GLAMOUR PHOTOGRAFY

Holiday galas and winter soirées await, and since we already have the glittery heels, shimmery makeup, satin manicures, and sequined party dresses, all that's left to worry about is the hair . . .



. . . but if you happen to live in one of the 12 cities with a Drybar, then chances are you needn't worry. Drybar is a blow dry hair salon created around a very simple concept: they only do blowouts, and what glamorously chic and perfectly-polished blowouts they are! Whether you opt for the straight and sleek Manhattan or the fun and curly Cosmopolitan, Drybar offers a menu of hairstyles for any occasion.



Alli Webb, founder of the ultra-stylish salons, began her career in the fashion industry working with designer Nicole Miller, as well as in public relations, working with clients such as Faith Hill and Paul McCartney. After a few years, she followed her heart and decided to pursue her true passion: hair styling. Alli trained under the expert instruction of Toni&Guy and spent several years honing her skills working for the renowned John Sahag.



Recently, we sat down with Alli to hear more about how she came up with the idea for Drybar, and found out that it all began as a result of realizing what she needed, personally, as there were no good choices in the marketplace for blowouts. She also noticed that there was no pretty, fun place to go without feeling guilty for spending so much money on a blow dry every week.



So, teaming up with her husband and her brother, she set out to create that ideal place, a place many are calling "girl heaven", complete with flat screens playing sweet, feel-good movies, hors d'oeuvres, and cozy, chic white interiors, and all at a perfect price.



And having personally visited three different Drybar locations, in New York City, California and Texas, can attest that it truly is an escape, an oasis in the middle of the chaos of the big city -- with one of the best parts being that you can be completely relaxed knowing that you will get consistently perfect results every time . . .



This week, we are excited to share a special double installment of {favourite five}, where we asked Alli, her:

{five favourite pieces of advice for running a business:}

1. I saw what was missing in the market -- if you really, wholeheartedly believe in an idea that doesn't exist, then follow your heart! There are so many great ideas yet to be discovered, and execution can be tremendously difficult, but you could be sitting on the next great idea.

2. Have people around you to support you and that you can trust with your idea.

3. Be open to constructive criticism -- be able to hear the good and the bad; at Drybar, we send an email to each client after their blowout, and sometimes people tell us the good and the bad. A lot of business owners might get defensive, but you have to remember that you don't have same the perspective as the client, so I take feedback very seriously, and want to hear if there is something wrong.

4. Take a step back, slow down, and make sure you have all your systems in place and that you have thought through the execution of your idea. Don't run too fast into something that you aren't ready for.

5. Recognize things you are good at, and things you are not. We need people to help us grow our company. You have to know what your needs are.


And also, [because we just had to know] Alli's . . .

{top five favourite hair styling products she can't live without:}

1. Morrocan Oil Hydrating Styling Creme
It's fantastic. I colour my hair so it often gets dry and this product is great for hydrating it.

2. Morrocan Oil Luminous Hair Spray, Flexible Hold
I'm not a big hair spray person, but I love the smell of this product! Better yet, it tames fly-aways and won't make hair look like "helmet head". I love that you can still brush through hair when using this hairspray.

3. L'Oréal Pomade
This is a great light pomade for a piece-y, messy and beach-y look like DryBar's "Mai Tai".

4. TIGI Catwalk Transforming Dry Shampoo by Toni&Guy
I use this product like crazy! It is a great blow dry extender.

5. Morrocan Oil Gold Glimmer Shine
This light, airy spray gives great shine that lasts.



~ laily


p r e v i o u s f a v o u r i t e f i v e s :

* food editor & author : donna hay
* photographer : debi treloar
* painter : janet hill
* jewelry designer : suzie gallehugh
* artist: michelle armas
* jewelry designers : megan & moira flynn
* actress & writer : shiva rose
* jeweler : camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse : chloë sevigny
* floral stylist, part 1 : denise porcaro
* floral stylist, part 2 : denise porcaro
* fashion photographer & illustrator : garance doré
* interior designer & architect : nina freudenberger
* entrepreneurs : rent the runway
* designer : rachel ashwell
* interior designer : tricia foley
* photographer : romina shama
* jewelry designer : cc skye
* designer & ceramicist: reiko kaneko
* perfumer : anne mcclain
* model, author & designer : india hicks
* interior designer : kelly wearstler
* fashion designer : tory burch
* designer & stylist : linda rodin



{images : makeup via manhattan luxury // rosie huntington-whiteley for victoria's secret // chandelier & flower via charley star // all other images via the drybar website}

"I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers."

. . . to enter the world of denise porcaro is to be swept away into an enchanting realm you only thought possible in the secret garden . . .

denise, the founder and owner of the alluring flower girl in nyc, has taken floral design to new heights with her exquisite eye for beauty and ethereal arrangements -- a delicate bundle she creates with dainty garden roses, ravishing wild flowers, or lavish peonies wrapped with the prettiest of ribbons will whisk you away into the romance of a bygone era

with a client list that includes stella mccartney, chanel and the illustrious plaza hotel of manhattan {and a blooming career that has graced the pages of vogue, instyle and elle} we will definitely be paying close attention to denise's:




{five favourite pieces of advice for running a business}

1. dedication is key: know that if you're going to go for something, it should envelope your whole life; you're married to your business in a way, and you should know that going into it

2. have a business plan: you don't need a big business plan -- it can even be written on the back of a bar napkin -- you just need to write down your goals and visualize them happening

3. do what you love: if you're doing what you love, it is that much easier; it cuts all the work in half when it is your passion

4. read your client: cater to your client's unique taste; listen to them, their budget, their likes and dislikes -- that's what we do at flower girl -- we don't give our clients “package a” or “package b”, but really sit with them and figure out exactly what they want and do our best to give them exactly that

5. don’t sweat the small stuff: this is much easier said than done; when you're a perfectionist and you're doing this sort of work, it's hard not to sweat the small stuff, but you have to keep perspective and remember the big picture

~ laily



{images: vogue, february 2010, dress by jason wu, boots by dolce & gabbana; inset, vogue, may 2008}

. . . being away means catching up on a few things upon returning, and so, a flurry of things early this morning and well into the afternoon, but after, there will be many new and exciting things here, and even after that, so many more beautiful things to share later on in the day . . . do stop in again if you like . . .

hope you're well,
xo

{p.s.} if you're just arriving:
* this week's give-away: a stunning crystal & 24 karat gold tray

{images: the startorialist}

Madonna makes her debut...on our blog, that is! The following are images from the May 2010 issue of Interview magazine. Of course we expected to see her wearing Dolce & Gabbana intimates, but we were surprised that she wore one of her personal lingerie sets (no brand mentioned) for one of the pictures (though it's does look kind of like a bra from Macy's). The fishnet stockings are from Falke, which is really what captured our attention in the first place. Truly, stockings can make all the difference in an editorial.
For the full range of images, click here.

. . . shall always and forever adore the quiet photographs taken behind the scenes, aware or not, in the midst of things or in one last moment of repose, and always with a certain sense of anticipation and excitement for the beautiful things that lay ahead . . .

{more favourite backstage moments:}
* amostpheric at lyell
* lipstick at prada
* gold heels at rodarte
* tiaras at chanel

{images: backstage at d&g, pucci, bottega veneta, gucci, jil sander, versace, blumarine autumn/winter 2010 collections via the love magazine}

{two lovely things:} a stylishly eco-friendly weekend bag made of completely recyclable water- and tear-proof paper, and a delicately beautiful dolce & gabbana white lace top perfect for sunny spring mornings . . .

{images: 1 - travel bag design by saskia & stefan diez via design shimmer; 2 - rosie tupper via a glamorous little side project}

This post has two of our favorite things; a Jessica Stam editorial paired with lingerie! Straight from the February 2010 issue of Canada's Fashion Magazine, these photos are simply further evidence of the lingerie as outerwear trend. The suggestion that you wear a bustier instead of a blouse is perhaps something you will be doing in the near future! It's funny because when we first see a trend we think, no that won't be me, but about a year later we've fully embraced it...kind of how we felt about Gladiator sandals and boyfriend jeans a few years ago (we fell for those trends hook, line & sinker!).
What do you say, will this be you in a few short months? Is it you now?

Aren't these images from the Spring 2010 Dolce & Gabbana runway show fabulous! The show certainly made a statement with the bodysuit...a look we typically cringe with memories of our look from the 90's. Nonetheless, the look works well here and is quite sexy. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that it's worn by itself with a cinched waist and high heels. We don't think we will exactly be wearing this look for Spring, but it certainly works for a statement on the runway or red carpet. Plus, even if we don't see this look in our everyday street style, it's certainly showing up in the high fashion editorials.

Stay tuned for a fun announcement we're making...one of our surprises in 2010!