Superman Has a Right Part

Can your hair part make you a superhero?

 

Turns out that it can. Sort of. There’s actually some science behind Hair Part Theory, originally developed by a nuclear physicist and a cultural anthropologist back in 1999. Turns out that where you part your hair has a huge impact on your interpersonal relationships because it affects how people see you and how you see yourself. A left hair part “draws unconscious attention to the activities that are controlled by the left hemisphere of the brain, i.e. activities traditionally attributed to masculinity.” A right hair part is linked to femininity. So a guy who parts his hair on the right is putting himself at some risk because he’s sending a mixed, subconscious message by emphasizing the activities of the brain that are attributed to femininity. A woman who parts her hair on the left will be taken more seriously than one with a right part.

 

Not buying this at all, are you? Well, listen to a recent RadioLab episode. Turns out Superman had a left part and Clark Kent parted his hair on the right. Also, there’s a fantastic TRUE story about a guy who was a total loser until he changed his hair part to the left and then he had friends coming out of the wall.

Also, in a survey conduced by Radiolab, 49.9% of respondents say they part their hair on the left, 33.1% on the right, and the rest either don’t know or don’t care. Of course, where this leaves center parters is an entirely different question.

 

And here’s one for you history buffs. Abraham Lincoln parted his hair on the left. But the engraver who put his picture on the 5 dollar bill actually flipped his part for some reason. Which

one looks more presidential to you?

 

  

Manicure humor

 

 

 

 

 

Our friends at Let Us Pamper pinned these entertaining tidbits for us to enjoy while our nails dry.

 

Jennifer Aniston on Hair, Acting and More

No one knows the value of a good hair day more than Jennifer Aniston. Take, for instance, her experience on the set of her upcoming film, “We’re the Millers.” “It was about 100 percent humidity, so the frizz factor was through the roof,” Aniston said with a laugh on Sunday afternoon, the day before celebrating her 44th birthday. “I brought along Living Proof products with a healthy skepticism. I wore a half-wig on this film, and the girl who was washing the hairpiece wasn’t using my shampoo. So we would go outside and the rest of my hair would be totally tame and perfect, and the top [wig] part — which I called my toupee —would just start to look like pubic hair. It would take on a whole new texture of its own. I kept thinking, ‘This is funny. Someone should be rolling a camera on this, right here.’” Laughing, she added, “For me and a lot of girls, hair is a big deal. There are a lot of greater trials of the world, but ask any girl — it’s one of those boxes you check off. If that means having a better hair day, that goes a long way.” To be sure, Aniston’s hair has been a source of tabloid obsession since longtime friend and stylist Chris McMillan created the Rachel, a long choppy bob named for her “Friends” character, in the Nineties. So it’s natural that she turns animated when speaking about Living Proof, the Boston-based hair-care brand she bought into last October, and whose first national ad campaign breaks this week and features her. She acknowledges that buying into a hair-care brand makes a certain sort of sense for her. “It’s nice when you feel like you’re a part of something that will make people’s day a little better,” she said, adding that she’d already been telling friends about Living Proof. “When I’m into something, I love sharing it with other people, whether it’s a face product, a great pair of jeans or shampoo,” she said. “I’d be talking about this even if I wasn’t involved, because for me and a lot of girls, [hair] is a big deal.” But why not simply lend her famous face to the company? Aniston says it’s because Living Proof passed one of her most stringent tests. “With some products you can put it in your hair for a week and it will look fantastic,” she said. “And then it starts shooting you in the foot. Or your hair looks greasy the next day from silicone or something you don’t even know is in there. This still performed over a three-month period on a movie set, where your hair gets a lot of wear and tear.” And she admits with a laugh that she had another motive: scientists on standby to create solutions for any hair dilemmas she could throw out there. “And them being willing and able to hear you and get in there and create all sorts of new products — it’s kind of a dream.” McMillan became a believer after using Living Proof products in his Los Angeles salon, and signed on as a spokesman in January. “He’s the first person to say it’s crap if something doesn’t work,” Aniston said. She also relished the chance to work with her longtime friend. “When this came about, I thought [Chris] would be a fun addition to the group, and it all fell into place beautifully. Chris is an endless well of hair information. The world is his Barbie doll. He wants to touch everyone’s head.” The brand’s first national advertising campaign, which breaks in March fashion, beauty and lifestyle magazines, features Aniston in a shot done by Mario Sorrenti with hair by McMillan.”When you have a group of people who work together that long, it’s just easy,” she said of her longtime friends. “You play great music and have fun, make your hair wavy, make your hair straight, whatever.” When she’s not dreaming up new hair products, Aniston is keeping plenty busy at her day job, acting. She’s currently filming an untitled Elmore Leonard project in Greenwich, Conn. (She observed cheerfully of the recent snowstorm that dumped two feet of snow there: “At least it’s something pretty to look at.”) “The book’s called ‘The Switch,’ but we can’t use that given I did a movie with the same name a few years ago,” she said, noting that the new film is a Seventies prequel to the movie “Jackie Brown.” “It’s a quick, five-week shoot, and we’re having a ball. The director, Daniel Schechter, really knows what he wants. It’s a dark thriller-caper comedy, and Tim Robbins and Isla Fisher are also featured.” She is in post-production on “We’re the Millers,” which also stars Jason Sudeikis and Emma Roberts. Aniston has just signed on to do a Peter Bogdanovich comedy, “She’s Funny That Way,” with Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman and Cybill Shepherd. It is set to begin filming in New York City this summer, she noted. While she’s got plenty of projects keeping her busy on the acting front, Aniston is determined to direct, preferably sooner rather than later. “Absolutely, that is 100 percent in my future,” she said firmly, having developed a taste for directing with a Lifetime TV project, “Five,” which explored the topic of women living with breast cancer. It was bittersweet, she noted, given that numerous friends have struggled with the disease, “like Laura Ziskin, who was so close to beating it, and Sheryl Crow,” she said. “I want to be a part of stories that teach people and create awareness, that create forward motion and give back. Then I feel like I can go to bed peacefully.” The newest round is entitled “Call Me Crazy” and deals with mental illness. “Which also now, thankfully, is being brought up. It’s quite topical. Who knew that when we were thinking of what the next round [of “Five”] would be about that it would be so in the news. I was hoping to direct one of the segments, but I didn’t finish work in time and it would have pushed the schedule too far. But I am wearing my producorial hat on that one, and I’m excited about that.” Aniston has been working with her producing partner Kristin Hahn, with whom she runs Echo Films, to develop projects. She’s most passionate about getting “The Goree Girls,” an adaptation of a Texas Monthly article about a falsely convicted woman who starts an all-female band behind bars, on the big screen. “It has been two seconds from a green light [several times] and then something happens. But that’s something we’ve been working on for years, which is so beautiful and a deep passion project of ours that will find its slot in time. I will definitely be a part of it in some form — of course producing, but maybe be in it, I don’t know, direct it, I don’t know. But there’s a lot of great people who are out there who are beautiful writers. I have a lot of dreams in my dream catcher.” Of the timing for her big-screen directorial debut, Aniston noted, “I’ve got to clear out the schedule a little bit. I was hoping to do one this year, but I had to be realistic and realize that if I was already going to be doing all these movies, I needed to [wait.] But that’s definitely happening.” Still, she seems to be effortlessly juggling her various creative endeavors. “When it rains, it pours,” she says philosophically about the myriad projects she’s currently working on, which keep her from having much spare time to spend with fiancé Justin Theroux. But she doesn’t regret the whirl of activity: “I’m having a ball. I’m loving this movie, and [busyness] isn’t bad, because I’m enjoying myself.” And unlike many Hollywood stars, Aniston has a refreshingly down-to-earth take on birthdays. “They just come rapid-fire,” she laughed when discussing her Feb. 11 birthday. “I feel like the last one just happened! I want to say, ‘Let’s sloooow down.’ I have fun all the time, so I’m not worried.

Tom Ford Store Opens in Paris “Congratulations Mr. Ford”

GOOD PARTS: With a Paris men’s boutique already up and running, Tom Ford officially opened his glam three-story venue for women and men on Rue Saint Honoré with a cocktail party. The designer was not in attendance. Lingerie queen Chantal Thomass immediately spotted a slim-cut tux on the first floor. Dressed in a vintage Jean Paul Gaultier pantsuit, she said she would come back during the day to possibly get it, while Alyson Le Borges, Alain Delon’s granddaughter, injected a rock-chic vibe into the crowd, looking fab in a biker leather jacket. “From Closed,” she said, volunteering the brand name. Louis-Marie de Castelbajac lingered at the perfume counter on the ground floor. Laetitia Casta’s little sister Marie Ange also popped by. The face of French cosmetics brand Vichy divulged she was about to start the shoot of “Le boeuf clandestin” for a French TV channel. “I’m going to play a struggling actress in the 1920s, ready to do anything to get a good part. It sounds like a lot fun,” she smiled.

Alexander McQueen opens first menswear store in London

Every great fashion house has its roots, and for Alexander McQueen, the seeds were sown at Savile Row, where a young Lee McQueen served as an apprentice for tailors Anderson & Sheppard. The skills he picked up along the way instilled a strong tailoring focus in the brand, so it is somewhat of a homecoming that it has opened its first dedicated menswear flagship on the very same street.

Conceived by creative director Sarah Burton as a space ‘steeped in the codes of the house’, the intimate yet striking interior of 9 Savile Row is designed by David Collins – who is also responsible for the new women’s store concept.

A stunning floor of smashed and reassembled Nero Argento marble leads into the main body of the shop, which has retained its original parquet floor. Here, pieces from the ready-to-wear line – hung on a brass rail that on closer inspection is carved like the vertebrae of a spine – preside over a narrow central red carpet, inspired by military parades.

Natural motifs – a strong McQueen theme – are rife throughout. Some are immediately apparent, such as the romantic English country house white panelling (which Burton herself had a hand in casting). Others are amusingly subtle, like a claw-shaped set of cabinet feet, a tiny golden skull, or twisted horn-like cabinet handles.

A giant glass box at the far end of the store marks an exhibition space that is set to host a changing roster of art installations. Curated by Sadie Coles, it currently houses ‘Icon’, a 2006 sculpture by Sarah Lucas, depicting dancer Michael Clark.

The fact that there are plans for the vacant basement to be turned into a workshop for an in-house bespoke tailoring service speaks volumes about the new direction Alexander McQueen is taking its menswear (which has until now been overshadowed by its showier womenswear offering). Coupled with the fact that the mainline menswear collection is due to show as part of London Collections: Menfor the first time next season in January, there’s no doubt it’s finally getting the focus it deserves.

Ombre Nails loving them

Our Favorite Definitive Lady Looks

As stylists who love hair, you can imagine our delight when we learned that Vogue UK had compiled a list of 100 Definitive Hairstyles from lady stars in the last century- and beyond!   The list is chock-full of truly iconic lady looks but we wanted to share our top-ten favorites with you and we’d love for you to share yours with us, too!

Dita Von Teese                                                                    Sienna Miller

Daphne Guinness                                                                   Tilda Swinton

  Agyness Deyn                                                                   Grace Kelly 

Olivia Polermo                                                                   Elizabeth Taylor 

Diana Ross                                                                   Gwen Stefani  

If you’re contemplating a hair change of your own, we really recommend you click through all 100 looks on Vogue’s list for inspiration, for there are some really great and truly timeless looks featured on the list.  xox

Priscilla Collins on Borrowed & Blue

‘Tis the season to celebrate those we cherish and be close to the ones we love, so in keeping with the spirit of the season, we wanted to share some pictures from a client’s beautiful wedding which was recently featured on Borrowed & Blue.  Our wonderful friend and colleague, Priscilla Collins, styled the bride, giving her the perfect look for a summery Cape Cod fête and ensuring she was without-question the most beautiful girl in the room (though, to be honest, she already was- Jessica is gorgeous).  We’r so proud of Priscilla, who’s one of the best wedding stylists we’ve ever met, for having her work featured on such a terrific site!

Here’s a small sampling of the magic from the day, captured by photographer Heidi Vail, but we recommend that you click over to the full feature -and prepare to swoooooon- to see more.

Hey, Hey! Avanti

Our friends at Hey Hey Gorgeous recently let loose some exciting news- they upgraded their platform so everyone from stylists and clients to salons and beauty brands can connect with one another and share any and all things that have to do with style and hair.  Of course, we’ll be clipping the products we love, examples of our work, the styles we covet and the looks and techniques that have us super inspired, and we’d love for you to follow us and share your inspiration and favorites, too!

Creating a user profile is so easy (we promise), and can easily be registered in moments using your Facebook account.  Plus, if you register before the end of the year and invite five friends to join, you enter to win a Hermes H Bracelet – so, you know what to do.  See you over at HHG!

p.s. If you haven’t liked us on Facebook yet, well, you know what to do…. xox!

Boston Gift Guide: Samantha House Jewelry

Our good friend and party co-conspirator, Samantha House, has just previewed her newest collection of artistically-crafted jewelry; it’s called  Twist and we are in love!  Below are our favorite pieces from the new offerings, but we urge you to jump over to The Adventures of Samantha House Jewelry and make your own most-wanted list.  The collection feels eccentrically luxe with lots of rich colors and Samantha’s iconic metal-work.  Much to our dismay, the Twist collection is not yet available for purchase, but there are lots of statement-making goodies in her online store that make perfect gifts for any lady- yourself included!

Check out previous installments of our Boston Gift guide here, here, here, and here.  Happy Holidays!