Sandy!

Cue the leather pants, pink ladies and Capri cigs. SJP served some major Sandra Dee hair on the set of SATC 2. Come to think of it, Big does have a bit of a Danny Zuko thing going on…

Cruz Control

Stills from "Los Abrazos Rotos" Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Penélope Cruz lights up the screen channeling Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn in Pedro Almodóvar’s Los Abrazos Rotos (Broken Embraces). Truly a film for the beauty obsessed, plenty of thought went into the visage of Almodóvar’s favorite leading lady. Decidedly against repeating the “disheveled hairstyles inspired by Sophia Loren,” seen on Cruz in Volver and Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Almodóvar set out to uncover the “definitive look” of Cruz’s character—Lena, an actress/call-girl romantically entangled with her director—and her many incarnations. While filming, the famously particular writer, director took to his blog to debate—for five paragraphs, complete with Penélope’s makeup chair pics (!)—which wigs, styles and makeup best suited Lena in his noir tale of love and loss. “It’s part of the process; an entertaining, exhausting process. The days I devote to controlling make-up, wardrobe and wigs, I leave the [studio] mentally worn out,” Almodóvar wrote. Well, Pedro, it certainly paid off. Although we’ve seen many a pretty Hollywood face liken these legendary ladies—most recently Kate Moss conjured her best Marilyn pout for W—there’s something genuine and unassuming about Cruz’s portrayal. Perhaps, this being Cruz’s fourth film with Almodóvar, a muse is at her best when translated by her most trusted admirer. Los Abrazos Rotos will be in theaters November 20th

Braids are back! (As if they ever left)

Second only to the pony tail, braids are my go to style for maximum cuteness with minimal effort. In the lazy days of summer, my love for the snooze button cuts my morning beauty routine down to a lean, mean 15 minutes. Racing against clock, I’ve found that a quick side braid is best for wrangling a tangled case of bed head and a simple hairline braid crowns nicely on tousled waves.

Early risers not sharing my fondness for the snooze button might try a fishtail braid (Kruger [top left]). Although it requires nimble hands—have your coffee first—the result is positively ethereal.

Nothing says hippie chic like a boho braid, and with Woodstock’s 40th anniversary just around the corner it’s only befitting that you sport at least one before summers end! To complete the homage, load up the ol’ iPod with some Joplin and The Who.

*Tip: A little dry shampoo can go a long way in adding texture and a matte finish to your summer braids.

Much Ado About Drew’s ‘do

Drew Barrymore at the Los Angeles Premiere of Grey Gardens

Apart from coveting that painfully gorge bib necklace attached to her dress, we want Drew’s sexy Bardot ‘do, now! Here’s a how-to video we used to make it happen.

*Sigh* all that back-combing is so bad for the hair…Massage a little of Fekkai’s Protein Rx Anti-Breakage Treatment mask ($29, Sephora) into your mane and all tresspasses are forgiven—smells great too!