Hair Products

Here are links to the products I used in the Blow-dry video.

All of them can be purchased in professional salons or in Boots/ Superdrug but for ease I have linked you to online stores!


For Volume: - like the video

Techni Art Volume Architect £10.39

Cocky Bedhead Thickening Paste £11.36

Silhouette Hairspray £4.95

For achieving curls I use:

Kerastase Leave in conditioner Chroma Thermique £13.20

Techni Art Pli £10.39

For Smoothness I use:

Moroccan oil £31.85  for fine hair apply a pea size when wet for thicker hair it can be applied post blow-dry!  Great product for smoothing the hair!

Enjoy your gorgeous hair weekend ladies!! 

Claire

Blow Dry Basics

I hope you liked the little BLOW DRY video (sorry about the length... )

This is just a follow up blog to help you with some basic blow-dry info that I have been taught along the way on fashion shoots and shows!


1     Prep your hair

• Combing from bottom to top to avoid tangles!
• Towel or part dry hair to speed up the blow dry.
• Product - whether it is for volume/ smoothing or curls

2    Sectioning your hair

• Working with clean sections avoids tangles and makes managing your hair a lot easier.
• Remember my 3 section rule below

• section 1 - ear and below section
• section 2 - temple and below
• section 3 - top of head including fringe.

3    Brush and blow-dryer

• Choose the right brush for the style you want!
• Place brush under hair root (create tension for volume)
• Direct the blow dryer up and under for initial volume in the roots
• Direct blow dryer down the hair to create smooth un-fuzzy finish.
• repeat process in each section.

NB - I don't have nozzle on my blow dryer - but it will work the same with the nozzle on (it is just me personal preference)

4    Moving through the sections.

• I divided section 1 and 2, into 3 smaller sections across the head.
• when you reach the top section (3) use this diagram as a guide for sub-dividing.

5    Added volume tricks.

• I created roller sections on the back and top to help with volume - using a hair clip and spray.
• A velcro roller will do the same if you are unable to twist your own hair.

6    The Fringe.

• I wear my fringe flicked out and to the side, but the tops will work on other side fringes.
• It is important to ensure you blow-dry your fringe forward first (this prevents cows licks etc)
• I recommend blow-drying hair the opposite way to the way you want it styled first as this gifts it lift.
• For fringes that go under move the brush to under the hair as opposed to over (like the video)

Check back tomorrow for my Hair Product guide!!

Best of The Best... Red Carpet Watch

WOW.....
Oscars night was an amazing celebration of not only amazing films last night....  But also some fab fashion and as always I want to share with you my top looks of the evening and there are some SURPRISE ONES!!!!

In my no1 spot is Bette Middler in Reem Acra.  She looks super sexy and this dress with the cap sleeve and cinched in waist show of her curves beautifully!

The next 3 mentions are rather controversial!  But I think the Guys slightly outshone the girls last night and deserve a mention..

Jared Leto rocked the red carpet in Saint Laurent

Matthew Mconaughey did the same idea with a white Tux jacket from Dolce and Gabbanna

Then Kevin Spacey showed that living in London has really improved his fashion stakes wearing this amazing midnight Blue tux from Burberry!

Other outfits of note were:

Lupita Ntongo in this powder blue dress by Prada...  a surprising choice for the Queen of vibrant colour block, but still stunning!

Then the lady's who rocked NUDE...

Kate Blanchett in Armani Prive

Kate Hudson in Atelier Versace (more white than nude but she looked hot.. so had to mention her)

Also want to mention Portia de Rossi, she has been off my red carpet radar for a while but this Laser cut nude number by Naeem Khan was the perfect mix of feminine and edgy!

All images are from Style.com

Barrister on a budget with a dress

This is the final instalment of our "Barrister on a budget series".

This post is about creating a great look with a dress, for less!  Dress's are the most versatile item of clothing to have in our work wardrobes. They can be so easily re-styled using accessories (necklaces, belts and cuffs) and alternative jackets and coats.

The Dress: Dorothy Perkins black textured dress £50
This dress flatters most figures and will work on any body shape. With its  ability to be dressed up to take you from day to dinner, it really is worth every penny.  You can also layer blouses underneath to give the look a little more excitement.

The jacket: H and M's Figure Fit Black Jacket £29.99

As a jacket is non negotiable in court, here we have found a longer length shape that will create a waist as well as a lean and professional silhouette. 

The belt: Dorothy Perkins gold cut out belt £7

This fab belt will add interest, sparkle and shaping to the waist, lifting the all black ensemble perfectly. Remember you can also add a belt with a pop of colour for an alternative look.

The coat: George at Asda Cobalt Formal Coat £28

You have told us many times you find all the greys, black and blues you have to wear dull and somewhat limiting, so make sure you inject some much needed colour into your outfit by investing in a bold, colourful coat.  This one is stunning and will really bring the black simplicity of the dress and jacket to life. At £28 the quality, cut and colour are unbeatable, it is also roomy enough to layer your suit jacket underneath! 

The necklace for evening: River Island Fluro short statement necklace £15

Now we know this won't fly during the day, but at night, when you're being called to a bar that serves cocktails rather than cases, a girl's got to style things up. Take the belt off (too much bling is never a good thing) and use this as a great trend piece that will make your whole look far more exciting. 

The shoes: George at Asda pointed toe courts £12

Style and price don't come much better than this. An elegant, chic court shoe with a perfect point to elongate those legs.

The Handbag: H and M Black Handbag £14.99

A fab bag to complete an elegant, ladylike day time look. Large enough to do the business, as well as having a flat bottom (not desirable for us but great for a bag) so it will sit happily on top of your trolley full of files!

Cost of outfit (minus the coat and statement necklace): £113.98

Cost of all items including investment coat: £156.98

We hope you've enjoyed the Barristers on a budget blogs. 

Give us a shout if you need any more advice on budget wardrobe pieces on twitter @waceystyle

For the guys: Barristers on a budget

We couldn't leave the boys out of this series. While there are obvious restrictions with your workwear, you can still try and be as creative as possible. We know decent suits aren't cheap, but there are some brands that offer a good cut and quality at a price that won't break the bank. Here are our suggestions:

The Three Piece Suit:
The three piece suit is stylistically considered to be the most contemporary and elegant look available on the high street. It is also incredibly flattering on all male body shapes if you get the sizing right. Debenhams brands consistently offer a superior cut and tailoring at the lower price point, and Red Herring is definitely worth looking into…….

The Jacket: Red Herring at Debenhams Navy Twill 2 button slim fit jacket £65

The trousers: Red Herring at Debenhams Navy Twill Trousers £34

The Waistcoat: Red Herring at Debenhams Navy Twill £35

Other great suiting destinations on budget are Marks and Spencer:

Grey wool mix 2 button suit £168.00 for all 3 pieces!

Or for the best quality and the lowest price do all of your suit shopping in the Sales!  House of Fraser run one of the best suiting sales and you can get it all under one roof!

Remember if you are buying a suit, make sure you get an extra pair if not two extra pairs of the trousers!  Rotating the trousers will give your suit much more longevity!

SHIRTS:

We know there are some elements of your wardrobe that you cannot cut corners on. Your shirts, tunics and collars are best bought from a legal clothing retailer who knows their stuff. T.M.Lewin are a great option for tunic shirt and do some great pieces to boot!

The shirt: T.M Lewin Tunic shirt £29.95 or £20 per shirt when you buy 5!  Bargain!

The collars: Ede and Ravenscroft Windsor Wing £7.25

The one you need in court……….

The tie: Next raspberry silk tie £12

Hallelujah for some colour! As with your fellow female barristers, colour is in short supply in your every day work wear, so make sure you show some personality with your tie selection. This is one of the only opportunities to make a small yet important statement about who you are, so keep away from dull, lifeless neutrals like grey and navy - give people something to notice about you!

Other colour options for those of you not as in touch with your PINK side!

Lilac tones against a Navy suit always looks chic and this £7.50 tie from Marks and Spencer is clean and simple (until you spill your coffee down it!  which reminds us.. always have a spare in your bag!)

Or this slightly more luxurious option £16.00 also from Marks and Spencer

The Cuff links: Debenhams Thomas Nash Jigsaw cufflinks £20

While adding a pair of cufflinks to your look will undoubtedly up your overall spend, it is another area where you can show a little personality. We don't mean run out and invest in a pair of "beer bottle" or "batman" types, rather go for something classy with a twist. These cufflinks from Thomas Nash do just that.

The shoes: New Look Black pointed brogues £19.99

Shoes can be hugely expensive and end up eating significantly into your work wear budget. If you need to go for a cheaper option such as these great value and stylish to boot brogues from New Look, keep them looking the business with regular cleaning and polishing, kits start from as little as £4.99 from Pavers.

The bag: River Island Brown Satchel £30

While we know you love to throw your bags over your shoulder (and this one has a strap to help you do that), you need to give your shoulder (and your jacket) a break from time to time. This River Island bag has a great "worn in" texture and comes with a handle so you can carry it as a brief case when you need to. It should also be big enough to accommodate a large case load!

The Glasses:

If you are a spectacle wearer... NEVER underestimate the power of a great pair of glasses!  Strong dark frames are the ultimate fashion accessory at the moment BUT if you are fairer haired opt for a brown or tortoiseshell finish!

We hope you found this useful and let us know if you have any other menswear work wardrobe conundrums we can solve for you!

FEELING BLUE #LFW

We are still in full London Fashion Week (AW14) -swing but our initial thoughts are that Autumn Winter 14 is looking Blue and we are super excited!

Here is an insight into some of those strong Blue looks from the catwalk, but don't worry we will be doing some more in-depth catwalk reviews later in the week about the collections that felt fresh and exciting!

TOPSHOP UNIQUE, showed at the Turbine Hall of the TATE MODERN and they really put on a show and transformed the space!

The overall focus of the collection was layering and texture and they used some real hero pieces that our bank balances are going to hate but our wardrobes will love come September!

Temperley London, showed at the Savoy and the collection was mind blowing luxurious especially the coats, which we will discuss later in the week!  We are not sure if it is just our obsession with the winter Olympics at the moment, but the collection had an a slight Russian doll feel with all of the print and applique.

Richard Nicholl, went for vibrant bold blue's in clean lines and used textures within the same colour palettes to create interest!

Are you feeling that Blue?  We certainly are!!  More from #LFW to come later in the week.

Claire x

Bafta Beauties

OUR BEST DRESSED on the red carpet tonight at the BAFTA's:


The winner of best dressed is Lupita Nyong'o, this lady has been nailing the RED CARPET looks this award season and today's outfit, a Couture Dior dress in vibrant green did not disappoint!  In fact it has made us even more excited about what she will be wearing at the OSCARS!!!

We also have to mention Fearne Cotton, who was looking super sexy in a William Vintage dress a 1980 Scaasi Gown to present from the red carpet for E!  Fearne you looked smoking HOT!

Lilly Allen also blew us away in Vivienne Westwood, whats not to love the colour is high octane and the fit is just so Vivienne!!!!  Not 100% behind the head gear but if anyone can rock it, the lovely Lilly can!

Also on the red carpet was British You Tube make-up guru Tanya Burr, showing that you do NOT have to be head to toe designer to hit the mark on the RED CARPET.  Tanya's dress is from Coast, we are not sure why Tanya was at the Bafta's but we are sure we will get to find out more on her YOU TUBE channel very soon! 

Then we have to mention the most exciting outfits of the evening….. Being suckers for Jumpsuits and trouser suits,  we LOVED Ruth Wilson's  Antonio Berardi suit.  Lots of people hated this on the red carpet coverage but we think she looks fantastic, comfortable and sexy!

And Ruth was not alone opting for the trouser option… Angelina also wore an Yves Saint Laurent tux!  In fact so did Brad so they were really match match and it looked great.

Now to watch the actual prize giving bit and start our Oscar Outfit predictions!

London Fashion Week Kicks off today so in the spirit some Fashion Goodies for you to feast on!

Samantha Morris Fashion Goodies

We've loved this lady's work for a long time. Ever since Samantha Morris created her "Keep Glam and Rock on" spin on the old traditional British poster she's had a very special place in our hearts.

So we were really excited to see Samantha's latest fashion week related creations and wanted to share them with you all too. All the prints and notebooks are available to purchase directly through Samantha's website: www.samanthamorris.co.uk

Fashion Mews Print £28
How cool. We want one for our office!

The Little Black Fashion Scrap Book £7
We couldn't think of anything we'd rather be taking our LFW notes in. It even comes with its own stickers so we can have fun playing while we're watching the shows.

The Chanel Fund money box tin £15

OK, so penny by penny it will take some time to save for a genuine Chanel, but stick with it ladies....

Keep Glam and Rock On! Print £23

We couldn't go without sharing the old classic with you all. Still very much available in several striking colour ways.

Thank you Samantha - Happy Fashion Week to you from all of us here at CW-Style!