Yes, there actually is a "cool girl" way to style jeans and sandals right now, and, fresh from the streets of Los Angeles this week, Lucy Hale demonstrated exactly what it looks like. Forgoing slim-fitting denim and chunky caged sandals, she instead reached for slouchy wide-leg jeans and understated, '90s-inspired flip-flops—the chicest way to wear denim and get your toes out this summer.

The loose-leg jeans skim the frame for a comfortable and relaxed feel. Meanwhile, the barely-there flip-flops keep the look streamlined and balance the volume of the denim, whilst the slip-on design plays into the unfussy energy of the look

Styled with a simple strappy tank, a baseball cap and, with a smoothie in hand, Lucy delivered one of the coolest—and most L.A.—looks I've spotted all summer.

To get this chic styling formula right, let the jeans puddle slightly and hang loose, then offset their volume with sleek, minimal sandals. Taking Lucy's outfit as my blueprint, scroll on to shop the wide-leg jeans and '90s-inspired flip-flops I'd recommend buying—and wearing together—this season.

Shop Wide-Leg Jeans and Flip-Flops:

I go on about this a lot, but nothing gets me down more than the fact that my hair is lifeless and lacking texture. I can spend up to two hours tonging it and misting it with several different sprays and still not manage to achieve the effortlessly tousled look I so crave. At the end of the whole ordeal, I’m left with one of two hair looks: matted, flat and greasy as a result of the excess product in there or a Dolly Parton–esque bouffant. 

If you ask me, achieving beachy lengths that look effortless is one of my hardest beauty feats. And while I’m still eagerly anticipating my post-lockdown haircut, it’s safe to say that I am looking for all of the tips to style out my rather ridiculously long hair right now. Luckily for me, I recently got the chance to sit down with Laura Polko, T3 ambassador and hairstylist to the likes of Gigi Hadid, Kate Bosworth, Lea Michele, Lucy Hale and Martha Hunt, to discover exactly how to achieve effortlessly tousled hair. This is what she had to say…

Dry Shampoo Makes All the Difference

It turns out a huge problem that so many of us face is that we’re repeatedly opting for the wrong styling products. "I see so many people using too much spray. When you use too much texture spray, it can make the hair look matted,” she warns. The answer? Steer clear of sticky texturising sprays and instead opt for targeted dry shampoo application. "Just take a small amount of dry shampoo to the crown. Spray it, and then shake it all out. It’s the best way to get that undone look.”

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Invest in Your Tools

A key point that Polko is keen to drill home is that relying on product to style your hair just isn’t enough and usually won’t work. "It’s all in the tool,” she says. It would seem that there are lots of things many of us don’t consider when shopping for hair tools that can totally make or break the end result. "A hair tool that reheats itself often will make things a lot easier. It means that you don’t have to go back over things or end up with one half that looks dramatically different from the other.”

The other thing to keep an eye on? The lengths of the plates. "So many people struggle to curl their hair with straighteners, but the key is finding a pair that uses longer plates so that the hair doesn’t fall out,” she says. But if you still can’t nail it, there are other things you can try. The ultimate undone, natural-looking style, according to Polko, is flat-iron waves. "It’s not a look that comes across as overly styled. The key is, though, to always open up the face. Always bend up first. Otherwise, you get unnatural volume where you really don’t want it.”

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Face Framing Is a Thing

Speaking of opening up the face, Polko suggests that this isn’t something that needs to take time or be a laborious task. In fact, it can be super quick and easy. "It’s called face framing. You don’t have to do anything with the hair except for one really subtle wave just where the eye is. This is where your hair would naturally tuck beside your ear,” she advises. If this seems weird at first, just try it and see the difference it makes. "The minute you add that, it makes everything look really natural. It’s subtle, but it really opens up the whole face.”

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Never Forget the Ends

Here’s one that I can definitely take note of. When styling your own hair, it can be tempting to put all of your effort and attention into the middle section, where the eye is naturally drawn to. However, Polko warns that neglecting the ends can totally make or break your ’do. "You have got to pay attention to the ends. It’s the key to natural-looking tousled hair,” she says.

With the ends being the most fragile part of our strands, it makes sense that we are often reluctant to inflict heat upon them. However, making sure you use a hardworking heat protector first should do the job at protecting them. "If your hair is long, the key is to make sure the ends all go in different directions. If it’s short, curl them under a little bit. Naturally, the ends would all be doing a different thing,” says Polko.

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From first dates to long-term relationships, we all go through that pre-date thought process that goes something like what will I do with my hair? Our first piece of advice: Don’t overthink it. Your date is with you because of you, not your hair. Still, we understand following that advice is easier said than done. Who doesn’t want to look and feel great on a date? That’s where these 10 date-night hairstyles come in. Not only are they easy to pull off, but they keep the focus on you (in other words: no distracting, over-the-top up-dos to be found).

Keep scrolling for date-night hair inspiration from the likes of Selena Gomez, Zoë Kravitz, Lucy Hale and other celebrity hair goddesses. Plus, we’ve included product picks to help you get their looks. (Oh, and good luck on the date! Let us know how it goes?)

Lucy Hale’s simple style gives the illusion of extra volume. Leaving some face-framing pieces at the sides keeps the focus right where it should be.

Bobby Pins

Whether you’re on a first date or the thousandth, you can’t go wrong with glossy, non-fussy waves like Selena Gomez’s.

Curling Tongs

Go for a simple low pony, or dress it up with a pretty scrunchie à la Zoë Kravitz

Chic Scrunchies

A simple topknot is great for dressier date nights (or if your hair isn’t behaving that day). For an equally elegant but slightly less stuffy look, pull a few strands loose like Maya Hawke did here.

Hairspray

Your everyday braid goes date-worthy with the addition of a ribbon (or two), as Gemma Chan demonstrates.

Hair Ribbon

Depending on your date, you might want to keep the over-the-top headbands for another occasion. However, a barely there headband adds to the look without being distracting, as evidenced by Gabrielle Union (who took things to the next level by wearing husband Dwyane Wade on her dress).

Simple Headbands

Create a simple bun, leaving out a few tendrils here and there and ensuring your natural texture shines through. Vanessa Hudgens gets it.

Texture Enhancer

Half-up hair works with pretty much every hair texture, and adds an instant romantic feel. Case in point: Margaret Qualley’s pretty style. Try using a fun hair clip instead of a hair tie for a subtle update.

Gold Hair Clip

This is as simple as it gets, so it won’t compete with your outfit. It goes with everything from a bra top, seen here on Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, to jeans and a leather jacket.

Frizz Serum

A far cry from the boy-band look in the late '90s, this style adds a spin—and a touch of volume—to shorter crops. Look to Ruby Rose for inspiration, and be sure to have product on hand to keep the style in place.

Styling Cream

Looking for more pre-date reading? Find the perfect outfit here.

If you're petite, you know all too well that shopping can be somewhat of a struggle. While some brands do cater for those under 5'4", petite women are still a largely underrepresented group within the retail realm. Trouser hems are ridiculously long—so much so that they often leave me looking like I'm setting off for my first day of clown college (while the waistline tends to slip down to my hips). It's frustrating, to say the least. Which is why I've turned to the A-list to help me with my petite plight.

So many short celebrities have excellent fashion sense (think Sienna Miller, Zoë Kravitz and the ever-stylish Olsen twins), so I've deciphered their go-to looks to create the ultimate petite capsule, the fruits of which you'll find below. The goal isn't to change the way you look; instead, it's about making your physique more in-proportion. Once you crack how to do that, you can wear anything you please. From the dress Sienna swears by to the shoes Ashley rarely leaves the house without, keep scrolling to see the few key pieces short celebrities rely on.

Style Notes: Be it in suit, trouser or dress form, vertical stripes are an essential part of any petite girl's wardrobe as the lines create the illusion of length, as evidenced by 5'2" Zoë Kravitz. Furthermore, ensure you keep the look tailored to enhance your shape.

Style Notes: Ashley Olsen's go-to shoes are undoubtedly flesh-coloured pumps, which she's worn on a multitude of occasions. By matching your footwear to the colour of your skin, you trick the eye into thinking you have longer legs, balancing out your silhouette in the process. We'd never believe Ashley is a mere 5'0" in this outfit.

Related: The Olsens Use This Accessory to Make All-Black Outfits 10x More Interesting

Style Notes: Ashley isn't the only Olsen who knows how to dress her petite frame well: Mary-Kate—who stands at 5'1"—is also an expert. One of her failsafe tricks is to cinch her waist with a wide belt. In doing so, she divides her body proportionately, making her seem taller in the process. Simple but so effective.

Style Notes: You might not think it, but high necklines give the appearance of a longer torso, which in turn makes your overall frame look longer, too. Case in point? Lupita Nyong'o, who, at 5'4", looks significantly taller in her Gucci dress.

Related: Whatever the Trend, Julia Roberts Did It First and Did It Better

Style Notes: Measuring 5'1", Nicole Richie continually serves up excellent petite outfit inspiration, and this ensemble is no exception. Her bold printed blouse commands the overall focus, allowing her block-colour maxi skirt to elegantly drape to the floor, which bestows her longer-looking legs. Masterful.

Style Notes: You might not think it, but midi skirts are extremely flattering on petite frames. They sit neatly on the waist, helping to define it while skimming your legs to create a flattering silhouette. The flash of ankle on show then makes your legs look leaner. Indeed, we'd never guess Jenna Coleman was 5'2" in this getup.

Related: Rosie HW's Magic Trio Will Instantly Make You Look More Put-Together

Style Notes: Scarlett Johansson, at 5'3", knows that wide-leg trousers are a petite's best friend. They're classic, hang elegantly and make your legs look never-ending. Make like Scarlett and pair yours with a fuss-free tee and strappy sandals.

Style Notes: If you're constantly having to take long dresses to your tailor to be hemmed, it's high time you added a dip-hem style to your wardrobe. Sienna Miller, who is 5'4", wears them on repeat, as they give the same elegant air as maxi styles but require no alterations whatsoever. Also, much like midi skirts, the subtle flash of ankle helps break up your overall silhouette, making you look taller, too. 

Related: 8 Easy Holly Willoughby Outfits We Want to Copy ASAP

Style Notes: Just because you're petite doesn't necessarily mean your body is in proportion. If you're like Lucy Hale, who is 5'2" and has shorter legs in comparison to her torso, try balancing out your frame with a pair of high-waisted jeans.

Style Notes: Her penchant for lycra is undeniable, but Kim Kardashian West, 5'2", also knows that long coats look chic and frame her physique perfectly.

Opening Image: Getty Images

In need of some more celebrity style Inspiration? See how they combat the winter chill…