LFF REVIEWS: URBAN RETREAT HAIR SALON HARRODS

I’ve had some dire hairdressing experiences in the past year. After a particularly appalling hair cut in December (I ended up with a ‘Lego’ haircut – you know, the kind of angular style only a Lego figure sports), I decided to go on strike and forgo hair salons for good. So after 6 months my hair ended up in the sorry and confused mess that you see below. 

Recently, I realized an intervention was needed; I could no longer swan around fashion events looking like something the cat dragged in. Which is where Urban Retreat comes in. I received a super-swishy blow-dry courtesy of Urban Retreat and Fashion Monitor at LFW, so I reached out to them to see if they could help me overcome my hair restyling phobia. UR kindly obliged and booked me in for an appointment in their Harrods salon.

So you might think it would be slightly intimidating to get your hair cut in Harrods. And I am not going to lie; I did feel a little nervous on my ascent to the 5th floor salon/spa.  However any nerves I fast melted when I met my lovely and extremely charming stylist Josh. Harrods’ PR Marie had suggested I book in with Josh if I was looking for a fashion-forward hair style and I am so pleased that she did; Josh was young, full of enthusiasm and a whole lot of fun!

The style I had settled upon for my new look was grown out bangs ala Alexa Chung. I bought a magazine tear-out to illustrate my point, but Josh barely needed to glance at it because he already knew the look I wanted. ‘Don’t worry, you are going to look HOT’ he assured me.  Which, is what every girl wants to hear from their hairstylist isn’t it? I don’t need to understand the science behind my follicles, just make me look good and I’ll love you forever!

Photo creds: Susi Smither and Katie Jackman.

I asked Josh if he thought the fringe should be side-sweeping (my comfort zone) and he recommended a softly centre-parted style because ‘it’s sexier to show a bit of skin’. After my shampoo, I came back to find a world-famous red head seated near to me receiving a blow-dry. I always associate Harrods with celebrity clientele and was amused to find my point proved.

The hair cut itself was a super-speedy 20 minutes, during which Josh asked me if I was excited several times (I really was!) and if I felt ‘Chung-like’ yet (I did!). Blow drying took a further 10 minutes during which Josh used techniques he had picked up on a recent trip to Brazil to create softly tousled waves. Once dry, he trimmed my fringe and finished the look off with the smallest amount of hair spray; this impressed me since there’s nothing worse that leaving the hairdresser with head full of gunky product. An efficient 45 minutes after taking my seat and the restyle was complete, which meant I still had time to make a party I had been invited to in the Kings Road Anthropologie store.

Dungarees: River Island. Shoes: Next. 

My only criticism of the whole Urban Retreat Experience is that the salon isn’t easy to locate inside Harrods. After reaching the 5th floor I had to take quite a walk through the sportswear department and I felt there was a lack of signage. But that is a minor complaint. Three days on from embracing bangs and I am in LOVE with my new hair style! It has washed well and looks equally on-trend when blow dried straight. And what Josh and Urban Retreat really delivered (that so many other hair salons fail to create) was a fun and feel-good experience.  I left the salon swishing my hair feeling, (in the words of Josh) pretty hot! A big LFF thank goes to Josh and Marie at Urban Retreat for a fab experience x

A women’s cut & restyle at Urban Retreat Harrods starts at an affordable £60, for further information visit the website. 

SIX OF THE BEST: KNITS WITH WIT FOR AW12

The coolest way to beat the chill this autumn/winter is by donning a witty knit or sweater emblazoned with a topical motif. A knit with wit is a key style for the season (see Burberry's AW12 owl jumper) and if Ashish’s SS13 catwalk was anything to by, the trend will continue well into 2013 too.

Whether you opt for a cute motif or a fun slogan (Markus Lupfer's 'Totes Amaze' sweater is my absolute  favourite!), this trend is all about having fun with your fashion. I've just splashed out of the J W Anderson for Topshop ghost knit (number.6) which was also seen on Alexa Chung recently. And hey if a knit with wit is good enough for Chung, then it's good enough for us!

1. Knitted Garcon jumper, Topshop, £40.
2. Flocked deer-print sweater, Jaeger, £60.
3. Markus Lupfer Boom sweater, Farfetch.com, £295.
4. Markus Lupfer Totes Amaze sweater, Harvey Nichols, £295.
5. Sophie Hulme Dino pattern sweater, Farfetch.com, £465.
6. J W Anderson for Topshop Ghost jumper, Topshop, £69.99.

MAKE LIKE ALEXA IN PAISLEY PRINT

Alexa Chung was bang-on-the-money in her paisley print pants by J W Anderson at London Fashion Week. As Alexa knows, paisley print is a huge trend for the season, cropping up on a number of the SS12 catwalks including that of the wonderful Stella McCartney. For those of us not lucky enough to have J W Anderson or Stella on tap, the good news is, paisley is a trend that can be easily found both in vintage shops and on the high street. I've found these gorgeous Whistles paisley shorts online, and even better they're in the sale, reduced from £95.00 to £50.00. Pair them with a chunky knit and booties now, and tan sandals and bare legs when the weather gets warmer. Add a touch of paisley print to your wardrobe now and you'll be bang on trend for SS12 just like Alexa.

1. Stella McCartney SS12 catwalk.
2. Alexa Chung in J W Anderson pants.
3. Daisy Garter stitch sweater, Whistles, £70.00.
    Liliy Paisley shorts, Whistles, £50.00. 
    Acclaim Suede platform boots, ASOS, £65.00.  

RED CARPET REVIEW: THE BRITISH FASHION AWARDS 2011

The British Fashion Awards attracted some of fashion industry's biggest and most glamourous players to London yesterday. From Marc Jacobs to Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham to Stella McCartney, all the biggest names in fashion were in attendance. This also meant the red carpet fashion was parade of looks hot off the catwalk, here's Lafashionfolie's red carpet review:

I think Olivia Palermo pulled this Matthew Williamson feather detail mini dress off with aplomb. I especially love how she accessorised her designer outfit with Topshop heels, Olivia is a big supporter of high street fashion (she's frequently photographed wearing Topshop) and isn't afraid to mix high and low end brands to create unique outfits.

Alexa Chung scored yet another fashion hit in this embellished 1960s style Christopher Kane shift. She teamed the dress with a quirky pair of Charlotte Olympia heels, adding an 'unexpected twist' to look in true Alexa style!

Wow I just love this structured graphic print Peter Pilotto dress on Amber Le Bon! I like the way she's kept her accessories simple to let the incredible dress and her super model good looks do the talking.

This dazzling metallic pleated maxi dress by Mulberry looked amazing on Tali Lennox. My only criticism would be that the 60s inspired hair do looked a bit formal, I think soft, relaxed waves would have looked cooler and younger with such a glamourous dress.

I'm sorry Abbey but I wasn't a fan of this suede Giles maxi dress with rivet detail. With the heavy make-up and bright blonde highlights the overall effect was too 'WAG' for me. Abbey is such a gorgeous girl she could make a binliner look sexy, but I'd like to see in something more fashion-forward, like the Matthew Williamson dress Olivia Palermo was pictured in above.


What do you think of their outfits?

Head over to the Daily Mail website for the full story and all the night's winners and gossip.