bpr business process redesign

OK, hereapos;s the thing. I have been invited to a posh party the week after next, and the dress code is "stylish". I am not a naturally stylish person. So I want to distract from this by doing a fabulous updo.

I do not have vast experience of fabulous updos, either. I am good at braiding or putting my hair in a quick bun with pins. Jaw-clips or a stick, but otherwise I am somewhat limited. Usually for parties I have my hair loose or in a half-up style, but Iapos;d like to do something different. Any ideas?

Caveats: My hair is approximately hip-length, no layers, very straight and slippery, and pretty much flat to my head. Itapos;s a warmish brown. It is impossible to persuade it to part anywhere but in the centre even if you pin it down (it reasserts itself, sometimes with comic effect). I donapos;t like using product on it, and would prefer to avoid it if necessary. I have a longish face with a high forehead, which tends to be accentuated if I pull my hair straight back (as in a French braid).

Iapos;ve done some poking around already, but a lot of the styles I see seem to depend on gallons of product, curling tongs (which I donapos;t have), layers or a side parting. Any thoughts? Pictures? Anecdotes of what you did for stylish parties?
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