So here we are – it’s dress day! I’ve booked the day off work, sat up until very late studying the dresses and now it’s time to make some decisions.

I think…(let’s see once I’ve visited the fabric shop) but I think I’m going to take that slightly disturbing Anne Hathaway dress and turn it into something much more beautiful.

Why? Well here’s the thought process…

The two dresses that photographed beautifully were worn by Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Lawrence. The first looks like an Oscar award drapped in Armani and second in a beautiful Dior wedding dress. Both stunning but too adventurous for today. (Time is ticking!!)

My actual favourites were from two of the less photographed actresses. Alicia Vikander wore a beautiful backless long sleeve blue dress with belt around the waist. I would wear that now! Every day! That’s my kind of dress!

And the second worn by Samantha Barks wearing a really clean Valentino gown that looks so sleek. I don’t know whether she has her hands in her pockets but I love dresses with pockets! Pockets make you feel so much comfortable and give you something to do with dangly arms.

So taking those second two dresses as inspiration, I’m going to take the slightly dodgy Pink Prada dress and give it some class.

Poor dress, I don’t think it was ever meant to be walked down a red carpet – it reminds me a slightly awkward bridesmade dress. It’s like this is Jennifer Lawrence’s wedding and she doesn’t want to be upstaged by her award nominated Maid of Honour. Aww.

I don’t like to join in the crude comments but err…Fembot, Worst Dressed and #Les Nipperables are already out there!?

I saw an interview with her on the red carpet where she said “business in the front, party in the back”. We’ll leave it there. It’s not her fault – someone should have told her!

So I’m off out now to buy me some fabric…

I’ll be tweating my progress throughout the day, let’s see what happens

Nicole @ beaufrog

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This week I spent 3 days down in London training on anew exciting tool we’re implementing at work. Of course, when training finished at 5pm it was then my time to hit as many shops as possible before they close!

Just round the corner from where I was staying was Morplan – a shop I’ve order online from before. Great for all your sewing equipment like Patternmasters and Set Squares. They sell the most beautiful dressmakers mannequins I can find in the UK. But at £700 for a K&L, I just took away a photograph instead!

I then ran down Oxford St to catch 10 minutes of MacCullock & Wallis. Was a bit disappointed as I was greeted with a moody voice saying “we’re closing, you’ll have to be quick” and I thought “yeah I know…I’m out of breath from running here and theres 15 minutes of shopping time left!” But anyway,  the shop was beautiful and you could easily spend hours mooching through the 2 floors.

On my second night I visited Liberty which is just beautiful…the pictures speak for themselves -

I’ve now got my eye on some stunning John Paul Gaultier fabric for my living room…how nice is this…!

I love shopping in the designer and vintage sections as you can pick apart unusual tailoring and learn lots. The ball gowns as SO heavy and the blue Chanel dress was effortlessly constructed.

Stella McCartney pleats and Carven dresses are on my imaginary shopping list.

And finally I fell in love with an Urban Outfitters coat and floaty vintage dress in Top Shop. Could have spent a LOT of money but remained very sensible.

It was great to get all inspired before my Oscar dress challenge this weekend.

I’ve set myself a task to watch the Oscars and then work through the night and the next day to complete a version of one of the most photographed dresses. Wish me luck!

Or get in touch if you’re doing the same thing

Nicole @ beaufrog

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Central heating, split ends, dark mornings, run down, dizzle and wind.

Poor hair. It goes through a lot. By the end of Feb we end up looking like this!

I’m very conscious, maybe more so than average, of keeping my hair in tact – probably because of the amount of heat I put it under.

I’m unable to put those irons away and always look to a product for a miracle cure that will stop it all breaking away when I’m an older lady.

This year I’ve decided to (try and) look for other alternative hairstyles that avoid straighteners. I rely far too heavily on them and now that the hair is long, I want to keep it long and in condish!

So here are some alternatives that I’ve been trying out. (I did want to use my own photographs but it was quite hard to angle the camera!)

The Bun

The Top Knot

The Donut

Plaits

Accessories

And best of all…

Natural Curls

Undo any of these hair styles and get beautiful hair for day number 2.

Treatments 

Ahh and my trusted friend Frizz-Ease serum and a really good deep conditioner. I’ve been using John Freda recently (the full repair one in the red tube) and it smells gorge.

Hope this helps you out too when you’re in a winter hair rut and your only turn is the straighteners – there are other options

Image credits – purple frizz : tucked bun : top knot : donut : pleats : headband : headscarf : natural curls

Plus more images on my pinterest board

Nicole @ beaufrog

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