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Trend Alert: Perfectly Imperfect Updos

Jaime Richards — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 13:00:00 PST

Short, tousled bobs (as seen on the likes of Scarlett Johansson and Keira Knightley) may be having a moment, but if recent celebrity styles are any indication, this tousled texture is moving into updo territory, too. While Carey Mulligan twisted her short bob back into a modified French twist and Eva Longoria opted for a voluminous, slightly mussed-up take on the style, Leighton Meester looked casually sophisticated sporting this piecey bun. Do you love these perfectly imperfect coiffures, or do you prefer your updos sleek and clean?

Definition: French Twist

BellaSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:00:00 PDT

The French twist is a classic and elegant updo. Hair is gathered at the nape of the neck and then twisted upwards and inwards while gathering more hair from the sides until it reaches the crown of the head. It is secured in place by bobby pins or hair combs along the way.

The French twist has remained a popular hairstyle since the early 1800s. It can be worn tight and tidy or unkempt and messy for a more relaxed look.

To see instructions on how to create a French twist at home,

STEP 1: Tease (or back-comb) the crown of your hair area. Then gather your hair as you would for a low ponytail, but don't secure it with an elastic.
STEP 2: Clasp your "ponytail" with one hand and point it upwards. Coil the hair inwards towards your head until your entire ponytail is twisted and lying flush against your head.
STEP 3: Using your free hand, secure your hair with hair clips or bobby pins (criss-cross the pins for optimal hold) until you get to the top.
STEP 4: You'll have a good amount of hair remaining at the top of the twist. Tuck this hair, facing downward, into the French twist and secure it underneath.
STEP 5: If the top is bumpy, that's OK. Gently smooth it out with a boar-bristle brush and then mist your entire head with hairspray.

Source

Sneak Peek! Club Monaco Shows Irresistible Prints and Textures For Fall '12

Chi Diem Chau — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:11:48 PDT

Club Monaco just released its Fall lookbook filled with two-toned tweed blazers, printed trousers, and plenty of pretty blouses to take you into the chillier months ahead. The collection, inspired by Linda McCartney’s Life in Photographs, the leading male characters in the Silent Generation, and block-print patterns from Jewish-French artist Sonia Delaunay, focused on tailored pieces with a casual twist via pajama-like cropped suit sets, multicolored silk striped dresses, and graphic-printed separates tempered with chic blazers and tweed jackets. Read below for our favorite looks, then click the slideshow to see Club Monaco's complete Fall collection.

This green silk maxi dress is perfect for pairing with ankle boots in the warmer months, then layered with a cozy turtleneck and blazer when it gets colder outside.
We love the idea of styling louche printed trousers with a streamlined blouse and sleek jewels for a day at the office.
Tweed never looked so good thanks to this sleek blazer rendition, especially when paired with a simple pencil skirt and blouse.

Christine Taylor on Organic Beauty, Her Must Haves, and Nighttime Hair Routine

Jessica Cruel — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:00:00 PDT

Actress Christine Taylor has signed on to be the spokeswoman for organic skin care line Nourish, and as a vegan and mother, her partnership with the brand seems like kismet. "A lot of times products will say 100 percent natural, but this one actually works," Christine explains. "Every person in my family has different favorites, and it's in every bathroom."

Not only does she love the idea of USDA-certified organic beauty (the fresh fig body butter is her top product in the line), but Christine also has plenty of tricks for getting the best results. "You can use the body butter during the day, but you can also load it on at night and wake up with really smooth skin," she explains. Look for Nourish at Whole Foods, and get more of Christine's beauty tips and advice when you read more.

Ham, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich, Reinvented

OnSugar Blog — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:08:15 PDT

Not-quite-soft-boiled, not-quite-hard-boiled eggs get the special treatment in this otherworldly sandwich creation from OnSugar blog Between the Bread.

My houseboy has been on a soft-boiled egg kick lately - or maybe you'd call them gently boiled eggs, because the whites have the firmness of a hard-boiled egg, but the yolk is not quite firm, not quite runny. On sandwiches, they are a revelation.

After a recent egg-boiling session, we put together this twist on a ham, egg, and cheese sandwich. The trio of crisped prosciutto, manchego cheese, and gooey egg provided a fascinating flavor and texture combination - salty, creamy, and reminiscent of some of the best parts of French and Italian sandwich concepts.

Like a good club sandwich, the balance of firm ingredients (toast, hard cheese) with moist (egg, mustard) made it all too easy to eat. This reinvention will most definitely be repeated.

Want more? Start following Between the Bread, then get to work on your own food blog. Your gastronomic adventures could wind up featured here.

In Season: Chervil

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:45:28 PDT

With Spring in full bloom, there's no better time to inject the aniselike flavor of chervil into a tired recipe for a new taste of inspiration. Closely related to carrots and parsley, this herb has been around for thousands of years. But while its flavor has been a longtime staple in European cuisine, chervil is a relatively new herbal pleasure in most American kitchens. Sometimes called "the new parsley," lucky for us, this lovely lacy herb has been popping its cute head up in high-end kitchens all over the country.

When purchasing chervil at the market, be sure to choose stems that stand proud and tall with vibrant green leaves. And like most herbs, chervil's flavor is best fresh. If you're planning on using it in a cooked dish, be sure to add it near the end of the cooking process for the best results. Interested in how to incorporate this cute herb into your next meal? Keep reading for a few recipes starring chervil.

Savory Sight: Zesty Zucchini Fries

Yum Community — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 03:05:39 PDT

We absolutely love it when readers let us know that they've made one of our recipes. We applaud Zestybaking for putting a spin on these delicious zucchini fries.

In some parts of the world, courgettes are known as zucchini, from the Italian derivative of zucchina. However, in the UK, the word courgette actually comes from the French. It's probably a leftover from Napoleon's times!

When in season, I often have courgettes at home and am always on a lookout for ways to transform them into healthy treats. I came across this idea on YumSugar and just had to put my zesty twist on it.

For this version, visit Zesty Baking. Make sure to share your twists on our recipes in our Kitchen Goddess community group.

20 Music Festival-Worthy Hairstyles to Inspire You For Coachella and Beyond

Jaime Richards — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 10:58:58 PDT

Music festivals provide the ultimate outlet for expressing one's personal style. While it's probably not the time to pull out a larger-than-life fascinator or formal French twist, it is, however, the ideal moment to showcase your free-spirited ways. So pack up your bags with your music fest beauty essentials, and see 20 hip ways to show off your coiffure for Coachella and beyond.

Taste the Rainbow: Purple

Camilla Salem — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 03:05:11 PDT

Purple-hued fruits and vegetables are works of art. It's surprising just how many exhibit this bold color profile. I grabbed a bright purple head of cabbage, a box of blueberries (a personal favorite), an elegant Japanese eggplant, and a seasonal Spring onion. Not only did they make a fun photograph, but each can be enjoyed in so many different ways. For ways to enjoy these purple fruits and vegetables, just keep reading.

Trend Alert: Come on Baby, Do the (French) Twist

Jaime Richards — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 06:05:00 PST

What do stars like Katy Perry, Amber Heard, and Rihanna have in common? They're all fans of a no-fail, classic coiffure: the French twist. And they're not alone in their updo choices. At Fall 2012 New York Fashion Week, several designers, including Naeem Khan, Thakoon, Rachel Comey, and Lela Rose, all featured the elegant look in their collections. Each version was gorgeous, and thanks to the talented hands of the stylists who created them, had its own unique spin.

At Naeem Khan (upper left) and Rachel Comey (lower left), flirty eyeliner played well with these twists. But for the former, Bumble and bumble's Laurent Philippon opted for a "slouchy" style, making sure the tousled look wasn't too "hairdresser-y," and for the latter, models' looks were similar, but finished with a more polished touch. As for Thakoon (upper right), Kérastase's Odile Gilbert looked to Audrey Hepburn for inspiration, creating a style that incorporated faux bangs in the front. And at Lela Rose (bottom right), celebrity stylist Ted Gibson also toyed around with fringe-line detailing, forming an eye-catching roll off to the side. What's not to love? So come on little miss . . . and do the twist.