What's in my bag!

I thought I would take part in the IFB Project "What's in your bag?", and do what it says on the tin!

This is my rather demonic-looking bag, complete with handle of human bone, mwahaha! Ahem. No, it is bamboo. Unfortunately this doesn't hold as much as I would have liked, but I am VERY picky when it comes to bags, and this was good looking enough for me to give up the space.

And here is what I tend to carry around in my bag. Stupidly, I forgot my iphone in this shot.

1. Passport - pretty much my only form of ID as I don't drive. I know it is a bit risky carrying it round every day, in case I lose it, but... it is the only form of ID I haven't had trouble with.

2. A few flyers that I've made for work, just in case I need to hand them out to anyone.

3. Keys to my flat.

4. Fake LV purse - I should probably start looking for a nice new purse, which is a bit more me, as I've had this one for years and it is starting to fall apart!

5. I always carry whatever book I'm currently reading with me to read on the bus and at lunch. At the moment I'm reading the Bioshock novel, which, despite my initial hesitation (I thought it might be a load of fanfiction-esque crap), is very good and reminds me why Bioshock is the only video game I keep playing over and over. 

6. Oyster Card - this is the system London transport uses instead of tickets (although you can buy tickets if you want). All you have to do is swipe it over the reader, and you can set it up online to recharge automatically when it reaches below a certain limit. A fantastic idea, for once!

7. Business cards with business card holder. I always try to have these on me just in case I meet anyone I want to keep in contact with/show my portfolio. I had the cards printed by Moo, and they are gorgeous quality - the paper is thick and the rounded corners really stand out (although, I've found that Moo tends to print slightly darker than usual). Another great feature is you can upload up to 50 designs - I have about 20, so theres a real mix of my work to show people! Here is a close up:

Wig stylin'

As a follow up to my previous post on wig advice, I've put together a few ideas about styling wigs.

One of the biggest mistakes I see people make, even when they have bought a decent-quality wig, is just wearing it straight from the packaging. In my opinion, a wig should not be an obvious giveaway. No matter how outrageous the colour, you can still make it work like your natural hair!

For example, I've recently purchased this wig and haven't styled it yet. It probably isn't the best example as the wig itself is fantastic quality, with a fairly good fake parting. However, here you can see how it is styled straight out of the box:

Eek - no eyes!

There are two ways you can deal with the super-long-fringe-of-doom (you do not push the wig back so the crown sits on top of your head and you do not leave the fringe as is and blink your way through) you can either push it to one side so it is flipped across your forehead: 

 This way it is always best to either pin it into place or cut the fringe into a slant. If you are going to go down this route, I always find it looks more realistic if you wear the wig at a slight angle, as if the parting is a side parting. 

 To cover the giveaway fake parting, hats, hairpieces and hair clips are your friend!

Or you can just shorten the fringe by cutting it straight across (or asymmetrical or even in a widow's peak if you prefer!). I have found the best way to ensure a straight fringe is to cut it while the wig is on. If you are not used to cutting your own fringe then start out slowly, only taking half an inch off and try to even it out as much as possible. Here I have also cut a little piece for the side of my face, to draw attention to my fake cheekbones!

A straight fringe frames my face just the way I want

 Of course, some wigs may require a bit more styling than this one, which already has a great volume and length. Sometimes you may need to do a bit of reconstructive surgery on a particularly bad wig; always helpful if you have a friend with hair skills! 

The only thing that is left is to experiment with the wig as if it were your own hair. Try up-dos, braiding, plaiting, victory curls, finger waves, mixing in coloured extensions..... some wigs are even heat-resistant and will allow you to curl or straighten them. I always like to have long wigs up off my neck, and use the length to clip up onto one side, like this:

Capt. Swiczeniuk signing off!