After my hair twin (seriously, I wish), Rachel Zoe, debuted her new bangs during Fashion Week, I quelled my urge to go completely scissor-happy and opted for a quick do-it-myself trim.

Over the past few years I’ve gone back and forth from a blunt fringe to a side-swept style, and between my thrice-yearly haircuts (I know, shame on me), I trim them myself. I do such a bang-up job (sorry, couldn’t resist), they get glowing reviews from my hairdresser every time.

Here are four scissor-wielding rules to follow faithfully:

1. Put the kitchen shears down. Use hair trimming scissors from any beauty supply shop or, as Marie Claire suggests, cuticle scissors.

2. Always trim dry bangs. Trimming bangs while wet gives you a false sense of length and sets you up for a too-short bang disaster.

3. Cut vertically. Hold the scissors upright and cut up into your ends using little snips. Never cut horizontally across in one big chop.

4. Follow the natural edge of your pre-existing style and go a little at a time. You can always cut more if needed.

The Spring 2012 New York Fashion Week shows may be over, but the trend spotting continues. On the beauty front, the looks ranged from the don’t-try-this-at-home to the perfectly poised and polished.

Erickson Beamon heightened the drama of its jewelry by way of false-eyelashed, rainbow-hued glitter lids accompanied by matching multi-hued nails. Bright pink, red, and turquoise eyeshadow turned up at Richard Chai Love, Katie Gallagher, Pink by Douglas Hannant, and Faster by Mark Fast, among others (Fast, Chai, and Gant by Michael Bastian even did blue lips, making it look as though the models were very chilly, indeed). And several shows, including Marchesa, Fast, and Jeremy Scott, featured models with bright pink hair.
Continue reading “NYFW Beauty: Runway, Backstage and Beyond” »

If three’s a trend (as they say in fashion), I guess five or six is a phenomenon. Such is the case with this structured bookbag from The Cambridge Satchel Company, a UK-based bag maker whose retro-inspired cross-body has become all the rage among fashion insiders.

While the company makes its most popular style in a range of classic colors – from basic black to saddle tan to brick red – it’s the fluoroscent green and yellow hues that are being carried by in-the-know fashionistas. Modeled after a classic school bag, this boxy unisex carryall was given a thoroughly modern makeover in shades so bold they almost glow in the dark (making them really pop against the all-black ensembles worn by most New York showgoers).
Continue reading “NYFW Front-Row Trend: Fluro Satchels” »

Lauren David Peden, Rue La La Contributing Editor and the voice behind The Fashion Informer, stopped by our photo studio to chat with our very own D. Graham Kostic. The New York insider is beyond busy as she gears up for fashion’s biggest few weeks, when Lauren will be zipping around NYC covering show upon show. Here, she dishes on her fashion week uniform, her curated Boutique, and even how she de-stresses between shows (hint: it involves paddle ball).

Lauren David Peden writes for Rue La La as a Contributing Editor.