Easy Summer Hairstyle Trend: Braids

adding a braid or two to your hair is one of the easiest ways to give your hair a little something extra. variations of the style have been seen on runways and celebs like Kate Hudson, Nicole Richie, Lauren Conrad and Kristen Stewart sport braided styles frequently.

for summer, it's not just little girls who can wear braids. they offer a little change and work fabulously day or night (you may also find a braid helpful during odd growing-out-the-hair stages). one style in particular that i love (and wear often myself) is the headband braid. it's quick and simple, really! take a look...

*first, take a horizontal line two inches back from your hairline and separate that front section of hair. leave the rest loose.

*then, starting at the left side of the head, just above your ear, french braid until you reach your right ear.

*finally, secure the braid with an elastic and tuck the ends behind your right ear. style the rest of your hair as you wish.



Women's Heath Magazine features how to get this style as well as other twisted and braided styles in their current current july/august issue, on newstands now. you can see a how-to slideshow online by clicking here.

xo
info courtesy of WH; Kate Hudson image: Anwar Hussein/Empics Entertainment/Abaca; Kristen Stewart image: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage

The New Classic Accessory: Nude Shoes

i have been obsessed with nudes. now before you go there, i'm talking about the color. especially when it comes to my bags and shoes. nude was once "the hottest trend", but in my opinion is now a new "classic". nude shoes really makes sense: they go with anything and everything!

to me, nude refers to different tones, not just one color. when i think of the term, it ranges from a sandy beige to a deep cocoa-- think skintones.




if you pay attention to footwear on the red carpet, you'll notice that most actresses wear nude shoes because it makes legs appear to be longer. there is no break between the leg and shoes if the color matches your skin. nude shoes also offer us gals the reliability of always having the "right shoe" rather than having to hunt down the perfect shoe to go with that new ensemble.




of course, that doesn't mean we have to stop buying those fun, colorful shoes...

here are some examples (getting as close to your own skintone is best, but even if you're off a bit, it will still look chic):


xo