all the rage at Pucci, Celine, Ferragamo and Jil Sander. To get this sophisticated style at home, part your hair to one side and smooth with gel for a glossy finish. Sweep hair into a low-slung ponytail or bun and accent with a bright lip or daring eye makeup to set off the look.

Heavy fringe

Bold, choppy fringe ruled the runways this season, from Marni to Versace to Giorgio Armani. The look is bold and confident, drawing attention to the eyes whether the fringe is left a bit dishevelled or smoothed with a large round brush and spray gel.

Valentino

Colour

Shades of tangerine and auburn were seen in spades at many of the autumn and winter shows, including Viktor & Rolf, Dior, Versace, Bottega Veneta and Armani. Ginger is not for the faint-hearted, so professional intervention is recommended. A trained colourist can help match one’s complexion to the right red for a to-die-for look.

Vintage style

From classic accessories like hairnets and head scarves to iconic styles like the bouffant and the beehive, everything old was new again on the runways of Jean Paul Gaultier, Anna Sui, Derek Lam, Jason Wu, Dior, Chanel and Rodarte.

To add vintage volume to any style, tease hair and then backcomb for extra lift. Be generous with hairspray to finish the look.

Buns

Tidy ballerina buns walked the runways at Chanel and YSL, while designers like Louis Vuitton and Phillip Lim embraced a softer look. For a slick bun, smooth hair back and wrap the hair around the base of a ponytail, pinning the ends securely. To get a softer, more romantic look let your hair dry naturally and wrap around the base of a ponytail, pinning random ends.

Recently a post went up on IFB (Independent Fashion Bloggers) about bloggers and body image. The post has since been edited to be less offensive and an apology issued but I wanted to give my view on the whole thing.

The part of the post that annoyed a lot of people was that it said “top-tier” bloggers are popular because they have the best designed sites, consistent posting schedules and better photography. They also happen to conform with the fashion industry norms. I think it’s naive to think that these bloggers are popular just because of their blogs and it’s nothing to do with what the media says we should look like.

There are plenty of niche bloggers out there with beautiful blogs, gorgeous photography and a great writing style. Yet they haven’t been sky-rocketed to stardom.

I like aspirational blogs. I like looking at tall skinny women who wear clothes I could never afford. I understand why they are popular. However, I know “top-tier” bloggers who take rubbish photos and rarely ever post. They just have a good look and that’s what makes them BIG.

I wrote a post a while back on body image and why fat (reclaiming that word) girls didn’t get as much love on sites such as LookBook and Chictopia.

It spawned posts from amazing bloggers such as Love Brown Sugar, Grit and Glamour and A Little Bird Told Me.

I don’t think IFB meant to be offensive, I just think they’re being a little stupid. Yes, they’ve apologised and yes they’ve changed the post but the sentiment is still there.

Fat girls, black girls, plus size girls, Asian girls, etc. – your blogs aren’t good enough and that’s why you’re not popular. It has nothing to do with what the media says we should like looking at.

Other responses to “Bloggers and Body Image”

There have been some amazing responses to the IFB post. Take a look at some of them below.

• Breaking The Silence: A Response To “Bloggers & Body Image” – Love Brown Sugar
• Continuing the Conversation: Blogs & Beauty Standards – Nicolette Mason
• IFB Says Not Enough Women Who Aren’t Thin, Beautiful Have High Quality Blogs – Get Off My Internets
• Race, Body Image and the Conversation Bloggers Should Be Having - Those Graces
• Removing myself from IFB – Dreafashionista
• Sound Off: This Is Not How Apologies Work, IFB – Promiscuous Lola

There are so many other rebuttles out there, most of those posts go on to link to more on the topic.

Promiscuous Lola makes a good point:

If IFB is so concerned that there are no non-white/skinny/model-esque bloggers in the “top tier” (is that even a thing? I mean really…) then why don’t you FEATURE MORE OF THEM? Your blogger spotlights all feature the same type of woman. Your ads and promo images for IFB Con, and for articles are all slim, young, white women. You are actively contributing to the problem that you claim to be so concerned about.

 

And to insinuate that minority/niche bloggers are not featured because their blogs are not up to par? Really? That’s what you’re going to go with?

I’ve partnered with Find Jewellery to bring you a very voucher code. Normally they don’t do these sorts of codes but I’ve secured you a yummy 10% off.

All you need to do is use the code stylish12 at the checkout.

It’s valid until the 10th July so get making those purchases now. Here’s a selection of some of the pretty items on the site.  Click the image to go through to the product page.

Enjoy! Let me know what you buy.

As most of you who follow me on Twitter know, I’m a bit obsessed with social media. I’ve been thinking about turning my skill set into a business for quite a while now and I’ve finally made that leap. I’ve set up a digital agency in Norwich called Jet Social. I’ll be working on blogs, writing articles, managing social media campaigns and doing a little bit of PR.

It’s an exciting step and not something I would’ve been able to do without Feeling Stylish. Of course, I will continue to blog across my five blogs along with my new and shiny SEO blog.

Wish me luck folks. I’m in control of my own destiny.