Oribe Hair Styling Products

Dry shampoo is an invaluable item in your beauty regime: it cleans up oily roots, boots volume and revives a blow-dry. Baptise's collection of dry shampoos in various 'flavours' are very popular - and I've tried them - but I find they can leave an unpleasant texture behind, make my scalp itch and, worst of all, there's the possibility of the talcum powder hair look. Not hot. 

Fear not - there is a hero product to save the day: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray (above). I bought the purse spray version (£18 for 75ml from SpaceNK) yonks ago and it only just ran out. I love it so much, I went straight out and bought a replacement for my handbag/the office and a full 300ml bottle (for £38) too today! 

So, what does this hero product do? I have very soft, fine hair so I use it when I don't have time to wash my hair (I usually wash everyday, if not every other day) or if it's looking a bit limp before I head out for the evening. It feels like a normal hairspray when you spray it on but without the stickiness you sometimes get with finishing hairsprays. It revives your blow-dry and rids your hair of any limpness, oiliness, generally 'bad hair-itis'. Plus, it has a lovely smell (a hair producty kind of smell...might just be me on this one)! 

I'm such a fan of Oribe products after using the Dry Texturizing Spray that I also purchased the Après Beach Wave and Shine Spray (above). I've just tried it on dry hair and can say already that it has the same gorgeous smell and has left my hair with a lovely gloss (the perfect kind of shine - no heaviness/ oiliness, just pure sexy summer hair).  There are no parabens and no sodium chloride in Oribe products and they're colour and keratin treatment safe. As if that's not enough, they do contain UV protection. I also love the descriptions and directions - "Tousle to taste and let dry in the St. Tropez air. Follow with lipstick and heels.! Haha! Brilliant! 

Trust me on this one, ladies, go try some Oribe now!

Love, 


AB x


P.S. I have also heard good things about the Percy & Reed dry shampoo. I love their No Oil Oil For Fine Hair serum so the dry shampoo is on my 'to try' list - I'll report back soon! 

Christian Louboutin Pigalles

Say "hello" to my latest purchase, Christian Louboutin Pigalle 100's in turquoise. Aren't they beaauuuutiful!?!? I bought some slightly lower coral Louboutin Pigalles a few years ago and they soon became my favourite shoes, taking me on many mischievous adventures. I'd been looking for a new pair to keep my coral ones company and fell in love with these as soon as I saw them on Net A Porter. 

You know what the super clever part is? This: 

Shoe magician that he is, Mr Louboutin has out-done himself yet again and updated the Pigalles with this nifty heel grip to stop them slipping off - genius! 

Love,

AB x

Crispin Finn 2012 Year Planner

I'm one of those crazy list writing super organised annoying really cool people and I'm really picky about my diary. This year, I've gone with a purple Panama diary from Smythson (more on that fabulous British brand later*) but I also like to see full months so I can make sure I'm not jamming in too much craziness and count down to holidays. This year planner from Crispin Finn is even better though - you can see ALL your holidays at once..yay! 

Check out the other stuff they have on offer - I think the blue/white/red theme is chic, don't you?

Are you guys picky about planners/diaries? What brands do you love? For my lovely US readers, I loved the old Kate's Paperie store in Manhattan, NYC just off 5th Ave. and was so sad to see it had down-sized to a much smaller store in Soho when I was there in July-August last year!! Can you recommend an alternative/additional place to check out in NYC!? 

Love, 

AB x

*although check out my earlier post on anniversary gifts. 

Nando Lopes at Richard Ward

I wrote about Richard Ward earlier this year and given it seems to be a favourite of yours, I thought I should share an update with you!

I swapped over to Nando Lopes (James Pryce had been cutting my hair for about four years) shortly after my previous post. I had another appointment cancelled at really the shortest possible notice they could possibly have given (for La Duchess'/ Kate Middleton's Canadian tour...), James had become v busy/ stressed* and, well, naturally his price rocketed so that he is now in the same bracket as Nando. My big sis got married in September and my mother had booked Nando out for the morning, so it just made sense for me to swap over to Nando (although there was some awkwardness at first with James working across from  us during my first cut with Nando). Nando has been a-ma-zing!!! I last had my hair cut in September and it has maintained its shape after four months!! Yes, it's grown about 1.5-2 inches and I'll get it done in January but previously I had to go about every 6-8 weeks....now I'll just go 3 or 4 times a year! So, if you do the maths, you could find that trying your luck with one of the stylists at Richard Ward may mean paying a bit more per appointment but can work out the same or cheaper as what you're paying now (per year) as you'd likely get a much better haircut and visit the salon less**!

I'll post some pictures of Nando's handiwork from big sis' wedding soon but just wanted to post a quick update in the meantime!

AB x

*I have been uncharacteristically and, if I say so myself, admirably reticent and tactful here....

**Unless you dye your hair....I go au naturelle so can't help you there, sorry...

Fashion Books

Check out the books I got for Christmas!!






























(apologies for the terrible photography/ general quality of photo)

A to Z of Style, Amy de la Haye

Fifty Dresses that Changed the World, Design Museum

400 Years of Fashion, V&A

My Favourite Dress, Gity Monset, Samantha Erin Safer & Robert de Niet

Chanel - the Vocabulary of Style, Jérôme Gautier (present from the lovely staff at Chanel in Harrods - merci beaucoup!)

Christian Louboutin, Christian Louboutin

I think these will make fabulous coffee table books! Anyone else get some fashion books for Christmas??

AB x