today i would like to share a little video with you about how i do my hair. ever since i got my bob, i’ve gotten quite a few emails asking me various questions about the style, cut, and care of my hair, so i finally decided to discuss the topic!

my hair is naturally straight with just a little bit of bend. i say it’s pretty thick both in diameter and in the amount of hair on my head. it is currently untreated in any way and this is my natural color. i usually shampoo my hair with the cheapest shampoo in the drug store: suave daily clarifying shampoo. it’s like $2 for a giant bottle. i don’t use conditioner because my hair seems to do just fine without it.

and this is how i style it:

1. blow dry. i have zero technique here. i just aim the blow dryer at it all willy-nilly until it gets dry. my hair is thick, so this takes quite a while. (in fact, sometimes i take a break to eat chocolate candies.)

2. once it’s dry, i add a dab of product. lately, i just work some bumble and bumble grooming cream into my hair for a little bit of texture and to control any pesky little fly-aways. i also like to use b&b brilliantine, which adds a bit more gloss, but i ran out and have to restock.

3. this step is optional. i take a flat iron and straighten just the top layer of hair to get a more tidy look. (if i’m going for something more messy, i’ll skip this step and use b&b surf spray with a dab of sumotech.)

voila!

but i cannot take all the credit for this look. i must thank my dear friend and hair stylist, shannon dean, who works at revamp salon on 16th and guerrero in san francisco. i don’t think my hair would be nearly as easy to style if i didn’t have such an excellent cut! seriously, if you live in the area, you must give him a call. he is incredibly talented, very communicative, and he will give you one helluva salon experience. if my look isn’t your cup of tea, he also styles diane of darling darling, liz of late afternoon, and his girlfriend: jennie of going west, to name a few.

i have a new style crush. her name is lotta volkova and i’ve only seen these two outfits, but they are perfection! i die. to quote something i once read in vice magazine, “she makes color her bitch.” she also has a clothing line.

left: face hunter, right: trendy crew

it’s no secret: in addition to reading tons of style blogs, i spend a considerable amount of time pouring over street style blogs from all over the world. it’s easy to get into a routine of checking in on all of my favorites without doing searches for new blogs. such has been the case with my current reading list. but thanks to my tumblr addiction, i just discovered a new blog to add to my favorites: hoyfashion (which i discovered via the awesome tumblog, fuckyeahstreetstyle). i don’t know that i’ve ever taken the time to recognize how many incredibly well-dressed people there are in the uk. these snazzy outfits are just a taste of some of the cool styles i’ve found on that site, so i just had to share. nothing like some good inspiration on a monday morning!

images via hoyfashion.

well folks, i have finally jumped the bandwagon on this one and i have to say, i am head over heels for swedish hasbeens! especially after seeing recent posts about clogs over at leproust and liebemarlene. i actually remember reading about them this summer on siri’s wonderfully inspiring blog last spring, and feeling quite conflicted. i absolutely loved the clean lines, retro colors, and classic styling, but i wasn’t sure if they’d ever be something i could a) afford and b) integrate into my wardrobe. but honestly, i don’t know how i could have ever doubted them, especially after stumbling upon these two pairs of wood-heeled boots on the swedish hasbeens site! i think i’m having a moment.

i seriously think i need those tan lace up boots and the black ankle boots, in addition to the classic clog sandals. the best part is that you can tell just from looking at the pictures that they’re constructed from thick leather that only gets better with age. they’re the type of shoes that last a lifetime, which means that even though they’re expensive, it’s totally worth it. ditto on their beautiful selection of bags! i didn’t even know they made bags, but i have to say, they’re just as pretty as the shoes!

after doing a post about my little day hike on saturday, i started thinking about how to dress for a hike while still being stylish. comfort is number one when dressing for more athletic adventures like hiking, cycling, swimming, or sports. whenever i’m getting ready to do anything of that sort, i usually find myself in outdoorsy shops like rei. they have really amazing gear and apparel made with all sorts of fancy trademarked fabrics like gore-tex® and conduit™ and infidry™. they all seem really practical, but i have to say, most of it is less than attractive. do i really have to look like some sort of super-hero/astronaut to go on a hike?

so after some heavy internet searching, i came up with this snazzy little guide loosely based on pictures of hikers i’ve seen in silly nature books from the 70’s.

union suit: ll bean
if it’s a particularly chilly day, i recommend wearing long johns underneath your outfit. i am in love with this bright red union suit from ll bean, though i understand that this might cause some logistical problems. you could also swap this out for a nice set of long underwear from smartwool.

thermal henley: chloe sevigny for opening ceremony
i picked this one because it’s so stylish, but you can easily find a thermal shirt at a thrift shop or american apparel for a much better price.

flannel shirt: pendleton meets opening ceremony
ditto on the flannel shirt. if you keep your eye out, you can definitely score a vintage pendleton at a thrift shop for a really good price. and you just can’t beat those beautiful pendleton colors.

parka: fjallraven
this might be the one item you would want to splurge on for the winter months. when i saw the fjallraven crystal lite parka on the steven alan website, i died. it is hands down the perfect utilitarian parka that will last a lifetime. it’s pricey, but i seriously think it would be worth it. i’m saving my pennies right now!

skinny jeans: cheap monday
i’m one of those people who can’t stand extra bulk on my legs while hiking. i like the streamlined look and fit of skinny jeans, but they can sometimes be restricting. i own this pair of cheap mondays in the very stretch dark wash. they’re so incredibly stretchy and comfortable that they feel like leggings.

wool socks: smartwool
i know you’ve heard me talk about my love of smartwool socks before. if you don’t have a pair, get some! they’re more expensive than regular socks, but once you try them, you’ll never go back to cotton. they’re super warm but still breathable, so you’re feet never get sweaty. these outdoorsman socks are super thick, so they’re perfect to scrunch up a bit and tuck your jeans into.

wafflestompers: alico
i really love the look of the classic vintage “wafflestompers” with red laces. unfortunately, they’re very rare and hard to find (for obvious reasons) and i don’t know if i would want to wear someone’s old, used hiking boots anyway. alico has some really classic boots without all the silly pink and blue decorations you see on most women’s hiking boots. throw on some red laces and you’re good to go!

backpack: fjallraven
and of course, you’ll need to bring a few supplies and a light lunch on your hike. why not go for a colorful little fjallraven backpack? the mini comes in a million pretty colors. or you can try one of their larger, vintage packs. if you’re doing a hiking/camping trip, just switch out the day pack for a retro, external frame backpack. i got one from jansport (who knew?) that i absolutely love.

alright, now enjoy your hike!

lately, i have been finding a certain appeal in the all black (or almost all black) outfit. we often think of black as being this incredibly easy and wearable fall-back color. but try wearing black from head-to-toe and you’ve got an entirely new challenge. wearing something so simple can certainly take quite a bit of confidence! you can’t rely on color to make the statement, but instead, you need to let the textures and proportions do all the talking. (or at least most of it.)

before the winter is up, i’ve resolved to try this at least once. would you wear an all black ensemble?

column a: ida on lookbook, glam canyon, mr. newton, the sartorialist.
column b: styleclicker, styleclicker, altamira, all the pretty birds.

i almost feel like i don’t even need to write anything in this little space beneath the photos, because they really do speak for themselves. and basically, i really need some high rise trousers in my life, with or without pleats, high-waters or rolled up at the cuffs. i love them all, and these fashionable ladies have mastered the look.

column a: stylesightings, (i don’t know the source! i’m guessing the sart? let me know!), inside am-lul’s closet, altamira.
column b: sacaton june, anywho, fashion bits and bobs, mister mort.

one of the many christmas surprises i received this year was quite unexpected but wholly appreciated. my mom gave me a brand new sewing machine! i’ve been talking to her about vintage patterns here and there; i always look for them at thrift stores and estate sales. i love vintage dresses, but it can be a huge challenge finding them, let alone in my size! especially when it comes to cotton house dresses from the 30’s or 40’s. they’re already very rare to find because these are the types of dresses women would have worn on a daily basis until they got holes and were tossed out. then, once i find them, they’re rarely in my size. solution: find a vintage pattern and make one yourself!

i actually have a sewing machine, but it’s seen better days. it’s my mom’s sewing machine from the 70’s. a very simple singer model, which has done me well for years. but sadly, i think it’s finally slipped past the point of repair. i guess i talked about it a lot, since my mom remembered and gave me a new one. so while i don’t tend to think too much about new year’s resolutions, i think that i’ll just have to resolve to start sewing more clothes in 2010. so besides all the vintage patterns i hope to begin acquiring, i’m also inspired by the patterns offered at colette patterns and built by wendy for simplicity! they’re vintage-inspired with a modern twist. ah, a whole new world has just opened up.