Celebrity hair trends: plaits and braids

The latest hair trend seen on the red carpets recently are plaits galore.  Whether it’s a traditional down-the-back plait, a to-the-side plait, a fishtail or a french plait around-the-head style, they’re a perfect way to bring a summery feel to autumn.  They never go out of fashion, it’s just knowing the right way to wear them for the season.

Plaits work for the day and the night time, they are a great alternative to a simple ponytail and look sexy falling over your shoulder or snaking down your back.  The beauty is that there is a style for everyone, whether your hair is long or short.

The key for this style is to always wear with waves, for a beachy, undone look. This works for long and short hair, with tendrils coming down around the face, it looks beautiful for daytime and evening wear.  If you’re going for this over-the-shoulder look then hair looks better in a side parting, usually on the opposite side to which the plait is falling.

Blake Lively - Diane Kruger - Tamsin Egerton

For a more clean cut, severe look, opt for a tight high ponytail with plaited hair, this will give a sexy tomb raider feel.  This look is great with long hair, meaning there is a long plait, if your hair is short then the plait will stick out and look silly.

Nicole Scherzinger - Blake Lively - Fergie

If you have shorter hair, then go for an around-the-head style plait, either across the forehead to hold your fringe back, or like Whitney Port below, french plait your hair back into a ponytail or bun.  This keep hair out of your eyes and creates an on-trend alternative to a normal ponytail.  If you don’t like having your hair all scraped back or tight to your head, then wear a looser plait like Karen Gillan below, which adds volume and texture to the hair.

Pixie Lott - Whitney Port - Karen Gillan

For fishtail braids, take a look at this tutorial below, from Lauren Conrad and Kristin Cavallari.  I don’t personally like the look of the final outcome, it’s too low down and her hair is too straight, but the main method is easy to understand.

When I want to wear my hair down, but stay on trend, I love to french plait my fringe back, it’s perfect for a night out, it keeps your fringe off your face for when you’re dancing away and getting hot in a club, but also looks pretty and adds a little something extra.

Hope that gives you some insight into how to achieve the plaited look for yourself!  Try it out and let me know how you get on.

Love,

Play it by ear

This season’s hottest jewelry trend is all about the rings, big chunky finger rings and long sparkly earrings. The celebs are all wearing their hair swept back and up with long dangly earrings grazing their sexy bare shoulders. The glitzier the better!

Rachel McAdams :: Carey Mulligan :: Mila Kunis :: Blake Lively

Jessica Szohr :: Taylor Swift :: Leighton Meester :: Nicole Scherzinger

1. Pearl Chandelier Earrings – £14.00 – Topshop

These stunning chandelier earrings are reasonably priced and are glitzy without being tacky. They’re 12cm long, so will rest gently on shoulders and really make a statement.

2. Filigree Earrings – £7.99 – New Look

With the hanging chains adding length to these filigree earrings they will have a nice swing to them. They have tiny diamantes embedded in them to add some sparkle and at such a low price they’re a bargain!

3. Oasis Chandelier Faux Pearl Earrings – £16.00 – ASOS.com

These are probably my favourite design out of them all. They are long and delicate, and the faux pearls add a vintage feel. They’re also studded with diamante so they will shimmer when they catch the light.

4. Erikson Beamon Purple Multi-Leaf Drop Earrings – £12.00 – Debenhams

These earrings apear black at first, but when they catch the light they are really a deep mottled purple. The leaf shapes are similar to those of the earrings worn by Taylor Swift in the image above and create a beautiful shape when put together. They’re also reduced from £15.00, so bargain! Debenhams have so many beautiful earrings on offer, and many of them very reasonably priced, so go and check out their website for more.

5. Coast Venner Earrings – £18.00 – House of Fraser

These stunning earrings really make a statement, with glitz-galore they will add instant Hollywood-glam to any outfit. Too much glitter can look tacky, but these avoid that and add a touch of class, plus with mini dangling diamante disco balls, you’ll be the life and soul of the party!

Also… Go check out places like Primark and Peacocks for earrings on a smaller budget, they always have a wide range of jewelry and you can be sure that prices will be kept low.

Just a Note… If you are going for the long drop look, then make sure they do not conflict with your outfit, you don’t want embellished shoulders getting tangled up with your earrings. The best way to wear the long drop and make a statement is to let them speak for themselves, with a strapless/one shoulder dress, hair swept back and simple make-up.