Hint of Glamour #5

Just think, you get last minute plans together on a Friday or Saturday night, you begin getting ready. Shower. Makeup Regime... and time is running out.. You still have to do your hair and finalise that outfit. Enter a great time saver - the high ponytail. Worn various ways, sleek, curled, tousled, the high pony can be as minimal or fancy as you like {or can be bothered to do} making it a great addition to casual, dressy or formal looks.

While there are many hairstyles that can be done easily and quickly I feel a good high ponytail can add class, elegance and sophistication. I myself am a fan of this style, particularly with curled hair and a high front section for some edge. For this Hint of Glamour post I have picked some different examples with tips and tricks on how to pull this hairstyle off without appearing like you are heading to the school playground.

Simple & Sleek...

 I love the sleek look of this pony, great look with the fringe - easy to take from work to drinks.

 Simple and fantastically sleek with a wonderful wave (easily achieved with a quick twirl of a curling wand if you do not have natural waves). Wrap some hair around the hair-tie for instant glamour.

This look means business! Streamlined front, hair tied on top of Beyoncé's head with amazing volume (if your hair isn't thick a volume increasing spray and a tease brush can achieve the same result - can smooth down a little with a straightener). What I love about this ponytail is that a big section of hair has been used to wrap around the start of the ponytail making it look a bit fancier!

Curly & Sassy

 This is a perfect hairstyle for some flirty fun! Screams to me like dinner and drinks with the girls, followed by dancing of course! Simple tie your hair high, run your fingers through the front for some texture and let the curls take over. Looks great with a dress or with a ponte pant and blazer outfit.

 This is a little low set but I love the gradual curl in Lauren's hair - perfect for a look that is elegant and fresh. Good when paired with a fancy dress for events or use to glam up a casual look!

I love this style of ponytail because it has great volume and height. Definitely use a tease brush to achieve this height and create a ponytail through the use of pinning different sections. Perfect for formals, balls or weddings.

Calm and Casual

These are perfect for relaxed looks, either day or night. Add salt spray to your hair for beach waves and texture like Kate's hair. I love Jen's look, partly structured with a free moving front section.


Heighten the High Pony
We know there was some height in some of the styles above, but these ones have serious height!

 This is a perfectly structured and large ponytail - lots of volume and curls at the back with a perfect quiff at the front. A great style to add both edge and glamour to your look.

 A fabulous sleek ponytail with wrapped hair and a fantastic curled and pinned front section. Perfect for a rock chick look, rough up the ponytail to enhance this further!

Kim Kardashian may well be the Queen of wearing a ponytail to an event. I love this fancy look. Perfect for long hair as it shows the length off well but adds height and fun in the front. Add a fancy dress and simple accessories like Kim and you are set for a great night!

 

Play with Texture

 

 This hairstyle combines many different aspects and textures. The free flowing fringe with a heightened front section, wrapped hair and a curled low pony. Once you have curled your hair, run your fingers through to break up the curls and form some unstructured bounce.

Have total hair envy here! This floaty and free-spirited pony has been wrapped with hair that is plaited and twisted. Something very different that adds instant girly glam!

 Play with the form of a ponytail - add a loose plait or braid {in love with Blake's fishtail!}, a smooth front will highlight this type of pony - don't worry about any loose bits coming out of the braid. The second style is completed by placing hair ties in sections throughout the length of the ponytail - once you have done this, use your fingers to lightly tease the hair in between the ties for volume.

Portia's front section has been crimped but I would prefer to do small sections within the ponytail... add some 90s fun to the look!

Hope you have enjoyed this post! Do look at our other Hint of Glamour posts, which so far include Kate Ritchie wearing an amazing navy sequinned ball gown, Lauren Conrad showcasing the combination of long sleeved shift dresses with low ponytails, the amazing fun trend of arm candy and an inspired outfit post of dresses {red} with belts.

Do you have a favourite Hint of Glamour post? Which one?
Have you checked out For the Style Seeking Girl on Facebook yet?
You can find me on instagram { @saregiak } for daily style and life pics... happy styling

Sarah/Kooklah Xo
 

Trend Review - Red Dress and Belts

Not too long ago I wrote a post called Hint of Glamour #4, about a post I had seen that showed two actresses at the Oscars wearing red dresses with metallic belts. I then created three different outifts using one red dress and a variety of accessories, belts and shoes. Click on the link to read more. Below are the pictures of Jennifer Lawrence and Marion Cotillard.

Jennifer and Marion both wore Dior Haute Couture

I came across these pictures recently, some other celebrities basking in the red dress and belts style... I particuarly love Mila Kunis' and Diane Kruger's look.

A thick black belt helps to define the body and break up the red. Love Hayden's look here (left).

Diane's look is so classy and fun! Great mini-dress, streamlined with a belt. Love the black, lace shoulder patches - Tbar black shoes and a navy clutch with a tangle of arm bracelets cement this look. Diane has amazing style and always looks fabulous!

MIla Kunis is one of my most favourite celebrities - she is funny, stylish, a quirky actor and has a beautiful face. I love this glamourous bohemian look she shows off here. The dress fits and flows perfectly. The belt is pastel and slightly metallic. Want to recreate this definitely!

Duchess, I have followed Kate's style since I was younger, she has class and elegance. I love this beautiful crimson dress - perfect for events, the black belt adds definition and is complemented perfectly by her black pumps and clutch. A fresh, minimal made up face completes this look.

Always remember this....

Sarah Xo

(Kooklah)



Hint of Glamour #4

How many of you have tried something on, had someone gasp and say 'that's your colour!!'? Pretty much all of you I'm guessing. It can be really useful to know what colours make your features POP and create some wow factor before you have even managed to untangle your glorious bed hair or swipe on some makeup. This colour (or colours) will become fail safe options - when you look into that wardrobe and no inspiration comes your way or you are having a bad day and hate your body/face/hair. By the time you are through accessorising you will be so into the outfit that you'll wonder why you struggled in the first place.

By using these colours not only as guidance for outfits to showcase your stunning self but also as pick me ups and back up ideas for outfits, you are reducing the risk of running out of time getting ready and feel amazing as you head out to face the day!

 

My colours are red, emerald green and royal blue (helps also that I have dark hair and eyes too, I think!)... and I am regretfully guilty of the mad dash of getting ready. Usually because I can look into my overflowing cupboard and say 'I have nothing to wear'.


So what could be the solution? To have atleast one outfit as my fail safe - not just the colour but accessories and makeup ideas too. Preferably an outfit that can go from day to night with a change of shoes.

To get some inspiration I searched through some websites and came across a blog called POPPED, it is a great blog that has a wide variety of posts all within the pop culture genre, including celebrity news, reviews of movies, outfits worn, hairstyles, trends and funny posts. As I was reading and laughing at some of the observations in this blog I found a post that sparked some inspiration for what my standby outfit could entail. The post featured two actresses in the gowns they wore at the Golden Globes with belts. I was inspired by the colour (red) and the use of belts. For the post from POPPED, 'Hot Trend Alert' click here.

I know, I know belts with dresses was huge over a year ago - but it has come back and I am loving it more then ever. They help to add definition to your waist, break up the colour and I feel they add some class. Below is a picture of a shift dress I recently scored for $20. This will be my fail safe item, with accessories to make an outfit.

Below are three options: casual, dressy and formal - add my standard winged tipped eyeliner, some blush and scrunched/volume hair and I will be able to get ready and walk out the door in less then 30 minutes.

What I loved about the Golden Globes outfits is the use of metallic belts -  I am seeking one now! I want to see how compatible it will be with my wardrobe...

To see how this look was styled for a formal occasion make sure you click the links and have a look at the post: Hot Trend Alert from POPPED ....

This look can be adapted with any colour, but don't be afraid to try some red and boldly stand out! Red suits a variety of skin tones and hair colours, it all depends on the shade. So before you dismiss it as not your colour, try it!

Kooklah Xx

 

KUSHLA - Product Review

KUSHLA is an Australian online accessories store. They have selected certain pieces of jewellery and accessories that are special and different to any you will have seen before. What I found fantastic about their collection is that there is a very limited number for each item sold. The idea behind this is to create a sense of individuality or uniqueness, don't you love it? There won't be a thousand people with the same item as you!

In 2012 the lovely people of KUSHLA contacted me asking would I take part in their launch, I was excited as this was something new for me, I hadn't had many emails for the blog at that stage and it definitely spurred me on to making a great effort with my blog. At the start of this year, I recieved my first piece of physical mail for the blog, I could touch it, I was so thrilled. It was addressed to my blog - so huge for a girl who started this blog to satisfy herself. I had recieved a package, I opened it to find a letter offering an accessory from their current collection.



The accessory I was given, is called 'All Tied Up Rope Bracelet' ($21.99). As soon as I opened the package I felt something. This piece reminded me of travelling, collecting memories and moments that form the glorious stories you recount when you return home.

What I love about this piece is the collection of charms and various other items that are attached to the rope. There are faux pearls/jewels, a piece of shell, as well as the charms which include a key, horseshoe, heart, bow and enamel tokens. It looks like the small trinkets you could collect at markets and stalls whilst walking the streets of far away destinations.

This piece comes in a variety of colours, as depicted on the site you can wear them woven around your wrist or ankle (layer a couple for a bohemian feel, or take inspiration from my post Hint of Glamour #3 and combine with other bangles and bracelets). Nothing says traveller like rope bracelets that are intriguing and spark memories or questions. Other ways to style this accessory include using it as a key ring, attaching to the strap of your handbag or across body bag (essential when travelling!), tying it in a bow on your suitcase handle - you will easily identify it at baggage claim, attaching it to your travel journal or hanging it by your holiday pictures. This would be a fantastic gift to give someone who is about to depart overseas, they could even add their own charms and trinkets to it!


 

I hope you enjoy looking through the Kushla website and current collection as much as I have... I am so excited to see the future collections and hope to work with them again some day! Please comment or email me with any comments you have! Especially if you have or do try a piece of the collection. Communicate with them on twitter/instagram via #KUSHLA and @kushlasocial or via the Kushla facebook page.


Kushla also featured in my latest Inspire Me Monday post, to read it click here

Happy Online Shopping and Styling!
Kooklah Xx

Hint of Glamour- #2

So many of you liked the first Hint of Glamour post I wrote that I decided to make it a regular post series.

The focus today is, one of my favourite celebrities, Lauren Conrad (yes-I have Lauren fever!).

There are so many possible outfits or looks from Lauren that I could use for this post, but I am going to focus on two aspects in particular- the long-sleeved shift dress and low ponytail. Both are simple but elegant looks, which when used in combination offer a chic and classic look. This look is perfect for brunch with the girls, shopping or family parties but can also be glam for birthdays or nights out. Below I have included a few different outfits from Lauren using atleast one of these aspects. Lauren's low ponytail is often wavy, which adds a fun vibe whereas a straight, sleek low ponytail is perfect for work or to help achieve a minimalistic look (Click here for a fantastic blog on minimalism).

Lauren Look One: The Hills Season 6 (and series) Finale Party

Mid-rise ponytail, streamlined slightly volumised

height at the front teamed with loose waves.
This hairdo is fun and party perfect.

The dress is fitted without been too tight (allowing easy

movement), the green matches Lauren's eyes and pops

against her hair and skin tone. Nude pumps perfectly complete

the outfit. This is an outfit which easily goes from day to night









Lauren Look Two: Lauren Clothing Line Launch at Kohl's

Love! This look takes a glam and edgy ensemble
and combines the sleek hairdo with a perfect smokey eye.
The result is effortlessly chic, brilliant for a night out!

This is a trend I am planning on really trying out this winter!

Let me know what you think, do you like this look? Do you have a favourite 'Lauren Look?'

Would love to hear from you,

Kooklah Xx