Home to some of Australia’s most notorious session stylists, the expectation was (as always) high for Wella Professionals’ shows this week. Sending out the big guns in Renya Xydis and Kieran Street, it was a foolproof formula for the brand, and one that delivered some of the week’s best takes on Resort ’23 hair direction. Here, we round up our favourite styles with shoutout to the products that made it possible.
AAIZÉL
Synonymous with immaculate tailoring, unexpected detailing and dresses that evoke absolute sensuality, Aaizél’s AAFW Resort ’23 presentation continued the designer’s appreciation of art, architecture and design, this year delving further into an infatuation with colour.
“Colour is omnipresent in our lives – it can influence mood and shape perceptions. I was inspired by the works of experimental artists including Olafur Eliasson’s Reimagine installation, James Turrell’s mesmerising ‘Sustaining Light’ series and Dan Flavin’s minimalist fluorescent light fixtures. Their illusory compositions shaped the palette and the form of the new collection” says Founding Designer Minhee Jo.
Wella Professionals’ ANZ Guest Artist Keiren Street was tasked to create style stately, yet soft enough to allow the colour and lines of the collection to shine and responded with a series of designs embodying each talent’s unique texture.
“The goal here is to enhance the natural beauty and diversity of the individual, creating effortless texture with Wella EIMI, said Keiran.
“Prep is so important when working to create unique texture and an effortless finish. So for our more textured talent, we started by breaking the surface tensions and preparing for the layering of product with Wella EIMI Perfect Me,” he said.
Other heroes included Wella EIMI Nutri Curls Soft Twirl to refresh and define curls, and for the hair types requiring a little extra volume, Wella EIMI Ocean Spritz was applied to the roots and diffused into the hair.
For talent with straighter, less-coiled hair types, a centre-part look flattened through the top with a hair net and diffuser and enhanced with soft waves throughout. A hit of Nineties-esque handle was applied with Wella EIMI Dry Me in the mid-lengths while still feeling shiny and luxurious courtesy of Wella EIMI Glam Mist.
“ … and remember to keep layering your product, and having fun!”
WYNN HAMLYN
Forget that classic grunge look synonymous with ’90s style you know and love.
At Wynn Hamlyn, Hair Director Renya Xydis and the Wella Professionals team reimagined the ’90s through hair cut into blunt cuts and styling, glammed up with extra voltage shine.
Using Wella EIMI Ocean Spritz Sea Salt Spray, Wella EIMI Glam Mist and Wella EIMI Mistify Me Light, the team were able to create their own glossy, glammed up version of ’90s grunge.
“Here, we pay homage to ’90s glam focusing on a blunt cut and maximum shine,” said Renya of the beautiful looks created for the New Zealand-based brand.
BONDI BORN
The brief for Bondi Born this season? Effortless cool girl style that has an air of ease and undone polish.
“We added a lot of texture in this season,” Hair Director Renya Xydis explains from backstage. “It’s texture that sort of is there but not there… However, it took a long time to get it there! We want to see the texture, but we don’t want to see the texture.”
“We also included a lot of plaiting, but brought back in a way so beautifully, that it just looks like the girl just did it effortlessly.”
And as for products used to create these cool girl looks? “For Bondi Born we were using Wella Professional’s Glam Mist, Ocean Spritz and Hairspray, but our hero product was really Wella’s Insta Recharge powders. Using these, we’ve gone in and really coloured the scalp of each girl to achieve that seamless, smooth look.”
IORDANES SPYRIDON GOGOS
For the very first time in it’s long history, Sydney’s iconic Powerhouse Museum served as runway to a fashion collection. To call the Iordanes Spyridon Gogos showing a mere runway, however, doesn’t quite cover it. This artistic explosion was more an immersive experience, submerging guests into a technicolor dream world of fantastical characters.
One of the most exciting elements of all, in a show filled with jaw-dropping moments? The hair conceived by Wella Professionals Hair Director Renya Xydis and the team of stylists on set. “For this show we have used hair pieces and wigs in different ways to create hair art hand making these creations,” says Renya of the incredible looks created. “The theme we worked with was Helen of Troy, but I really ran with this and have been able to tune in to the creative side of my brain which has led me into the innovative and imaginative side of editorial!”
“The whole suite of Wella Professional products have been used including the new Color Fresh Masks, the EIMI Mistify Me Strong Hair Spray, the EIMI Glam Mist and our men’s products.”
“This is not your typical show. It’s an installation of hair art in a sustainable way through reusing hair to create this amazing and eccentric wearable art.”