Sleek + Volume + Volume

Volume is something I adore. A nice puffed sleeve, a bubble skirt, harem pants, you name it, I've worn it. Volume in my hair is something I've been exploring more often since my recent haircut. Today I decided to show you a bit of smoothed out anti-volume with the hair, and double volume with the outfit. Attention to proportion is vital for the success of any look. Too much volume could be disastrous, and too little leaves you with maybe the look of excess form fitting garments, making your not-so-perfect areas up for inspection. The sleek hair was the easy part: blowdry with a paddle brush, then flat iron for that perfect glassy finish. The full cut blouse with the puffy shoulders and tons of fabric was actually a bit more tricky. Tucking in all that fabric and keeping it smooth was a piece of work! The bubble-esque skirt was the topper. I feel gigantic every time I wear it, but somehow it works. Plus pockets in a skirt = instant fave. I think this works because I didn't try too hard. On a usual day I'd pair a voluminous top with skinny jeans or a pencil skirt, or a full, ankle-grazing skirt with a fitted tank top. I think this look proves that sometimes you need to break the rules.

The blouse I bought at Jeremys in San Francisco, the skirt is from H&M, the necklace was a gift from my dad's girlfriend, and the gold faux-snakeskin flats were a hand-me-down from my mom I snagged last week. This was a look for me that shows my professional side. Yes, even pink haired, tattooed ladies can get all gussied up! I wore this all day while teaching in salons for TIGI, hence the flats since I was on my feet. I Hope this inspires your own experimentations with volume and proportion!

Bask in the Sun While You've Got It

I love sunny weather. It's like a new Nicole comes out to play after so many dreary days. Time to bust out the sleeveless tops and summer sandals.

Fishtail top: Topshop

Purple tank + grey jeggings + blue-grey sandals: Target

Neon yellow belt: Gap

Sunglasses: street vendor, NYC

Something Old, Something New

Remember when I said I was ready for new things for spring? I wasn't kidding. I was in New York recently for a class at the TIGI Advanced Academy and was able to get both my colour reworked [thanks again to Berry Bachen at MAINENTRANCE], and my hair totally cut off by Heath Grout at the Academy. I can't tell you how excited I am to totally change up my look. I know, I know... the long hair was pretty. But I can't stay any one way for too long before I get bored. Today I wore it with extra extra volume and curl, but I've also been enjoying it super straight and wig-like. Trust me when I say this, strong shapes and short cuts are HUGE for spring and summer. I'm wearing an old favorite reworked shirt, an old Sugarcubes concert tee that I modified to make more fitted. I'm wearing a few of my other favorite things, like the jade ring I bought 16 years ago and my white denim miniskirt I refuse to give up even though I just turned 38. [Warning: this freckled skin of mine doesn't get much sun. Skin cancer sucks, so there you go, lily white legs.]

shirt: Buffalo Exchange

white denim skirt: H&M

studded [faux] leather slipper flats: Topshop

sunglasses: street vendor, NYC

I hope you guys love my new hair as much as I do, and it can incite some change in your look. This feels very much inspired by my trip to New York [new Topshop flats are similar to TONS of shoes I saw while shopping there, and my new sunglasses were a street vendor purchase for $5, they feel very summer 2012], while still feeling like 'me'. Same favorite accessories, beloved tee, this is what style is all about, yes? Don't let the trends wear you, you wear them! Incorporate something new into your springtime look, and don't forget to update your hair while you're at it.

Bang Bang

Since my last post was about a new fringe, I thought I'd delve into that topic. Not everyone calls it a "fringe" here in the US, but most call it "bangs". If you're a client of mine, of course you know it's actually called fringe! For those of you who wondered where "bangs" came from:

"Bangs," the hair style, does indeed come from the same roots as "bang," the sound of a gun, a slamming door, or countless other abrupt noises. The word "bang" first appeared in written English in the 16th century, but is thought to have been known in the dialects of Northern England long before that date. "Bang" comes from an Old Norse word "banga" meaning "to hammer," and is a linguistic relic of the Viking invasions of England beginning in the eighth century. "Bang" at first meant "to strike violently," but gradually the word came to be used for any sudden or violent movement, especially one which caused a loud noise. One of the earliest written examples of this expanded sense of "bang" refers to slamming a door, an apparently universal human action which may yet prove to be as great an instrument of self- expression as the typewriter. Aside from doors, nearly anything could go "bang," from guns to pianos, and "bang" also came to mean fight or beat up. 

"Bang" continued to evolve, and by the 19th century was used to convey suddenness or finality, which brings us at last from Old Norse hammers to modern haircuts. "Bangs" are so-called because they are created by cutting the hair "bang- off," abruptly and straight across the forehead. And finally, at the risk of offending our bang-coiffed readers, I must tell you that "bangs" as a young lady's hairstyle almost certainly originated with the practice of cutting horses' tails straight across, a style known to this day as a "bang-tail."

--worddetective.com

 I wanted to offer up a few inspirational images of fringes that are hot for this year. There's really one for every person out there.

See what I mean? Every face shape can do it, every length of hair. The key element is finding what works with your hair texture, thickness, cowlicks, and of course lifestyle. Even the busiest of us out there can still take two minutes in the morning to blowdry their fringe in to place, so I don't want any excuses! 

Thus concludes your visual food for thought for the week, I hope you enjoy and take inspiration!

Floral Love and New Fringe

Ahoy! It's spring time, and of course that means new fashion and hair ideas. Every year there seems to be a fresh crop of florals, and I decided to wear something from a few seasons ago that feels new every year when I put it on. Hair-wise, spring tends to be a time of trying new things. There has been a huge influx of clients asking for a different look, an update of their current style, or even a radical make over. I'm pretty excited to be the hair stylist in charge of that order, I'm not going to lie. So that also means I need to freshen up my own look, yes? I took the shears to myself the week of my birthday [even hairdressers are subject to emotional haircuts] and introduced a new fringe. I am in love. Isn't it great to see the amount of change one can create with just a new fringe?

dress: Liberty of London for Target

sandals: Clarks

denim jacket: Maverick, hand-me-down

I've also pulled out my two denim jackets for springtime weather. We can't get away with bare shoulders just yet here in Oakland, so you've always got to have layers on hand. This is my old comfy standby, large enough to put a cardigan underneath if needed, but not so oversized to feel too big on its own.

I've got more spring time trends and inspirations lined up for this week, it's going to be a busy one! Now it's time to think about your own springtime update!

Wild Ways Here We Come

Wow. I've done it again. Neglected this blog in favor of things like work, family, and more work. Forgive me? Since my last post I've been back and forth across the US working for TIGI, and somewhere in there I managed to change my hair color again, and this time it's really fun. Say hello to my watermelon candy/ruby grapefruit color, thanks to Berry at MAINENTRANCE. We managed to accomplish this color while working at America's Beauty Show in Chicago. So now I've actually had this hair for a whole month. Again, forgive me for keeping this from you? So here goes. I have really enjoyed wearing my hair with it's natural waves, this is my perfect spring 'undone' hair style. This is air dried with a bit of TIGI's Glaze Haze serum worked through the ends.

 tan blouse: Gap

cardigan with elbow patches: Forever 21

high-waisted tropical pants: Versace for H&M

coral flats: Dani Black

lipstick: TIGI Cosmetics in Fierce

I've had a lot of fun in the last month figuring out how to work out the clothes to go with this hair color. I've not shied away from color in my clothing at all, but it does take some balancing. These Versace for H&M skinny jeans really make quite the statement, but paired with neutrals convey a whole new idea. There are a multitude of spring/summer looks out on the web/magazines/etc that celebrate brights for the season. I'm all about it, for sure. Winter stuffy layers be gone! And with it comes a palette change. Expect to see more of my pairings with this yummy hair color for spring and summer!

Here, There, Everywhere

Oh goodness, it's been some time since my last post. I've traveled to Long Beach for ISSE, I taught classes in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and San Luis Obispo. Now I'm heading to New York tomorrow for fashion week. When I get home I have one day to see my family and then I'm in Vegas for 12 hours. After that I'm heading out to Dallas for a week of training. Yes, I asked for this life. I've become a master packer. I'll wait to show you NYFW outfits when I get home, but really what matters is my all black essentials, no matter where I go.

Hair brushes, combs, scissors, blow dryer, and of course business cards. Oh, have you seen those? I do love a good wood grain. 

I've also started offering online booking for those of you who remember at 3 am that you need a haircut. Check out my profile on Style Seat for all the details.

Once again, if you want to see up-to-the-minute happenings while I'm traveling, check out my twitter: @graphpaperheart, my tumblr: graphpaperheart.tumblr.com, and of course I'm graphpaperheart on Instagram. Happy fashion week!