How to: Create a Big Bun

I'll admit, when it comes to hair I am a bit challenged. I can do a basic ponytail and translate it into the 'messy chignon' (i.e twisted, tangled knot), blow my hair out with a bit of mousse for the "big hair" I love, and mastered the mini braid that was popular a few years ago (and I still happily wear!). Beyond that I never mastered how to "do" hair, and frankly didn't have the patience. However, recently when I noticed these huge buns showing up, I was completely intrigued. I tried wrapping and pinning my own hair but never got the major volume of the stars. Then I heard about the sock bun.

Step 1. Spray your hair and brush back into a high ponytail (be sure to brush out all of tangles on your head for a full pony).
Step 2. Take a large sock with the toe cut out, or a leg warmer, and roll it into a sock ring. Starting at the base of your pony roll the sock upwards collecting hair.
Step 3. Take the excess hair and wrap it around the sock.
Step 4. Pin to secure and spray with hairspray.

I am completely amazed at how easy it to create this massive bun, and it stayed in place all day. I suggest using a neutral colored and super long sock (mine was a knee high) for the biggest bun. I've heard some people wrap all of the hair around the sock first, or secure with a second elastic. I like the above method because it's easy and ends up a bit wispy and disheveled, like the examples above. Check out my bun here, then try it out and let me know if you have success!

P.S I'm super excited to be contributing fashion and style articles to the teen lifestyle site, PopCosmo. I just did my first article, so tell your sister's nieces, and hey your inner tween to check it out!

Interior Inspiration: Designing with the Cool Factor

When I came across this space yesterday on Design*Sponge I had a little drool moment. Although design aesthetic evolves with age and life stages, this is the perfect design style for my life right at this very moment, and I would to replicate most every detail in my own apartment (my dog even sleeps in the hallway!) I can picture my own pieces gathered from travels, passed down from family, and aimlessly acquired configured similarly with this as a guide. I love how the owners balance the natural and industrial, the eclectic collectibles with pulled together timeless classics, and the comfortable with the casually refined.  The use of color, functional storage, and actual safe-to-fall-onto seating screams practical, but in an accidental way. Am I the only one who looks at home offices on most design blogs and thinks, "Where is all of your stuff?!" I think the only change I would make would be more color on the walls. But, overall this is the type of place that appears effortlessly cool, and really what else could you want from your home to be feel incredibly cool while you watch your bad TV choices?

Bright Pants and Dressing Up Chambray

shirt by J. Crew, pants by Gap, shoes by Via Spiga, necklace DIY, and Mr. Charles Dickens  

Happy Monday! Or seeing as it's almost 10am and I'm still feeling groggy...it's Monday. I hope you had a great weekend with some St. Patrick's Day fun. It was absolutely gorgeous here and from the weather report it looks like spring is here to stay.

I wore this outfit Thursday for an early start to the weekend. We went to BLT Burger (you must try one of these burgers if you are in NYC, they are fantastic!) and sat at the bar to take in the March Madness action. The server was incredibly sweet and said she loved how I dressed up my shirt with a "girly necklace." As grateful as I was for her thoughtful compliment, my mouth was completely full of burger goodness so all I could do was nod and somewhat snort while trying not to choke- very stylish.

Beauty Basics: The Lipstick Diaries

Firstly, this post has nothing to do with four middle aged women searching for mid-life satisfaction in a post Sex and the City like saga. While it's a great book, sorry to disappoint! Instead, we're talking signature lipsticks.
I come from a long line of strong women with low maintenance beauty routines, plenty of chutzpah, and a signature lipstick. As long as I can remember, my maternal grandmother has had amazingly dewy skin and switches between a fuchsia, or magenta hued red lipstick- but always Clinique. My paternal grandmother has a signature low bun, and a constant subdued, but clearly hot pink, lip color. My own mom keeps a simple day to day routine of under eye concealer and some variation of a berry colored lip (basically whatever is in the bottom of her purse). In any case, for all these women their lips are the highlighted facial feature (perhaps because we're big talkers?) and they often reapply in the rearview mirror before getting out of the car.

I had a serious obsession with Lip Smackers when I was in middle school, but once I discovered I could create rockstar eyes with eyeliner and layers upon layers of mascara, my lip colors took a backseat on the vanity. Recently I've been trying to switch it up, and try a bold color lip. My Sephora makeup kit has rows of selections (the whole rosy hued middle in the first picture). I like the glossy texture, but they quickly fade when eating or drinking. I love the J.Crew color, but it tends to be a bit drying so I top it with a lip gloss (or Vaseline). Do you have a signature lip color, or do you switch it up? Any favorite brands?

Have a great weekend!

Joe Fresh: The Citrus 60s Show

Last night, affordable fashion brand Joe Fresh showed their Fall/ Winter collection at World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto. I never expected, what has been compared to a Canadian H&M, to put on a runway show, but the brand that has constantly surprised me hosted a very well styled and cohesive presentation (with fantastic Bardot-esque hair for the girls). The theme focused on a fun, citrus hued, modern twist to classic 60s silhouettes. I love the punchy colors and monochromatic styled looks, slim fit pants with angled utilitarian pockets, and swingy coats. There were a handful of looks incorporating bold, yet traditional herringbone (this is a favorite) and retro faux fur stoles. Sleek coats and chunky knits were definitely a highlight, but I would also love to add the mustard box pleat skirt to my closet next fall.  Here are some of my favorite looks from last night's collection, and you can see the full run through here.

Questions for Fashion Star: X Factor Meets Project Runway

Did you watch the new NBC show Fashion Star last night? I was looking forward to this commercial take on Project Runway, as well as the celebrity line up of judges. Project Runway always churns out some eclectic and avant garde talent, who then quickly fizzle (except for Siriano!) due to their lack of business acumen and the sale-ability of their pieces. Due to its unique format, Fashionista claims Fashion Star could even be the Fashion TV game changer and "might just be the very first one to leave contestants with an actual successful career path and some cash."

However, watching the Twitter conversation last night, it seems that the bizarre format, back up dancers, and mentor vs buyer advice, left much of the audience confused. Here are some questions for the show that they may want to address to maintain an audience, and get those new designer clothes off the racks:

1. Why the back up dancers? Yes it makes good TV, but do mainstream commercial clothes really require a full scale runway production?

2. Keeping Oscar on the show was like keeping Courtney on The Bachelor- it seems good for ratings but we all know how that turns out!

3. Were there American Idol like auditions for this show? If so, how was someone allowed to send a deconstructed tie down the runway as their introductory piece?

4. What idiot would tell a bunch of women they know nothing about fashion? General question for the "Aussie boy" who shot himself in the foot last night.

5. How does this show go an entire season when it was on hyper drive last night? Also, what was the deal with the mini break where it seems three contestants were cut, but no actual clothes were shown?

Did you watch Fashion Star last night? I'm really hoping they work out the glitches throughout the season because it could be an interesting change up for reality TV.

For the Guys: How to Easily Wear Color

As girls, it's easy to work in a "pop of color" year round, but especially with the neon and pastel options for spring.  However, for guys it can be a little more complicated. Despite Brad Goreski insisting on a "POC" every 30 seconds, most guys are less confident in terms of colored denim and a bold blazer. If you open my guy's closet the predominant color is blue, because it's his favorite color, and closest cousin to the neutral comfort zone of grey/black/navy.  Thankfully, designers are making it easy and fun, for guys to incorporate some bright colors into their look in an expressive, and totally masculine way: shoes. Men's shoes have jumped light years in terms of interest and style.  Whether they are classic oxfords, old school sneakers, or a casual boot, there is now a colorful option for every occasion.

1. These bright sneakers will definitely make a statement at the gym or park when they hit the market soon.
2. Blogs are going crazy over the Cole Haan x Nike combo. I think this blue combination would be quite dapper for spring.
3. Another bright colorway for Cole Haan, turquoise adds interest to classic brown. I also love the highlighter yellow sole!  P.S Hidden Nike Air technology makes these extremely comfortable for all day wear.
4. For the weekend, my guy has an extensive non-workout sneaker collection, and I really like them as a relaxed, casual option.This pair has a jolt of neon yellow without being too loud.
5. J. Crew is doing a colorful collaboration of retro sneakers with Nike.
6. Prince Harry garnered plenty of attention for his blue suede ankle boots, similar to these.

P.S If you haven't seen Crazy, Stupid, Love I highly recommend it- I laughed out loud at Ryan Gosling's advice regarding white New Balance sneakers.