Having my hair styled on the blog....and introducing Luke Lehmann, the man who wielded the scissors!

Recently I was introduced to Luke Lehmann a London based session stylist, who has recently moved to Birmingham. When in London, Luke styles the hair of models who appear in Vogue and ASOS but now that he's in Birmingham, he's keen to build up a personal client base here.

We had a very nice chat in the pub which resulted in Luke very kindly offering to cut my hair for me and in return I offered to write about him on here. 

These images are taken from Luke's website. Can anyone spot Laura Bailey? Yep, I was glad that I didn't find out until after Luke had cut my hair that he had worked with Laura Bailey. Had I known beforehand I think that I may have just hidden in a cupboard somewhere. 

Bravely - more so for Luke than me as he had to take the up close photos, poor guy - we decided to do some before and after shots. And whilst I never use filters on any of the photos that I use on the blog or instagram, frankly I just couldn't inflict the close up photos of my wrinkles on you in colour. So here I'm appearing in black and white instead.  

So, here goes. This is a before shot, hair newly washed but without any product in it. I have masses of hair and it tends to grow outwards rather than down so suddenly I'll wake up one day and have a mushroom head. Sometimes I wake up looking like a lion. Or Ken Dodd. And that really isn't good. 

I would guess that my hair is probably longer than most people would imagine as I always tuck it behind my ears. I've been growing it since we came back from skiing in February. I hated how I looked that week. My hair, my skiing clothes - hated the lot. Yuck. So that's when I decided to start growing it. To start off with I did really well but then I got sick of it and a hairdresser lobbed most of it off  - so I'm not as far forward as I should be but hey, first world problems and all that.

Luke came to the house on Sunday morning. I don't see the trip to the hairdressers as the highlight of my day or a luxury trip and often I ask them not to wash my hair but just to spray it.  I hate my hair being blow dried with brushes too, so I get them to blast it with a dryer and off I go. Therefore, the idea of someone coming round appealed to me. It's time efficient and I don't have to look at myself in huge, brightly lit mirrors. Double bonus.

Luke started with a razor and we discussed the whole approach to using razors to cut hair. They're great for taking the weight out of my hair and Luke likened it to using a blow torch on a creme brulee. In the right hands it makes the dish perfect. In the wrong hands it nukes it. I liked that analogy.

This is the official version of what Luke did to my hair: "To loosen up the weight around the ears and back, I texturised. This gives a freedom to create flicks and different shapes and styles more easily. I blended the short layers on top to the mid-length with the intention of growing them longer. And I smartened up the perimeter to keep the elfin look for longevity as the top layers grow into the new style."

We did three different "After" looks, just to show the versatility of the cut, which was great for me because I always tend to wear my hair in the same way.

Number 1 - This is quite mussed up. It's worn longer at the front and is very different for me but I like how it sits.

Number 2 - Slightly tamed. It's partially tucked back here but still with lots of texture and individual pieces pulled in different ways, which you can see more in the second photograph.

 

Sleek and chic - Luke made everything really sleek for this look but, in so far as I remember, without really doing anything to it. I don't think that he used any more product but just tweaked it in a way that hairdressers do, making it look really easy.  Until you try and do it yourself and then you end up looking like Worzel Gummidge.

Apparently this is the "red carpet" look which is a favourite of ASOS.  Rather than just showing the back of your dress but with the head looking forward, you turn to the side slightly and look down your arm. So now you know!

Then it was my turn to have a play. I decided that (being as rubbish as I am at this malarky) the side bits were a little bit long for me and that I wouldn't be able to work with them properly, so Luke re-visited them and feathered them over my ears a bit more. And this was how it looked after that.

And from the other side!

And this is what I am aiming towards hair wise. Don't laugh! 

And you know what? The same night that Luke cut my hair, we went to see 1D. Amazingly, Flo and her friend and I were on the big screen at the side of the stage. So now Luke's hairdo has been seen by about 10,000 people.

For anyone who would like Luke to give their locks some attention, the cost of a haircut is £49 and he can be contacted on 07782 197646, or by email at mail@lukelehmann.com

 NB: Products used:

L'Oreal Hair Mix Supreme Smooth - smoothing cream for dry hair (used on wet hair)

TIGI bedhead wax stick for texture

L'Oreal Ellnet hairspray for hold.

An event to which you are all invited - and a sneak peak at a couple of pieces I will be using....

A few days ago I was walking around our fabulous new John Lewis, taking picture of pieces that I would like to use on the models I will be working with at an upcoming event in Birmingham. John Lewis have kindly agreed to provide the clothes for the event and next Wednesday I will be going around the store with a rail selecting the clothes, shoes and accessories for the event. You know the phrase "a kid in a sweet shop"? Well I think that may well be me.

There were so many pieces that caught my eye and which will fit nicely into the twelve outfits that I will be choosing and which will range in name from "Brunch with the girls" to "Cocktail hour", "Fancy pants" and "Winter wedding".  My aim is to tick as many boxes as I can, featuring outfits which are both casual and smart, with flats and heels, which include some big trends and some micro-trends, which cover a wide price range and which appeal to a broad age range. 

The day before I go to John Lewis, I will be in the Jewellery Quarter meeting with the jewellers who are exhibiting at the event and choosing the pieces to use on the models. It's great for us that the new John Lewis has chosen six local jewellers whose stock they are carrying in a display case. I love that they want to support the City. 

This dress from Ted Baker (£199) is one of my absolute favourites. It's perfect for a winter wedding. The navy colour works so well with most skin tones, the length means no pulling down of tiny dresses, the print is bold but not overpowering and it is also well placed. The dress is just supremely elegant. There's also a skirt in this print too, which is also lovely. I like the idea of it with a cropped fur jacket. As to the lack of sleeves? Even I can manage bare arms at a wedding (and you could still sneak a vest in underneath!!)

Fur coats were a huge trend last season and the colour of this Reiss Alba faux fur coat (£350) is fabulous. I also wanted to show you a long navy sleeveless fur coat, also from Reiss, which is in store but not on the website. It was just one of those pieces to which you are instantly drawn. There was no way that I could have walked past it without giving it a stroke! 

 I also love this Hobbs jacket (£149). For Hobbs I think that it's a pretty good price and whilst clearly it isn't sheep skin, it has a sheep skin look about it whilst the navy stops it being too "1970's football manager-esque". When I think of that, all I can see is Terry Venables in a sheepskin coat. 

I could go on but I won't! As a taster though I have my eye on a LBD from Jaeger, sparkles from French Connection, prints from Damsel in a Dress, stars from John Lewis weekend, bright coats from Maison Scotch and as for the shoes? Oh don't even get me started on the shoes!!!

For anyone who would like to come along, please email mat.lovell@jqdt for a ticket. It's on Wednesday 21st October 2015 from 6pm until 8pm at McIntyre House, Holland Street, B3 1PW, which is located on Birmingham's only cobbled street, which is off a one way street - a one way street which I happened to go down the wrong way whilst looking for it the other day. Ho hum. People in New Zealand and Texas - you are excused from coming! We are hoping for 150 to 200 people and we have some great exhibitors as well as the fashion show, so do please pop by if you would like to. 

An Oasis jumper that I really, really like - and I think that you might too!

I keep seeing this Oasis sequin heart jumper (£45) when I'm in the shops and I really, really like it. But I really, really don't need it. So I thought that I would share it because a) for some reason I feel slightly guilty knowing that this gem is out there and not sharing it and b) someone reading this may think to themselves "oooh, I really, really, like this and I really, really need it" and that would make them happy - and it's always nice to make people happy. Hope that you are all having a good week so far. x

Sharing my favourite bra and in my new vlog I show you what to look out for when fitting a bra yourself.

Bras can be tricky devils can't they? As part of my styling course nearly six years ago now, we were taken to Selfridges in London to be fitted with a bra and you know, there wasn't a single bra in there that fitted me. Although what I had been left with after having breast fed three children was pretty horrific, I'm not sure that the staff had to convey their horror to me too.

Somehow, and I can't remember how, I was pointed in the direction of the Calvin Klein Customised Lift bra and then all was well with the world. I haven't looked back since - well apart from once when I was invited to go to Rigby & Peller who fitted me with a Marie Jo bra but at £70 a go, they weren't really a runner on a grand scale.

So what is it that works so well about this bra, when all others failed?

• The smooth cups mean that there are nice lines under your clothes. But that's the easy bit. They're pretty easy to find;

• There's a small amount of padding at the base of each cup on the inside, which gives the necessary uplift, without being too much;

• The wiring is really comfortable. I've never had a problem with it digging in;

• Delicately put, the shape of the cups just means that this bra succeeds where others, which are quite possibly designed for a slightly (ahem) younger, fuller bust, don't! 

The Calvin Klein Customised Lift Bra is available from Figleaves (£35). Interestingly out of the 24 reviews, only 2 were slightly meh. One because the person didn't like the colour and one because the fit didn't suit.  They are also stocked at John Lewis (£35) and House of Fraser (£35) has a great selection, with quite a few styles in the sale.

Lots of women find fitting bras quite a tricky business, more often than not buying a bra which is too big around the rib cage and too small in the cup, which can end up being uncomfortable and unflattering. So, to help when you're out and about, in my latest vlog I show you what to look out for when fitting a bra yourself. I hope that my tips are practical and useful in your future bra buying expeditions!

Grey felt - one of my favourite fabrics of the season. From hats, to coats and shoes, I have it covered.

There's something about felt, particularly grey felt, which I find really appealing in a winter fabric. Not only is it heavy and warm but it feels luxurious and smart whatever its price tag - plus it doesn't crease. Now clearly I'm not wearing grey felt above but I am wearing a sort of camel felt, by virtue of this sleeveless coat from Warehouse (£69).

But anyway, back to grey felt. As you can see from the Pinterest images below, virtually every piece of clothing imaginable comes in grey felt - from hats (Fedoras are still a huge trend this season)...

....to coats and trousers...thanks Olivia, you're a beauty in your felt!

...to shoes...

And whilst out and about on my travels recently, I've come across these grey felt pieces.

First off, Next has this amazing grey brushed wrap skirt (£40) which is fabulous. Tapping into that whole wrap skirt look, which is having a massive revival this season, it feels much more expensive than its £40 price tag. That's one thing that I really do like about Next. Each season they have  a few pieces which are just so perfect that they look as if they have walked into the shop from somewhere else and jumped on a rack waiting to be found. (Sorry Next but you know what I mean!) With boots or Mary Janes it's a really versatile skirt. Wear it with a chunky roll neck or a finer fitted jumper and biker jacket and it's a really wardrobe work horse.

Zara has these wide leg trousers (£39.99) which I've had my eye on for a while. Whether they would quite work for me as trousers I'm not sure but I'm very tempted to buy them and have them made into midi length culottes as so far, I haven't managed to find any grey felt culottes that I like. Both Whistles and Cos have some but they're not quite right. These however, I can imagine working.

Completely impractical I will admit, but I've loved these Whistles felt sandals (£165) since I first saw them a few weeks ago. Worn with thick black tights, they would do a great job of giving some pieces in your wardrobe a kick up the butt - dragging them kicking and screaming into this season and all for the price of £165. Convinced? No, me neither. Maybe if they were £40 I would be.

And this is my latest find - a Primark bag (£18) within Selfridges which just makes the shopping experience a whole lot more pleasant. This bag is grey felt with black mock croc on it AND it's a back pack which is great for our Monday morning scooter rides to school when we have the following to carry: Rucksack, PE kit bag, swimming bag, flute. Yep, I often arrive in a hot and sweaty state having carried most of the bags whilst running alongside the scooter and this could help with that. How I'm not quite sure but in the interests of research, I'm prepared to give it a go.

Are you sharing the grey felt love or steering clear of it?  If you find any grey felt pieces on your travels, please do share them with me. I'm always on the look out for more!

Oh and before I forget, I've published a new vlog which you can watch here. So many women are wearing the wrong bra size and in this vlog I show you what to look for when fitting a bra yourself. It's not so much about the measurements (we all know how brands vary!) but more about how it should look, where it should sit and so on. I'll expand on it a little more tomorrow (if you'll excuse the pun!) x

How to create a fail safe outfit for an evening out....could I ask a favour please?

On Saturday night I was out at the Edward's Trust Ball. Edward's Trust is a fantastic charity which provides a wide range of support services to bereaved families and children. They don't receive any government funding despite the NHS referring children, so they really rely on charitable donations.

I've previously been to the Edward's Trust Garden Party where I saw an exhibition of the artwork done by children who had lost a parent. There were pictures painted both prior to, and having received, the support of Edward's Trust and there was no better way to demonstrate the impact that the work of ET has. Even thinking about those pictures makes me want to cry. But being a snivelling wreck doesn't help anyone does it? However running a half marathon for Edward's Trust hopefully will. So on Sunday 18th October, that is what I shall be doing - running the Birmingham half marathon for Edward's Trust.

Last year I asked if anyone would be happy to donate to my Just Giving page and I was overwhelmed with the kindness of people who supported me. So despite it making me feel slightly uncomfortable, I'm going to ask again - because sometimes doing what feels wrong, is actually the right thing to do. I hope that no-one ever needs to use the services of ET or a similar organisation but knowing that it exists offers comfort. So anyway, here's my just giving page. Just in case anyone would like to give - even just a little. (Thank you, I'll try not to let anyone down.)

As with most events these days, I prefer a slightly more dressed up/dressed down look - mostly because I find it warmer and more comfortable. So this is the look that I opted for on Saturday night and how I went about creating it.

1. Take one pair of black trousers....

I love my silky track pants from Topshop and Boden has a great pair this season, which you can see here (£69 but currently in the sale for £60.03). The reviews are actually very, very positive for Bodenites and I am tempted with the navy. Because of course we all need about 10 pairs of navy trousers in our wardrobes don't we?

For anyone looking for a slightly different style of trousers, joggers - ignore the term, it conjures up images of 1980's style shell suits and headbands - are a great place to start. They are versatile and flattering both with flats and heels, blazers, biker jackets and long coats. And not many trousers can make that claim!

2. Take one top with enough coverage to keep warm (yes there was a vest underneath, albeit silky and black) but which has enough about it so as not to look like a t-shirt or a work top!

I also wore a brocade top from Miss Selfridge which I bought last winter, just before Christmas. I've checked and I can't see anything similar at the moment but leave it with me and I'll see what I can come up with. In the meantime, Jigsaw has this cropped top (£79) which (I think) would be the perfect length with these trousers. It's not really cropped in the sense that we think of cropped, rather just waist length as opposed to hip length or below. It sold out in ivory in the summer so it's good to see it back in stock. It would be great with a big statement necklace to make it slightly dressier and it would also work with anything which has a slightly higher waistband, such as a pleated skirt.

3. Add a pair of heels- go a high as you can!

As for shoes, I ordered these from the Karen Millen sale after Christmas for £40 instead of £140. It was the first time that I wore them and they were really comfortable. High, but comfortable! They are currently on the site for £90. I would be tempted to ring Bicester!

4. Stick on a pair of chandelier ear-rings from Stella & Dot (£40) - and Bob's your uncle.

The only problem is, I don't have a gold watch. So that's my Christmas pressie sorted, which Mr SG is pretty happy about.

I have to apologise for the photo. My photographer thinks that every other photo should be of her so she flips the screen without me knowing to take a photo of herself. This leaves me with half of the photos that I would normally get. And believe me, I need more than two to choose from.

In today's NEW vlog I'm talking about fringes and all things fringed....

We all know that I've been wittering on about buying a fringed bag for a while now and finally I found one that I liked with reference to price, colour and the amount of fringing that it had on it.

I'm a bit of tinker when I get a new bag and I just use it non-stop, which is what I've done over the weekend. But I do love a red bag, especially if it's a red bag that I can wear across my body and even more so if it's a good price and with a tassel or two.

So, here's a picture of the GAP tassel bag (showing as £32.95 online but I paid £14.95 for mine in store). You can see it much better in my new vlog, which is available to watch here.

In the vlog I'm wearing this M&S tie neck blouse (£29.50) which can be seen much more clearly than when I wore it underneath the dungarees in my last vlog. Why don't you give it the good once over to see what you think?!

Plus there's a surprise Zara top on the vlog which has tassels (and a mind) all of its own - but unfortunately once again, no link. Sorry!

I do hope that you enjoy the vlog. As well as fringing, there's a little bit of a fringe chat going on too. What do you all think to VB's new fringe? I have a little something to share with you about it!

Please do let me have your thoughts, comments and views.  Have a great week. Beth x

How to wear....dungarees! Oh yes, I've finally gone there. Why don't you come with me and see what you think?!

So having said in my last vlog that I didn't feel comfortable wearing dungarees, I decided that it was time to plunge head on in and give them a whirl. In my new vlog, I've styled them in three different ways - do take a look and see what you think!

All this blogging/vlogging business is quite techy for someone like me so please bear with me whilst I sort out all the links. I've linked to the pieces that are currently available to buy in store, below. I've also included links in the "description" box on the vlog - but I'm not sure whether you can click through from them - although I'm about to find out!

Outfit 1

Romantic tie blouse Marks and Spencer (£29.50)

Topshop dungarees (£48)

Judy bow shoes Topshop (£48)

Outfit 3

Zara lace top (£29.99)

Do let me know your thoughts. Are you tempted to try? And maybe tempted to buy? Or are you leaving them firmly on the shelf - or in the past? Or perhaps it's time to move on and embrace something altogether new. Whatever your final view, I hope that you enjoy this vlog. Beth x

An outfit for the school run....

Yesterday I had to buy an umbrella. And why did I have to do that? Well, I insisted on walking to school without (in my defence) realising that the heavens were going to open. But they did - big style - and I had three choices a) to wait until lunchtime for the rain to stop before walking home (tempting but lurking in the doorway of our local M&S for three plus hours probably wouldn't have been a good look) b) to get my new Oasis coat soaked (not flippin' likely) c) to buy an umbrella. Or as my friend pointed out, there was an option d) which would have been to get a cab - and in fairness this would have been cheaper. Anyway the youngest thought that it was highly amusing and that it served me right for making her walk/scooter to school. She'll thank me when she's older. Actually scrap that, who ever thanks their parents for making them walk to school? They just torture them with the fact, making them feel guilty at family gatherings.

When I'm dressing for the school run - as opposed to the school "drive" I always work from the ground upwards. Adidas trainers, new Whistles high rise skinny jeans (bad move on a Monday morning - breathing is actually quite necessary in life, or rather, for life), silk shirt, one of my favourite slogan jumpers (New Look special last winter) and my new coat - which created a whole little story of its own.

Capes, ponchos, sleeveless coats - I'm trying to get as much wear as possible out of the lot of them before the winter sets in and it's thermals and duvet style coats all the way!

Hope that you're all having a good week, dodging the rain and not spending your pennies on unnecessary purchases as a result of being a sparent (stubborn parent - it's an addition to the tiger mother/helicopter parent/snowplough parent theme - poor, I know but it's the best that I can come up with!)

Growing old (dis)gracefully - a blog and vlog on how to style yourself in your 40's and beyond....

Today's vlog is all about Fashion for the Over 40's. There are a lot of "rules", myths and views about what we should, or shouldn't do, once we reach 40, so I've just spent five minutes or so talking about what I've learnt during my six years as a stylist (and my 5 years as an Over 40!)

I'm hoping to follow the vlog with a series of "How to Wear..." vlogs, the first one of which is a work in progress at the moment, so do keep your eyes peeled. If you would like to subscribe to my YouTube channel you can do so by pressing the "subscribe" button on this page which will mean that you will automatically get updated as and when a new vlog appears. And if you think that any of your friends or family would be interested in my musings, please feel free to share the vlogs. Equally if you have any feedback or if there is anything that you would like me to cover, please just drop me a line. I'm also hoping to do a series of "30 second styling tips" too - so we shall see where that takes us!

I've definitely come to the conclusion that as we get older we care slightly less what others think - subject to us feeling comfortable and confident, which is something that I cover in the vlog. A few years ago I would never have posted a picture like this. I would have been too scared that someone would say something horrible. Not so much anymore - I've figured that it always says more about the happiness, or otherwise, of the person leaving the comment than it does about anything else. And anyway I have to keep the 7 year old entertained or there will be a revolt.

On Instagram people seemed to like this jumper that I was wearing today. Despite the fact that it's a good few years old, it's still available at All Saints (£78). It comes in 6 shades, mostly varying shades of neutrals/greys/black but also in terracotta too. I suppose that you could say that whilst it's on the pricey side, it does have longevity. And if that's not good justification for buying something, I don't know what is!

A bit of back detail never goes amiss!

I  Hope that you have a lovely Sunday Evening. Any Downton fans out there? I'm banned from watching it with Mr SG and our eldest due to my quips at its expense. Oddly for one who spends his life taking the mick out of things, Mr SG does not find my quips funny. Can't imagine why. Beth x

Who doesn't love (fake) fur...and stripes....mixed? One to covet, one to consider and one to own!

I remember coveting Shrimps fur coats this time last year. And some things don't change....

Shrimps fur coat (£595)

And then this Pippa Coat from Boden (£199 - currently on sale for £173.13) caught my eye and the possibility of owning a striped fur coat seemed to get a little closer...

But then when I was in town a day or so ago, I spotted the Topshop fur clutch (£32) and my heart skipped a beat. Which made me realise, it's probably just the idea of stripes and fur that I like, rather than necessarily a striped fur coat. And the possibility of owning something which ticked those boxes just got a whole lot closer.

blue striped clutch (£32)

orange and purple striped clutch (£32)

From jeans and a leather jacket, to a pleather pleated skirt and chunky jumper, or a boho dress and a cape - this will work with them all. The only question is, which one should it be? (My vote....actually I don't have a vote. I think that they're all fab!)

Other peeps out there seem to like striped fur things too. What do you think? (Images courtesy of Pinterest). The second picture brings me on to a whole separate topic of OTK boots. It's taken a while but this year, I think that I might just go there.

Does my bum look BIG in these trousers? Oh yes, it does! But at least the two cream jumpers aren't quite as bad...

One day soon I will take these boots off, I promise. But not just yet. When the rain and mud arrive, I shall pop them back in their box but for now they are just perfect for the scooter run to school.

I've just posted another vlog (which can be viewed here) in which I'm wearing the cream cropped jumper that I've featured above, plus the cream cable knit jumper which you can see below.  I think that I'm a bit jumper obsessed at the moment. There's nothing like being prepared is there?!

I'm also wearing a denim shirt (which in the end I decided to keep, despite my reservations!) and a pair of spotty trousers which, talk about "Does my bum look BIG in these?" Oh boy yes, it does! In fact HUGE would be a better description. But I think that I've tried to explain why that is and how it can be fixed. (It doesn't include surgery for the record.)

Zara cream cropped sweater (£17.99)

Zara cable knit sweater (£29.99)

Sorry, I'm going to have to scoot now. I'm trying to watch Dr Foster on catch up and keep getting distracted from typing. Isn't it fantatic?!

Have a brilliant weekend. Beth x

Time for a treat - bringing you flowers and a 20% M&S discount. Ladies, it's time to shop!!

Who doesn't love flowers? I just adore them - especially when they come ready tied so that all I have to do is put them in a vase of water. So when I was asked by Blossoming Gifts whether I would like to receive a bouquet of flowers in return for writing about them on here, I wasn't going to say no, was I? It gave me an opportunity to not only enjoy them briefly myself but also to hand them on to a lovely friend of mine, who I knew would love and appreciate them too.

Blossoming Gifts is a brand new UK based flower delivery company specialising in beautiful flowers at a low price. I'm always intrigued by new companies, mostly because I'm nosey and I like to see how they compare with those who currently dominate the market.  Interestingly there is a range of cheap flowers for under £20 and it is possible to search the website by flower, by occasion plus there is also a wide selection of personalised gifts, hampers and wine.

I chose the beautiful Sky bouquet which was made up of oriental lilies, roses, agapanthus and greenbell - but it was a difficult choice to make because the choice is so extensive. Blossoming Gifts have a lovely selection of flowers by post* and as a thank you to me, and to you for reading this post, they are offering a fantastic 33% discount offer which is available using the code BGIFTS33.

And whilst we're on the subject of discounts, as an M&S cardholder I get certain discounts as do my "Friends and Family". Well that has to include everyone who reads this doesn't it? So for anyone who would like to buy anything from M&S which falls under the category of "clothing, beauty, home and furniture" between 17th and 21st September, if you quote code SEP15A12 online, you can get 20% off. Go shop with glee!!

*The flowers by post range is excluded from the 33% discount - but it is only very small!