Love the Look: A Whimsical Updo

Posted by: Kathleen McHatton

April
1
2010

It all started with my desk mate and fellow blogger, Sienna.

Her long, curly locks were artistically pined up in twisted strands at the top of her head. In the midst of this gorgeous brunette nest, she had pinned a darling bird figurine perched next to two robin's eggs. Amazing.

Then it was the girl at my favorite coffee shop, who had fashioned several blooming flowers behind her ear with her hair all piled off to the side in quirky but darling manner.

I coined it: The Whimsical Updo.

The thing I love about this hair style is that anything goes. A scrap of your favorite ribbon, an elegant peacock feather, a string of pearls, fresh picked flowers ... just pin them on and attain instant "fairy tale princess" status. The more creative and cute, the better.

Let your hair go naturally wavy or add some body and texture with a sea salt spray. Pile randomly on the top of your crown and secure with a mound of bobby pins. Garnish as desired.

For inspiration, check out these amazing looks captured by London-based photographer Joanna Kustra. Then check our selection of hair accessories to get started.

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Rising Star: Carey Mulligan

Posted by: Kathleen McHatton

January
5
2010

I had never even heard of British actress Carey Mulligan until I went to see her staring role in An Education. And it wasn't until I looked her up on IMDB that I realized I'd not only seen Carey play Kitty Bennet in the remake of Pride and Prejudice, but I had actually watched her perform live in Chekhov's The Seagull at the Royal Court Theatre in London.

She had always stood out to me, but it wasn't until An Education that I really took notice of the girl who's rumored to be the next Audrey Hepburn. I loved watching her character's growth throughout the movie, from the smart school girl who threw caution to the wind, to a woman who was wiser to the ways of the world but more spirited than ever.

Her fashion style also changes with her growth. She starts out in her plain school girl uniform and then experiments with her new grown-up lifestyle by donning elegant coats, dresses and updos. I loved the movie and the message, and her performance was fresh and honest. I look forward to seeing more of Carey's work in the future, and this time, I won't have to read her name in the credits to know who she is.

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UK Elle: Street Style

Posted by: Kathleen McHatton

August
26
2009

During a semester spent abroad in London, I fell in love -- actually fell in love -- with the city itself.

Our relationship was not always a perfect one: icy weather, crowded Tube stations, and a lousy exchange rate. And yet, my time spent there was among the most enjoyable months of my life: special sunny days spent reading in Regent's Park, the exciting night life, the awe of finding a new neighborhood with beautiful historic buildings...and of course the fashion.

The men and women in this city know how to dress. The men look their best on a daily basis, sporting suits, ties, sweater vests and even cuff links, and the women are always ever so chic in their trench coats, blazers, boots, heels and stylish accessories.

With the fast paced lifestyle and weather challenges that face your everyday Londoner, one may wonder how they pull it off.

Well, now you can steal some of their secrets on UK Elle's very own website. In their Street Style section, you can view the wardrobe choices of many Londoners during fashion week in the city and also from fashionistas around the world.

I love getting tips on how to work different style trends, from the Dog Tooth trend pictured above to Blazers and Monochrome. It's a great site to visit whenever you need a little worldly style inspiration.