Several of you have written in asking how to create this hairstyle (which I wore constantly last summer). Such an simple fix for a bad hair day, and much more stylish than just pulling it half back.

It’s so easy: first, just blow-dry your hair so it’s nice and full (I curled mine a bit in the front to get that wavy look). Then gather up a small amount of hair from your hairline and, pulling the hair back and slightly off to one side, french braid it towards the back of your head. Secure with two crossed bobby pins; done!  

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The stunning gift Francesca brought me back from Istanbul: Turkish apple tea and tea glasses (the traditional way tea is served in Turkey), with little gold spoons used to stir in sugar. Love!

Tea is apparently the “national soft drink” of Turkey, and apple tea (which you can easily buy online) is brewed samovar-style (a small pot of intensely brewed tea sitting over a larger vessel of boiling water) and can be served either hot or cold. You just pour a little of the strong tea into one of those gorgeous cups (buy some of your own here), and then add water until the desired intensity is reached. Turkish tea is usually served with cubed sugar rather than loose sweetener.