THE STYLE LIST .......LA SPECIAL

View From My Balcony

PART TWO

HAIR AND NAIL SPAS

The two most important people in your style world are your Hairstylist and your nail technician. I always feel like I am cheating on them when I have to visit different ones. I have used the same Hair and Nail guys for 10 years so I do feel terribly guilty........but needs must. I wont tell if you don't? Sssshhhhhh !

My favourite hair salons..............

Umberto the king of all hair salons this is a two storey palace where all things are possible. Sumptuous surroundings but may have to wait for your first movie to get your hair done here. But a real treat for a one off Beverley Hills experience. 416 North Canon Drive.

Fringe also in Beverley Hills.9406 Brighton Way. a beautiful salon here does not have to cost. They do wash and blow outs here for $35. always have offer packages e.g cut, deep conditioning and blow out $75. a small friendly salon where they make you feel like a celebrity with champagne se

rved throughout the service.

My favourite salon and where I get my colour and glossing done is Eden Sassoon at Sunset Plaza on Sunset Boulevard. Eden is Vidal Sassoons daughter who runs the salon but does not cut hair. Although Scott does a mighty fine job, he is in demand from a long list of celebrities.... and lil old me ! He made my hair look so amazing shiny and bouncy and did the whole lot from washing it to blow drying which they tend to do here in LA. I swear I was asked out on dates by three different men within 1 hour of leaving the salon.

Sassoons swanky Salon

Also if you join Brits in LA website you can get 10% off your bill.

My Favourite Nail Bars.....................................

Well I am afraid its another shout out to Eden Sassoon, I managed to squeeze a pedicure in while I was having my hair done. The best pedicure I have had $28 ask for Chi. My toenails are as shiny and glossy as my hair !

I regularly attend The Nail Garden in Burbank (Miley Cyrus a regular) for my french manicures which they overlay with a UV Gel to keep the nails shiny and new. I have definitely got glossier girls being in LA. There are many Chinese Nail Bars out here which offer cheap fast service with 'walk ins' welcome. These bars are usually excellent although I have had bad experiences at some, it is mostly trial and error. So I hope this helps as I am currently an Angeleno and doing the groundwork for you.

Thats all for this week girlfriends you must always plan ahead when it comes to Hair and Nails in LA in a land where there is sooo much choice. I have done the leg (and head) work for you this month and the reccommendations on this page have all been tried and tested.  Sssssssh your secret is safe with me I wont tell them you cheated !

THE STYLE-LIST : LA STYLE

Hooray for Hollywood

My style path has led me to spending the entire 'Fall Season' at my home in LA. So this is the first of five letters from LA where we explore the style of The Angels. Over the next five weeks we will be looking at:

LA fashion

Hair and Nail Bars

Fab Eateries

Hip Hangouts

Whats Hot and Whats Not in LA right now.

So this week lets talk about hot LA Fashion in fact its not hot just lukewarm. It always surprises me how little style there is on the streets of Los Angeles. Even as I am sitting in the supremely stylish eateries of spagos and The Wilshire I casually glance around at the really poorly and dull dressed. Styles vary from eccentric to dress down preppy I wonder does this reflect the fact that there is really no 'high street' as in The UK , only high end boutiques or low end stores with the gap in between filled by J Crew or Banana Republic. Even the designer stores seem to stock a different collection to the vibrant stores of London. One that seems oddly dated. Of course two of the most  stylish designers I know are American, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein ( although oddly the only two that spring to mind !) Michael Kors as my regulars will know is my hero but only since he returned from a stint with Lanvin before this he was staid and boring.

Klein and Lauren are the epitome of style simple clean lines plain vibrant colours taking no notice of 'fashion' but cutting beautiful clothes to suit all women. Colours to suit all complexions and hard t make a mistake just accessorise in context. But i think this is more New York woman and less LA woman.

EMMY FASHION UPDATE.............

I had been alarmed by the lack of style I was noticing on this trip and then it was all confirmed............. I watched The Emmys last night. An array of women paraded in the wrong dress for their complexions , the wrong dress for their body shapes and just the wrong dress for anyone !! A whole evening of the worst dressed women I have ever seen LA what has happened this is truly a style desert in this pocket of the world the worse I have seen on my travels. Stylists !! What are you thinking. The only 'celebrity' on the night who truly owned her dress and knew her body and the shape that flatters her and really knows her style was Sofia Vergara. She rocked that dress.

Sofia Vergara

There were soooo many bad frocks to choose from but the worst was Clare Danes someone who has no sense of her own personal style as is evident on previous occasions. But Clare darling, wrong colour for your very pale complexion wrong dress for your shape(read bust size) ill fitting . Nice dress(Armani Prive) but soooo wrong for you sack your stylist.  The irony is  Clare was voted best dressed by the LA fashion gurus !!!! I rest my case.  Clare give me a call .

Clare Danes

NEXT WEEK THE BEST HAIR AND NAIL BARS IN LA................................TUNE IN STYLISTAS.  MWAH MWAH AIR KISSES xx