The Future is Full of Virtual Haircuts

For many people, the prospect of taking a trip to the hairdressers can be both stressful and unwelcome. You need only witness the makeover episodes of Top Model to realize how emotive an issue hair can be - a bad cut or a shoddy dye job can completely effect the way that a person feels about herself. If you're thinking of having a restyle but are wary about experimenting, I recommend the InStyle Hollywood Hair Virtual Makeover.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this, it basically allows you to upload a photograph of yourself, and then to 'try on' celebrity styles like so many unflattering wigs. You can easily tweak the cuts so that they sit more or less correctly, and it can provide literally hours of good, time waste-y fun. In my experience, it tends to work best if the photo shows you face on to the camera, and the colour can sometimes come out a little odd, but other than that, it's pretty nifty. If you have no idea what suits you, or are just keen to explore ideas in a totally commitment-free way, then this might be the tool for you.

Predictably, I didn't use the Virtual Makeover do anything as useful as planning my next style. Instead, I threw myself into trying on the weirdest celebrity looks I could find. Below are some of the images I came up with - three (pretty crazy) alternative realities of my wedding day!

Gwen Stefani

Evan Rachel Wood

Katy Perry

Print on Demand

I'm loving the images coming in from New York Fashion Week 2011. I am particularly mesmerised by all the gorgeous prints - pattern and colour galore! It's right up my street. Check out these images from the Vogue website:

Derek Lam Spring 2012

Preen Spring 2012

DVF Spring 2012

I particularly love the Preen collection, with its pixelated pastels, lacy details, and miniaturized peplums. My absolute favourite so far, though, has to be Thakoon. The blazing brights, insistent prints, and gorgeous gold-tipped booties blow my mind, whilst the sugared almond hair is dreamy and delicious.

I'm less keen on the cowboy-style hats and some of the cross-body sari details, but there is a lot of this that I would just love to wear. It would certainly cheer up a long day in the library! I am particularly inspired by the extravagant, exploded paisley print which crops up throughout the collection, often placed in juxtaposition with other lavish fabric choices. 

It's given me some great ideas to try out with my new Asos shirt (pictured below). I've been working it with brown suede shorts, grey tights and Chelsea boots, but I think it's time to draw inspiration from Thakoon and pair it with something a little bit bolder. Bring on the Spring 2012 print clash!