Dear Ether,

I’m the type of girl who normally just throws her hair in a loose bun and runs out of the house, long strands flying loose in my wake.  Often people are surprised when I unravel my tresses and see that I have extremely long locks.  “You look so much better with it down!”  Sigh.  I know I do, Ethers, but I’m lazy.  I just can’t be asked to try with my hair.  Such effort!  But after looking at hair trends this season, I’m going to get my act together and ban the bun!  It’s all about fun and creativity and I can’t wait to make the most of my mane!

Look at the turquoise and metal meshed together in this spectacular head piece from Dolce & Gabbana. It just livens up a simple center part and makes an incredible statement. No need for any jewelry with this on your head!

Embellishments for the hair, whether long or short, are in style and I am so excited about the variety of goodies out on the market.  There’s everything from ribbons made from luxurious fabrics to be tied in oversized bows to thick headbands with exotic and colorful feathers.  And I’m in love with clips bejeweled in an eye-catching array of sparkles so your hair appears as precious as if adorned with real gemstones.

This is so perfect for the "Russian Revolution" look that is on the runways of Chanel. I love the stones and the different fabrics like satin and grosgrain. This will liven up any dead-do.

This trend is a real blast from the past.  In the 1920’s flappers wore fantastic headpieces that dangled and danced as fast as they did the Charleston. In the Victorian era, women wore jet, tortoiseshell, and ivory hair combs that had spectacular carvings that fanned out in their elegant coifs.  Oh, and we mustn’t forget the days of Marie Antoinette!  What wonderful creations she fashioned for the times.  She even wore a sailboat as an adornment in her hair!

We always talk about fly-away hair. Ms. Antoinette had "sail-away" hair. Amazing!

A beautiful tortoiseshell Victorian hair comb. This one is in a fan shape. If you can get your hands on one of these in a antiques shop it would be your "crowning" achievement.

At Givenchy, models were wearing hair stick-straight with stiff-ribbon Alice-Bands in the mid-section of their heads. Severe, yet chic.  Dolce & Gabbana had luxurious turquoise gems and metal bauble headbands tied with satin ribbon onto a center part. Their hair was done up in an intricate bun in the back.  The show “Gossip Girl” has been making use of the head band with its good girl/bad girl character Blair.  She wears the most fab pieces and  many of them have gone missing (wink) after a days shoot.  Even celebs are getting in on the action.  Nicole Ritchie has been sporting the happening-hippie hair look with her self-designed “House of Harlow” chain band that conjures a Cleopatra-esque feel to it.  Mischa Barton has just come out with her own line of halo-like bands and girls like Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Lily Allen have been tweaking their tresses as well.

Here's our girl Ms. Ritchie sporting her signature golden band that uniquely drapes around her beautifully tousled hair. I love the Boho-Chic aspect of her look.

WOWZA! Look at the selection Mischa Barton has created for her new collection! These really remind me of the roaring 20's!

"Gossip Girl" was always a-HEAD of the game when it came to adornments for the hair. Look at this array! Jealous?

I personally love the dressy version of the look.  I think it’s great to do the hippie, braided style for a casual day out, but what I think is so special about this trend is that it dresses up your hair and makes it unique.  You don’t always have to be  big and over-the-top with a black-tie look.  A little Swarovski clip in your hair is understated and elegant.  An embellished hair-tie is a perfect touch or even just tying a funky patterned bow in a half part through your hair instead of leaving it down gives it that extra zip.

If any of you are thinking, “This is a look that is too young for me,” you’re wrong!  Any gal at any age can wear her hair up in a chignon with a beautiful comb in an elegant design.  It adds to the beauty of your style, and it is certainly not too immature.  In fact, it’s a classic.  Another lovely look for a more mature woman would be a low clip holding the hair with some beautiful stones attached.  Designer hair baubles are a great way to go if you want a bit of trendiness with just a touch of bling.

This signature Chanel camelia hair comb is classic. It's perfect for any age and is timeless and versatile.

So whether you go a la Marie Antoinette and really go for a “hair-raising” experience or more subtle like old Queen Vic and keep it cool and collected, treat yourself to a little bit of sass this season.

Dedicatedly yours,

—One of 365