In Love with Lim

I don't know about you, but I'm head over heals for Phillip Lim. It all started with the perfect pair of skinny washed grey cotton pants...part tuxedo, part rock star. The former Development designer seems to be doing better than alright on his own. His creations are perfect wardrobe additions that travel seamlessly from office to evening. My current obsession is the gray silk blouse - I've already talked myself into it...now just need to find it!

Photos from net-a-porter.com.

Kublakhan hats!

You may not agree that this should be the FIRST thing you buy in a season of change, however I insist that their nuetral palette will complement your wilting summer waredrobe and instantly shout FALL! Marc Jacobs was obsessed with these statement hats during the Fall 06 shows - he liberally added them to all and any outfit like mushroom tops after rain.

Finally Fall!

Just when you think that you've finally acquired all the summers essentials - short shorts, pretty printed dresses, gladiator sandals - you exit early to work on a mid-August morning to discover the first fall je ne sais quoi in the air. All of the muggy signs of summer suddenly disappear along with all rights of summer fashion. White voile must be boxed, binned or banned to the back of the closet for another year and of course the next logical question is...what to wear?

A tear through August or September Vogue is inspirational but proves to be no help. With the exception of Sofia Coppola or the Olsen twins - who is yet to own the coveted Fall looks? Last season the fashion powers that be called it "dumpster dressing" but as Fall descends upon us this title doesn't really seem to fit. A new mood of shape shifting and elegant grunge somehow feel so right for the moment.

Illustrations insipred by Marc by Marc Jacobs. Illustrations by The Glossy Ed.

Later in the week: What to buy first in a season of change?

on backcombing your hair

Over the (many) years of blogging I've had numerous questions regarding my big brain hair styling so I decided to make a long overdue mini-tutorial on the bouffant. I recommend typing bouffant or beehive into youtube to find a plethora of (those better versed in the art of tutorial making) videos on the subject but hopefully this is somewhat helpful!

1. Grab a chunk of hair from the crown of your head. It can be a ginormous to the bang chunk or a modest bumpit sized chunk as pictured.

2. Maybe you have one of those handy skinny backcombing brushes? I do but I was too lazy to fish it out. Any fine bristle brush should do the job nicely. Grab that brush and backcomb, backcomb, backcomb that chunk of hair. Start at the middle of your hair and "peel" back.

3. Now you look like metal cousin It. Congratulations, you're doing well.

4. Push it back, touch it cos it feels like grandma hair (or my hair for the last ten years).

5. Now pat it down because you don't want to look like a Peggy Bundy halloween costume. Hopefully your bouffant is more even than mine pictured here.

6. If you're having trouble maintaining volume try pinning your hair up with a bobby pin. Kinda like a bumpit, I think? I've never tried one but probably similar.

& here is a quick tutorial on a really tame looking Edwardian do.

1. Backcomb EVERYTHING. LIKE CRAZY.

2. Brush the top layer of hair so it's smooth and twist your hair into a little bun and secure with pins.

3. Now you are Megan Follows in Anne of Green Gables. Kinda.

And last but not least, the half bouffant!

1. You know, backcomb it.

2. Then pin it.

So there you have it! An excellent example of why I don't often do tutorials. :-/

The best way to do your hair is to just get your hands in it! All the hairstyles I know I learned by just fooling around until it worked. When I was nine I surprised my mum by coming downstairs with a perfect 90s french twist (I was going as Madonna to my friends rockstar themed party and left the house with water balloons stuffed in my bodysuit, super cool.) and then heidi braids and french braids and fishtail braids. I spent a lot of time playing with my arse long hair when I wee.

Just for fun, post your pictures here of your hair mid backcomb! Let's start a community of creepy cousin It photos!

Other tutorials: Ragging Hair & Make-up