I have another simple hair tutorial for you today. This one is a chic chignon that is really easy to do. It builds upon the half-up tutorial you learned on Tuesday.


Pull your hair half back. Take the top portion of hair and twist it to the right, while simultaneously pushing it up to create volume on the crown. Secure with bobby pins.



Take a hair tie and create a low ponytail at the base of the head. You can leave it as a ponytail, or if you'd like to make an updo, you can create a ponytail but not pull the hair all the way through. Wrap the bottom strands around the bun you have created and then pin the rest of the bun into place against your head in a manner that looks attractive with bobby pins. Once you are happy with your bun, spray with hairspray.



I use the Garnier Fructis sleek & style hair spray.

I hope you enjoy today's hair tutorial video. If you try this look and would like to share it with us, snap a picture for social media using the hashtag #dailyconnoisseur I would love to see your chic chignon!

News
For more of The Daily Connoisseur, take my eCourses, Creating Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe and Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living. With hours of video instruction, notes, quizzes, and a lively comment section, you can get inspired and continue The Daily Connoisseur experience beyond the blog.

On Instagram
The Madame Chic comic books in Japan...

#フランス人は10着しか服を持たない を読んだ！生活やライフスタイルについて色々考えられて、凄く刺激が貰えて、心に響く本だった！「人生の目的は『何をするか』ではなく、『何者であるか』である」と言う事だよね！ これから素敵な女性になって質高い生活を送れるように、何歳になっても、新しい事を学んでみよう！ #自分の生活を色々見直さないと #生活をなるべくシンプルに #無駄にしない #断捨離の大事 #LessonsFromMADAMECHIC #読書

A post shared by タンミー (@tammyhiro) on May 1, 2017 at 12:27am PDT

Comment of the Week
On the guestbook on my author website, Donna writes, "I just finished your first book at Paradise Cove beach in Malibu! What a lovely way to spend an afternoon! I really enjoyed all the wonderful advice and detail to make chic in my life possible! Thank you also for the aspirational side of your book…it made me think of all the things I want to do with my life and the many things I enjoy. I love your website and videos also, and will be buying your second book soon. You’re a marvelous speaker and talent and I hope to see more of your informative shows."

Thank you so much, Donna! I loved reading your guestbook entry. How wonderful to finish the book at Paradise Cove. I've spent many an afternoon there. Thank you and welcome to the blog!


I hope you enjoyed today's hair tutorial. I'll see you tomorrow for an all new Natural Home with Jennifer. See you then!


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Beauty week continues on The Daily Connoisseur with today's hair tutorial, which has been requested by a few ladies this summer. I've been wearing my hair in this style a lot recently. It's really easy to do, looks elegant, and is perfect for the summer months.



Simply pull the top half of your hair back. Twist the top portion of your hair to the right while simultaneously pushing it up to create volume in the crown. Pin with bobby pins. Set with hairspray. This is a beautiful summer look.


I use the Garnier Fructis hairspray in sleek & style. These bobby pins for brunettes are also great. I am also linking bobby pins for blondes. Try to match your hair color as best you can with the bobby pins so they hide into the hair.

I hope you enjoy the tutorial in today's video.

News
If you try this hairstyle and would like to share it with us, please take a picture and share on social media with the hashtag #dailyconnoisseur . I would love to share your pictures on the blog!

For more of The Daily Connoisseur, take my eCourses, Creating Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe and Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living. With hours of video instruction, notes, quizzes, and a lively comment section, you can get inspired and continue The Daily Connoisseur experience beyond the blog.

On Instagram
Mamabirdemma shares sketches of her ten-item wardrobe on Instagram...

A quick sketch of my Spring Ten Item Wardrobe #dailyconnoisseur #madamechic

A post shared by Mamabird Emma (@mamabirdemma) on Apr 16, 2018 at 7:28am PDT

I'll see you on Thursday for another hair tutorial video. Don't forget to share your version of this half-up hair style with the hashtag #dailyconnoisseur I hope you have a wonderful day.



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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

As promised, I have the heatless curls headband tutorial today from SoCal Curls. This is a really innovative, stylish and gentle way to curl your hair. I'm wearing the navy floral headband in this video.

The headband method is innovative because you simply put the headband in the microwave for 30 seconds, then proceed to wrap your hair around it. After thirty minutes or more, you have beautiful waves!



It's stylish because this is the first curling system that actually looks good while you are wearing it. You can even go out in public and no one would know you were curling your hair.



It's gentle because this is a natural, no-heat method of curling the hair. I spray hairspray before wearing the headband and after releasing the curls to help my curls stay. This is a much gentler way to curl the hair than using a traditional curling iron. I like both the Kenra volume spray and Kenra thermal styling spray.



I hope you enjoy today's video!

Find different colors for the headbands on Amazon in Malibu Chic, Retro Red, Boho Beauty,Pin Up Blue, Chevron, Desert Sunset, Sterling Grey

And please check out SoCal Curls website for all of their pretty headbands plus more tutorials.

News
My book, CONNOISSEUR KIDS, will be released in the fall of 2019 from Chronicle Books. Read all about it here.

Take my new eCourse on the ten-item wardrobe. With over an hour of never-before-seen video instruction, notes and quizzes, you will feel prepared to create your own ten-item wardrobe. For those of you who already do the ten-item wardrobe, this course will keep you on track and provide further inspiration. The course is self-paced and includes a lively comment section with other ten-item wardrobe enthusiasts. Enjoy!



Here is a wonderful testimonial on the the ten-item wardrobe eCourse from Paula J, who writes, "Oh, Jennifer, I cannot adequately describe what the 10-item (capsule) wardrobe has done for me! First of all, I love the look of my closet. When we went to Harrod's in London last year I noted that the clothing racks in the women's and children's departments had quite a space between each item and one did not have to pull items away from each other to see them. That is how my closet looks now. :) Secondly, I am excited to chose my clothes for the day and figure out the accessories. Thirdly, when I sort my clothes from the dirty clothes basket before laundering them, I am excited to see them and eager to have them available to wear again. (Who would have thought that would happen?) Additionally, I am finding myself taking time to take care of my nails, and I am finding that I can more easily pare down in other areas of the house. I have found it much easier to pack for a trip, also. I think you can tell that I am more than excited about this development! I have toyed with the idea of doing this paring down of my wardrobe before, but was intimidated. Your videos make it so easy to do. Thank you so very much for offering this class and for all of your wonderful videos and the help they give and the music you include in many of them. Very chic, Madame Jennifer!"


Thank you so much, Paula J. I loved your testimonial!

Comment of the Week
On Monday's Thanksgiving post, Unknown writes: A good many years ago now we were hosting an Asian family for Thanksgiving. The turkey, perched beautifully in its heavy aluminum container was browning a lovely golden brown so I wanted to check the internal temperature to see how much longer it had. I wear glasses so as soon as I opened the oven door and slid the rack out just a bit, my glasses steamed immediately leaving me "totally blind" and, to my horror, the bird simultaneously flew out of its container, slid across the oven door and perched itself just as nicely as you please, breast side up, onto the kitchen floor!!! I was stunned, horrified, and, having regained my sight, stood there in complete disbelief. My family gathered round to see what the commotion was...I just busted up laughing!!! They thought I'd gone crackers! It was so absolutely unbelievable, what else could I do?? When I resumed composure, I just picked that bird right up, plopped it back in its tray, and back into the oven it went. And we're none the worse for it. The event was wonderful, our guests loved their first Thanksgiving meal, and I have an unbelievable secret story to "relish" the rest of my living days. The moral of the story: keep your face away from the outgoing steam and put the turkey/container on a cookie sheet for stability. This doesn't need to happen twice!! Haha


Unknown, I had to laugh at your hostess horror story! Sometimes laughing is the only thing we can do! I have one for you now. One year, early in our marriage, my husband and I were on our way to Thanksgiving, which was being hosted at my sister's house. I am always in charge of making the pies, and that year I had made one pumpkin, one pecan and one apple pie. As we loaded the car, the pumpkin pie was in a crate laying flat on the floor of the passenger side where I was sitting. As my husband helped me load the car, he ducked into the passenger side to get something and put his foot right in the middle of my perfect pumpkin pie! It was covered with plastic wrap and the footprint was preserved beautifully like a fossil. Ha! All we could do was laugh :)


Today I would love to know what you think of the heated headband tutorial. Do you have any unique no-heat ways you curl your hair?

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In honor of Mother's Day this upcoming Sunday, I am sharing 5 time-saving mom hacks. These tips could be beneficial for any woman, not just mothers. Many of these tips revolve around getting ready and taking care of yourself. I chose these tips because, as moms, we often put ourselves last on the priority list. Soon as we know it, we've gone months without doing our hair, dressing up or even taking a moment to ourselves. If you practice taking care of yourself, it will eventually come naturally to you and it will take hardly any time at all!

This video is a collaboration with two of my favorite YouTubers: Jennifer from The Family Fudge, and Kimmy from She's in Her Apron. Check out their 5 time-saving mom hacks and tell them I say "hello!".

My 5 time-saving mom hacks are as follows:



1. Braid your hair the night before. If you like the effect of the curling iron, like I do, but have limited time in the morning (or want to lay off the heat, for the health of your hair) try braiding your hair in pigtails the night before. You can spray them with hairspray, if you like. When you wake up and take out the braids, you will have beachy waves. This texture is also great for creating updos, as your hair will have more volume.



2. Make Breakfast the Night Before. You know that I love to make breakfast the night before. I've already shared my overnight oats recipe, as well as my slow cooker apple breakfast cobbler recipe. Today, I share my favorite crock pot oatmeal. I've been making this particular recipe on a regular basis and it is so tasty. My baby especially loves this meal. Place one cup of oatmeal (steel cut, or old-fashioned) in the slow cooker. Add 4 cups of liquid (I do 2 cups of almond milk and 2 cups of water) and 5 prunes. Turn it on low for 8 hours. When you wake up, shred the prunes and serve with a drop of milk. So delicious and requires no sugar!

3. Bathe or shower only once a day. Rather than bathing morning and evening, streamline it to once a day and you will not only save time, but resources as well. In today's video I share a funny story about the time Madame Chic required me to choose my bath time in Paris. I hope you enjoy my story!



4. Don't cleanse your skin in the morning. You do not need a complicated skincare routine in the morning. The only thing I do is splash warm water on my face and apply moisturizer/ spf. Forget all of the cleansers, exfoliants and other treatments. They not only take time, but they strip your skin of its oils.



5. Clear the clutter from your wardrobe. Thousands of women can testify that the ten-item wardrobe not only saves you money, but time as well. How many hours have we wasted figuring out what to wear? Doing laundry for our endless wardrobes? Picking up after our clothes strewn all over the bedroom? The less garments you own, the less you have to deal with them.

I hope you enjoy my video today! Happy mother's day to all of you lovely, inspiring moms. Remember, when you feel discouraged with the large task ahead of you each day, remember the raising of children is the most important job in the world! You are raising the next generation. Try to enjoy this season of life and take care of yourself accordingly.

News
Organized Elegantly writes about the Madame Chic books in her post, Create a Morning Routine.

A post shared by Nicole Musser (@organizedelegantly) on May 9, 2017 at 8:08am PDT

Izumi shares her copy of Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic on Instagram. Thank you, Izumi!

I just finished reading 'Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic' by Jennifer L. Scott. I've read two of her books in Japanese and could not wait for the third one to be translated. This latest book is also full of inspiration and wonderful advice that I would like to practice daily. Thank you Jennifer! #madamechic #dailyconnoisseur

A post shared by izumi (@izumizm72) on Apr 29, 2017 at 6:47pm PDT

Comment of the week


Danson for Joy, that is so true. Not babbling and making excuses sure does enhance one's air of mystery. An added benefit of saying no with poise!


Today I would love to know... what are your favorite time-saving mom hacks? Let me know in the comment section below and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog! Have a wonderful mother's day and see you on Monday!


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Come along with me today as I get my (long overdue) haircut. You get to meet my wonderful stylist, Adriana of Adrimar Salon in West Los Angeles, hear my hair loss updates, and much more in today's vlog.



When discussing my postnatal hair loss with Adriana, she showed me these Bosley Hair Thickening Fibers, which conceal the sparse areas in your hair. This was a really helpful trick!

Be sure to watch today's video to see the full vlog. I hope you enjoy coming along with me for a day in the life. Thankfully, by now, my baby is much, much better. He was suffering from an ear infection when I shot this video.

News

Sweet and Simple Home shares her favorite YouTube channels and The Daily Connoisseur is on her list!

Beyond Words writes about her capsule wardrobe process and mentioned Madame Chic and the ten-item wardrobe.

Comment of the Week
Lindsay writes:

I religiously follow your blog, and eagerly watch your weekly posts! I'm a bit behind this week, I've trained myself not to "sneak" and watch your weekly blog. I have learned to slow down, grab a drink of choice, sit at our (clean) kitchen table, and press play. It seems silly, but three+ years ago I would NOT have done that. I would have rushed through, multi-tasking, and somewhat paying attention to your video. I was behind doing a few "me" things this week, but I told myself that it's okay to wait to the perfect moment to watch. Thank you for aiding me in being a housekeeper, parent (leading by example by a tidy home/routines), and being able to think smarter and not harder when it comes to daily things like wardrobe and preparing meals.

Lindsay, thank you for your comment. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. It's true, when you do things mindfully, the experience is much more satisfying. I'm so happy that my blog is a source of joy for you!

Thank you to everyone who shared their enjoyment of my Apple Breakfast Cobbler recipe. See you on Thursday for another recipe video!

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My favorite look from The Duchess of Cambridge's recent tour to India was this beautiful mint lace dress from Temperley. What an exquisite dress. I can just imagine attending a garden tea party in something so lovely.

I also loved the braided chignon in her hair, and in this week's video, I recreate the chignon for you. This look is easy to achieve for anyone with medium to long hair.

This chignon is perfect for a hot summer's day when you want your hair off of your neck, yet still want to look presentable. Be sure to watch my video to see all of the steps. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

To see the complete collection of looks from the Duke and Duchess's India tour, visit WhatKateWore.com

News
Thank you to Jenny Williams of JenEricGeneration blog for sending me these gifts from her beautiful new art collection, Carrot Top Paper Shop. Jenny draws portraits of literary heroines. Her whimsical sketches and quotes make inspiring decorations for little girl's rooms. Jenny knew how much I love Anne of Green Gables and sent me Anne's portrait along with Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Eyre. I have commissioned Jenny to do portraits of my own daughters for their rooms. She is so talented!



Check out her fun shop on Etsy, Carrot Top Paper Shop. She is offering a discount to the readers of The Daily Connoisseur: 25% off orders of $25 or more with code JENNIFERSENTME. Thank you, Jenny!


Letter of the Week
Tera L. writes:

Hi Jennifer,

I am writing this message to say a big thank you for adding to my life for the better.

I have only been following you for a few short weeks and have already noticed positive outcomes.

I am writing this after just having ended a phone call where I found out that I got a new job that I had recently interviewed for.

I just had to write to you because my new employer told me that one of the reasons he hired me is because he noticed my poise during the interview! He actually used that exact word!

I thought you might be pleased:)

Keep up the good work. And thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Hi Tera, I was thrilled to no end after reading that your interviewer was impressed with your poise. I firmly believe that poise is a marvelous secret tool that we can use to enhance our lives. I am so happy for you. Congratulations on your new job!


Let me know if you try out this chignon for yourself. Send me a picture over social media using the hashtag #MADAMECHIC

See you soon!


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Join me for another fun beauty video. This week I try out a sample of Armani Luminous Silk foundation and give you my impression. I also try a new eyebrow pencil (Chanel sculpting eyebrow pencil ) and share a simple daytime smoky eye look. There is also a before and after of my new haircut.

If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

You do not need to use the makeup I use in order to achieve this le no makeup look. I like to encourage women to use what they already have in their makeup bags and to have fun experimenting. For those who are curious, here is a list of the products I use in the video:

Armani Luminous Silk foundation shade 5.75
Benefit Fake-up under eye concealer
Benefit Boi-ing concealer
Laura Mercier translucent setting powder
Chanel sculpting eyebrow pencil
Urban Decay primer potion
Chanel Tisse Rivoli eyeshadow palette
Chanel kohl eyeliner in ambre
MAC mineralize blush in Lovejoy
YSL Faux Cils mascara in burgundy
Hourglass lipstick in mural

Nails: OPI "Barefoot in Barcelona"

News
Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic is now available in Czech. Thank you to all of the Czech readers who have reached out to me!

Happy Meets Home reviews Lessons from Madame Chic

Comments of the week
On Get Ready and UnReady with me Night at the Ballet, Lillian writes: Your story about your husband and the blue bird dancer cracks me up. I love going to plays and concerts with my mom when she is in town. I grew up with a theater background that she largely facilitated, and now going to these performances is something we really enjoy doing together.
To add to Marla's comment of the week (and Alicia's comment above) I asked my mom as a little girl why we wore dresses for church, and she always said dressing up for church demonstrated to yourself and to others that you respected the event enough to wake up in the morning and prepare yourself. In high school she encouraged my sister and I to dress well for tests, speeches, and auditions. To this day when I have a challenging thing in my life, I take this same approach and make it an occasion to dress well for. In a chemistry class in college I remember taking the final exam surrounded in a sea of sweatpants at 9am wearing a sundress and heels.

It really works. By the way, something your channel has inspired me to do is take better care of my skin. I like that you included an "unready" routine to this week's video - it can be hard to get motivated to take your makeup off after a fun night. It's so easy just to crawl into bed and deal with it in the morning. I have actually committed to a skin care regime now, and after trying some samples I have found a facial cleanser and moisturizer that I absolutely love. I've even noticed how much clearer and smoother my skin looks and feels now that I've committed a few months to my routine.


Hi Lillian, thank you for your comment. I loved your mother's answer as to why we dress up for certain occasions. I am glad you enjoyed my recent Get Ready and UnReady with me video. Thank you!

On the guestbook, Sarah writes:
I would love to share my story with you…
My parents divorced when I was a young child, and I come from two sides of a family that are polar opposites. One side is chic, and the other is…well…not. I spent Christmases with the chic side, but lived my daily life with the un-poised. Whenever I was with my chic family, I always felt nervous, self-conscious and awkward because they had a poise that I couldn’t wrap my mind around. And yet, I longed to be more like them. When I returned to my home life, I was a bit downcast and wished my lifestyle were more like my chic family’s. All the while, I could not put my mental finger on why and how they were so different. This was my experience throughout my childhood and teens. I yearned to have the grace, style and poise of my chic aunts and their families, but had no idea what to do or think. It was a painful part of my upbringing. Your book has helped me define what I could not seem to conceptualize about my chic family’s traits. While I have been able to acquire more poise and grace as I have become an adult, your books have helped me to take it to the next level and be more conscious of the habits I would like to develop. You were so fortunate to have had the experience of living in France, and it has clearly changed your life. I hope I can give the same type of experience to my children. It is a process and I’m not as chic as I would like to be, but I am working on it.
Thank you,
Sarah

Hi Sarah, thank you for your note on my guestbook page. I am so happy that you have taken on the journey of poise as an adult and am grateful to you for sharing your story with us.

On Common Courtesy Follow-Up Discussion, Christina S. writes:
I believe the phenomenon you're addressing is a result of the epidemic entitlement mentality that has swept our nation. Also, people seem to think that the fact that a service is a paid one (I.E. your play set assembly, a waitress, or a grocery check out) means they are not obligated to show the courtesy of gratitude. I also think that, at times, people are insecure in expressing gratitude. There is such a focus of self importance in our culture that to express gratitude, truly a form of humility, can be seen in some circles as weakness and inferiority. Some would say your values are archaic but I am one young lady who agrees that class, like good taste, never goes out of style.

Hi Christina, that is a really interesting insight regarding paid services and gratitude. Thank you for giving us food for thought!

I hope you enjoy this week's video. I would love to hear from you. Did you experience melasma during a pregnancy? Do you have any great foundations to share with us? Any other makeup recommendations? See you next time on The Daily Connoisseur!



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Before we begin this week's post I'd like to thank you for your enthusiastic response to my piano performance for you! I am so happy you enjoyed it! And even better, many of you said you felt like playing the piano again (which was my goal all along). To keep me on my toes, I aim to give you a few piano performances each season. You inspire me to keep my skills sharp.

Forgot to post my bad hair day fix from this weekend. The wrapped ponytail. I'll do a tutorial on The Daily Connoisseur in the future #lookpresentablealways #MADAMECHIC ❤️

A photo posted by Jennifer L. Scott (@dailyconnoisseur) on Sep 9, 2015 at 6:52am PDT

Another promised video is being shared this week: my tutorial for the double-wrapped ponytail. This is a great bad-hair-day fix or for when you'd like to keep your hair out of your face but are tired of the standard ponytail. It's a very elegant look and so easy to accomplish. This look works best on medium to long hair.



You will need a hair brush, a handful of bobby pins, a hair tie and hair spray (optional).

Brush your hair until smooth. Gather the sections of hair on either side of your face and allow them to meet at the back of your head. Twist the left side over the right side. Push up to create volume at the crown. Pin in place. You can leave your hairstyle like this or you can tie the rest of your hair into a low ponytail. Take a small section of hair from underneath the ponytail and wrap it around the elastic to conceal it. Pin in place.

Check out my video this week for a visual tutorial. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or subscribe to my channel to never miss a video www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Madame Chic Inspiring Thought
Practice a few hairstyles that you can refer to when you are in a rush or are having a bad hair day. This will keep your morning beauty routine quick and you will still look presentable always.

News
Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic: Lessons in Everyday Elegance comes out on October 27th! Pre-order available now.

I will be speaking and signing books at Pages Bookstore in Manhattan Beach, Thursday, October 29th 7pm.


Comment of the Week
On my recent Look Presentable Always post, Mademoiselle Nomad writes:

I have your book "At Home with Madame Chic" and absolutely love it and have been watching your videos regularly ever since. This particular video came at a very good time in my life. I've had a week where I've been feeling overwhelmed and extremely sad. Because I work from home & remotely, I did not think it was necessary for me to get out of my pajamas. It didn't make me feel necessarily better, so watching you speak of how sad you are right now and still making an effort to looking presentable. It really touched a nerve and it hit home. I realize dressing up nicely every day is more than just the surface ' looking pretty' and more about our attitude. I do believe by looking presentable always it affects our mood, can lift up our spirits and even give us hope to carry on our day. Thank you! And as my birthday present, I will be getting your new book about Poise :)


Thank you! I am so happy you are encouraged to dress well, even though you work from home.

Artistic Recommendation



Thank you to Daily Connoisseur reader, Ann G. Rusky, who painted this picture of Gatsby for me. I love it Ann. You are so talented and you captured him well.

Check out Ann's fabulous art blog here.

See you soon!



The video is set to Air from Suite No. 3 in D Major by Bach.

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It's a week of how-to's on The Daily Connoisseur as I have a fun bonus hair tutorial for you today. Many women own a hair claw but only know a few ways to use it. Today I show you my favorite way to use a hair claw. This look works best on medium to long hair.



Gather the top half of your hair back behind your ears, twist the hair as though doing a mini French twist, push up to create volume and clip into place with the hair claw. You can leave it here, or for an updo...



Take the remaining hair and twist all the way to the ends. Then bring the twisted hair back up in a U-shape, parallel to the hair claw. Then take the hair claw and re-open it to include the twisted hair. Leave the strands out for a more casual look or tuck in the hair for a chic, more polished look.

Be sure to tug the hair up at the crown of the head to create volume without having to tease.

This is a great look for bad hair days or for when you need a fast and easy, yet elegant way to get the hair out of your face.

Watch the video for a full demonstration. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel (and subscribe!) www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

News
York Avenue blog says At Home With Madame Chic would make a great gift.

Elle en Jetset blog cites Lessons from Madame Chic in her blogpost on the perfect tee shirt.

Check out my interview discussing parenting and much more on Motherhood Moment.



I hope you enjoyed today's bonus video! Let me know what you think in the comment section.

Have a beautiful Valentine's Day weekend. See you soon!


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I often like to post my "Sunday Best" chignon pictures on social media and many of you have requested a video tutorial for them. This week I share two of the easiest chignons I do. Both work great with long hair but could also be achieved, with modification, on shorter hair. I love a good chignon because it is a classic, elegant look perfect for bad hair days or when you just want your hair out of your face and off your shoulders.

We start with a messy (but chic) chignon. This look is more casual and etherial. You can make it quite messy and undone (as I have shown in the video) or you can keep pinning it until it is more under control. Here is one of my Sunday Best chignon pictures from last spring wearing this 'messy' chignon.


from Instagram


slightly messier

To achieve this look, brush your hair into a low side-ponytail. Secure with an elastic two times. On the third time, do not pull your hair all the way through. Take the hair that is sticking out and wrap it around your ponytail. Pin into place. Then take the rest of the bun and pin it against your head. (Please see the video for the visual effect.)

The second look is a sophisticated chignon. This is a polished chignon that has beautiful texture to it.



To achieve this look, section off hair on either side of your face. Take the middle section of hair and create a low messy bun at the base of your head. Secure twice with an elastic. Then take one of the side sections and wrap counterclockwise around the bun. Pin into place. Repeat with the other side. You now have a sophisticated chignon.

Check out this week's video for a visual tutorial set to Satie's Gymnopedie No. 1 (such a beautiful song!). If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Madame Chic Inspiring Thought
Come up with a handful of chic ways to do your hair, especially good fixes for bad hair days. Practice these and overtime you'll be able to get ready and look presentable in no time at all. Try modern twists on old classics (like this week's chignons).


Comment of the Week
On my Get Ready With Me: A Night at the Ballet post, Madeleine in Australia writes:
Your comment about being someone who used to enjoy the arts pre-kids and responsibilities struck a chord. When I lived in Sydney I was a subscriber to the Australian Ballet, the Sydney Dance Company and the Australian Chamber Orchestra (I'm a pianist by profession so this really wasn't excessive, just part of my life). I now reside about 500 kilometres from Sydney, so no ballet. We are fortunate to have many fantastic concerts here, though, and your post made me remember that I have some fabulous ballets on DVD (Ballet Russe) - so no excuse not to enjoy some ballet!

I love Madeleine's comment because it reminds us that we can still appreciate the arts no matter where we live. These days you can even watch an entire ballet on YouTube! Not quite the same as the real thing but it is a place to start.


News

Check out my interview with Laura Dennison of BADIZM . We discuss everything from Frenchwomen, to feminism, to public speaking. Thank you Laura!

The Madame Chic books are featured in Turquoise and Teale's 9 Must Read Fall Books

Rich Mom Business does a hilarious review of At Home With Madame Chic in her Spa Day at Home video.

Jenny Williams mentions the ten-item wardrobe in her piece on XO Jane called How I Found My Personal Style When I Let Go of Most of my Clothes.

Upcoming Events
Southern California readers: come meet me at one of my upcoming book signings:

October 28, 2014 (this Tuesday!) DIESEL bookstore, Brentwood, CA Presentation, Q&A + book signing 7pm

November 2, 2014 Laguna Beach Books Presentation, Q&A + signing 4pm

(more venues and dates to be announced on my author website events page)



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This week we are talking hair and nails. If you follow me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, you've noticed over the recent months that I've been having fun experimenting with braided hairstyles. I've always loved braids (it's the Madame Bohemienne in me!) so I was excited when Ulysses press recently sent me the new book by Abby Smith, The New Braiding Handbook.


Abby Smith is a fellow YouTuber with a wonderful channel called Twist Me Pretty. This book is a valuable resource because while I usually just wing it and create a hit or miss hairstyle, The New Braiding Handbook gives you great step-by-step instruction on creating new and classic braided hairstyles.

A while back on Facebook a reader commented that she liked the braided updo but felt she might be too old to wear braids. I don't think anyone is too old. If you pick the right age-appropriate look, your braided updo can look very elegant. This braided chignon, from the Duchess of Cambridge is a perfect example:



In this week's video I start off in pigtails (which is an age-inappropriate look for me!) but it's for a good reason... I give you a classic milkmaid braid updo tutorial half way through the video.



The milkmaid braid might feel too costume-y for you but I think you should give it a try. You might surprise yourself with how chic you look and I think it makes a great (easy) formal updo as well. There's something very regal about it even though it is meant for the look of a milkmaid.

Here are some of the braided looks I've shared on Instagram over the past few months. Which one is your favorite?



And now let's talk about nails. I've been experimenting with various colors this spring, some of which are out of my comfort zone. I've found some beautiful ones! But I also realize that the neutrals and classics are still my favorite. These two in particular, Dior's Incognito and Rouge, are particularly divine.



Check out this week's video for the milkmaid braid tutorial and an even more in depth discussion of these topics. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

WomenHeart
Last Monday I had the honor of speaking at the West Los Angeles support group for Women Heart: The National Coalition for women with Heart Disease. My talk focused on living a fulfilling life even during life's struggles. I was so moved and inspired by the stories and the bravery of the women in this group. Thank you to Alisa Becket and Amanda Daniels for inviting me to speak. For more information on Women Heart visit www.womenheart.org

Pictured with Amanda Daniels (left) and Alisa Becket (right)

Madame Chic Inspiring Thought

Sometimes, for special events, it "takes a village" to get ready and presentable. We trust our hair, makeup, styling and nails to the professionals. But on a daily basis, empower yourself to be your own beauty team. Don't be afraid to try out new hairdos. Practice wearing them at home if you feel unsure about going out in public with them. You don't need to spend a lot of money at the salon each week to achieve a polished look. Try giving yourself a manicure at home this week. Start with the neutral colors so the mistakes aren't as visible. Have fun with cultivating your own style and beauty routine. #lookpresentablealways

This week I would love to know... what are your thoughts on braided hairstyles? Would you ever wear one? What about nails? Do you like classic shades or do you prefer edgy colors? Do you do your manicures at home? Or do you have them professionally done?

Music in this week's video: Etente Cordiale
Royalty Free Music by
http://audiomicro.com/royalty-free-music
Sound Effects by
http://audiomicro.com/sound-effects

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This week we are examining how we present ourselves. You know one of my mottos from Lessons from Madame Chic is "look presentable always". While this seems like a superficial goal, it is actually quite powerful. Making it our goal to look presentable every single day (whatever our best is for that day) puts out the message that we respect ourselves and the people we come in contact with. That we have the energy to put our best foot forward and that by adorning ourselves we are in our own way celebrating life.



Looking presentable should not be high-maintenance or unattainable. It should be easy and fun! Which is why I did this week's video showing you an easy, yet elegant braided updo. This tutorial is for women with medium to long hair. If you have short hair you can modify it by creating two side braids and pinning them back... play with it and find what works for you. If you are unable to see this week's video, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur



To continue the theme I am so happy to introduce to you The Lost Art of Dress by Linda Przybyszewski. This fascinating book explores the history (and downfall) of American dress in a witty and entertaining way. It is a book that I know many of you will love.

I was very honored to have my book blurb included on its cover:

"An invaluable resource of inspiration. The Lost Art of Dress calls us to resurrect our stylish roots and bring tasteful beauty back to our everyday routine." -Jennifer L. Scott, author of Lessons from Madame Chic

Here is the description from Amazon:

As a glance down any street in America quickly reveals, American women have forgotten how to dress. We chase fads, choose inappropriate materials and unattractive cuts, and waste energy tottering in heels when we could be moving gracefully. Quite simply, we lack the fashion know-how we need to dress professionally and flatteringly.

As historian and expert dressmaker Linda Przybyszewski reveals in The Lost Art of Dress, it wasn’t always like this. In the first half of the twentieth century, a remarkable group of women—the so-called Dress Doctors—taught American women how to stretch each yard of fabric and dress well on a budget. Knowledge not money, they insisted, is the key to timeless fashion. Based in Home Economics departments across the country, the Dress Doctors offered advice on radio shows, at women’s clubs, and in magazines. Millions of young girls read their books in school and at 4-H clothing clubs. As Przybyszewski shows, the Dress Doctors’ concerns weren’t purely superficial: they prized practicality, and empowered women to design and make clothing for both the workplace and the home. They championed skirts that would allow women to move about freely and campaigned against impractical and painful shoes. Armed with the Dress Doctors’ simple design principles—harmony, proportion, balance, rhythm, emphasis—modern American women from all classes could learn to dress for all occasions in a way that made them confident, engaged members of society.

A captivating and beautifully-illustrated look at the world of the Dress Doctors, The Lost Art of Dress introduces a new audience to their timeless rules of fashion and beauty—rules which, with a little help, we can certainly learn again.

Basic Books have been kind enough to offer to give away 5 copies of The Lost Art of Dress to readers of the Daily Connoisseur! Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway is open to US residents only (my apologies to our international readers but I do not set these guidelines).

a Rafflecopter giveaway


The five winners will be announced on the widget and contacted directly once the giveaway is over next week.

Best of luck!

For more information on Linda Przybyszewski you can visit her at http://www.professorpski.com/



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This week we are exploring the world of hair. I have received a lot of requests to recreate the curls I wore in my New Year's Message video as well as an update on current hair care products I'm using. This week's video gives you both. We start with the tutorial, in which you'll note that the secret to having soft, voluminous curls (I think perhaps the Duchess of Cambridge employs this look every now and then?) is to alternate the direction of the curl with the curling iron.


Check out this week's video to see the entirety of the tutorial. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur



Here is a list of the hair care products discussed in the video:

Pureology Super Smooth Shampoo

Pureology Super Smooth Conditioner

Pureology Super Smooth Relaxing Hair Masque I use this once a week or so in lieu of regular conditioner.

Maijan Pure Argan Oil & Mint Hydrating Shampoo (Amazing stuff! check out the giveaway below to win your own)

Maijan Pure Argan Oil & Mint Hydrating Conditioner The mint provides a tingling sensation shortly after applying. You feel as though you are really nourishing and cleaning the hair.

Living Proof Primer Style Extender This is a primer for your hair that, I find, makes styling last so much longer.

Pureology Colour Stylist Anti-Split Blow Dry Cream A great heat protectant to apply before blowdrying your hair.

Pureology Colour Fanatic Multi-Tasking Hair Beautifier This heat protectant is so great because you don't need to keep reapplying it if you use different forms of heat. One application and it does the job.

Mason Pearson Boar Bristle Hairbrush An investment piece, but one that makes the hair soft and smooth. It's worth saving up for one...


Giveaway
Maijan have kindly offered to give away one Pure Argan Oil & Mint Shampoo and Conditioner to a reader of the Daily Connoisseur. This giveaway is open to US residents only (apologies to my international readers, but I do not set the guidelines). Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. The winner will be announced on the widget in one week's time and directly contacted by Maijan. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Visit my Author Website

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

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