It's not fair. Why is it that when I attempt long bangs and even longer hair, I look like a Woodstock reject—not all glam and sophisticated like Mischa Barton at the BAFTAs (Britian's TV awards) in London?

The trick, I think (besides being drop-dead gorgeous) is that everything is über-polished. Her hair is freshly coloured (no roots to speak of), her bangs are cut <em>just so</em> (not too thick, too long or too short) and her hair has loose waves created from a curling iron (not the kinks you get from braiding wet hair... as hippies are wont to doing). Makeup-wise, it's very Jean Shrimpton-esque: all smoky eyes and pale lips, which immediately ups the glam factor for what could have been a very casual look. Oh, and the shiny gold collar on her dress doesn't hurt either.

The bottom line? It's hard work pulling off hippie chic. The whole thing reminds me of one of my favourite beauty quotes. From Calvin Klein: "The best thing is to look natural, but it takes a lot of makeup to look natural." And hair spray, conditioner and shine serum...