FASHION: TOP HAIR LOOKS FROM THE EUROPEAN RUNWAYS (PART TWO)

More of our top looks from this season’s London, Milan and Paris runways. (Check out PART ONE here.) Inspiration ensues.

 

CHARLOTTE KNOWLES X TINA OUTEN

For this season’s Charlotte Knowles offering (as part of the FW19 Fashion East showcase), hair director Tina Outen crafted this uber-modern take on the ever-popular wet look, creating an artful juxtaposition of textures, finishes and shapes. Hair was ‘snatched’ back into a quasi half-up, half-down formation before being combed through with generous lashings of gel. The look was completed with handmade, ‘burnt (resin) combs’ that were perched atop models’ brushed back fringes. A bold new take on the accessory trend.

Image: Instagram/tinadidit

VERSACE X GUIDO PALAU

The look for Versace FW19? Grungy chic with a cool girl twist. “The look is very Versace… a little grungy, very cool, and a little sexy,” said hair director Guido Palau. “I’ve put little extensions in the front of the girls’ hair to give it a touch of youth and a chunky, textured effect.” Lengths were sectioned, tonged and spritzed through with Redken Triple Dry 15 Dry Texture Finishing Spray before which Redken Frizz Dismiss Anti-Static Oil Mist was worked through the ends for added shine. To complete the look, a crystallised barrette was added to the side of the head, and anchored with two small scalp braids and a bobby pin. Versace for the win.

Image: Redken

PACO RABANNE X PAUL HANLON

The brief for this season’s Paco Rabanne show? Old Hollywood glamour meet’s Lynch’s Mullholland Drive; a theme beautifully articulated through 40’s inspired silhouettes, deco prints and the appearance of more than one heirloom brooch. In keeping with the collection’s old world air, hair director Paul Hanlon alternated three bespoke hair looks across models; namely a Lauren-Bacall-inspired wave (complete with deep side part), and two variations on the detailed braid-slash-cornrow: one of which (pictured) featured an intricate micro plait that occupied the head centre, and two side braids that were intertwined at the nape to form a low bun.

Image: instagram/julianwatsonagency

RICHARD QUINN X JAMES PECIS

Industry newcomer Richard Quinn offered a beautiful flurry of floral, (faux) animal and graphic printed fabrics for his stunning Fall/Winter sojourn, bringing an array of bold and bright colours, textures and silhouettes to the fashionable forefront at London Fashion Week’s first instalment. To compliment the show’s audacious styling and statement-making frock work, hair director James Pecis fashioned an immaculately gelled, curtain fringe that occupied models’ foreheads – using KMS Hairplay Styling Gel to create a glassy finish, and for optimum hold. To offset the bold bangs, makeup artist Miranda Joyce opted to bleach models’ brows, completing the beauty look with minimal foundation and a subtle coat of mascara.

Image: instagram/kmshairuk

MARY KATRANZOU X ANTHONY TURNER

While we’re on gelled fringes… lead hairstylist Anthony Turner created this dishevelled number for Mary Katranzou, setting the matted front detail against soft, natural waves. Hair was combed into a deep side part and gelled into shape, before which one bobby pin was added to secure the look in place. The accompanying beauty look? Soft, translucent skin, rose-flushed lips, and mascara that was masterfully smudged at the underside. Genius.

Image: instagram/marykatrantzou

MAX MARA X SAM MCKNIGHT

Avid exponents of power dressing, Max Mara delivered a strong silhouetted, vibrantly hued showcase at this season’s MFW, and to compliment each garment’s arresting sensuality, hair director Sam McKnight created an aptly powerful, androgynous braid for the show’s models. Hair was first tail combed into a deep side part, before which mousse was applied at the hairline, and front sections were blowdried away from the face. Next, hair was gathered from the top and sides of the face (to just below the crown) and tied with an elastic before being braided from the sides down toward the nape of then neck (crossing over tied hair so as to hide elastic). The look was completed with McKnight’s staple Modern Hairspray for defined texture. Et voila.

Image: Instagram/hairbysammcknight

OLIVIER THEYSKENS X EUGENE SOULEIMAN

Unarguably one of the most unique looks to emerge out of this season, the hair for Olivier Theyskens was an artful nod to the future; an image of ‘perfection’ crafted by hair genius Eugene Souleimain. “[The look is] aspirational but unattainable,” said Eugene. “It’s not hair, it’s more than hair, it’s an object – a sculpture.” To create the signature Theyskens ‘sculpture’, Souleiman pulled hair into a low ponytail formation that sat above the nape of the neck, before concealing the fastener with top sectioned pieces of hair. EIMI Sculpt Force Gel was next painted over the surface with a tint brush, to create a sleek, synthetic finish. Blade Runner meets Barbie.

Image: ghd

VALENTINO X GUIDO PALAU

The hair look for this season’s Valentino offering was notably more subdued than that of previous instalments (see Guido’s larger than life AW18 look here), taking the form of a soft, sophisticated 1970’s chignon. “The look is a super 1970’s chignon, blow dried with Redken Satinwear and tied into a knot at the back of the head,” revealed Palau. “I’m leaving a veil of hair in the front and using my new favourite Redken Triple Dry 15 to texturize and separate those wispy bits. The inspiration [for this look] was a 70’s bourgeois girl.” The very picture of elegance, as is the Valentino way.

Image: instagram/maisonvalentino

MAISON MARGIELA X EUGENE SOULEIMAN

John Galliano’s theatrical Maison Margiela runway (aptly titled ‘Coed Défilé’), was an artful Black Swan meets Swan Lake imagining… from the show’s haunting, classical soundtrack though to the models’ expertly articulated hair looks. Across the co-ed model selection, hair director Eugene Souleiman crafted a series of bespoke renderings: including a literal swan ‘do (pictured) featuring an assemblage of carefully placed feathers and white paint. To enhance models’ swan-like appearance, makeup queen Pat McGrath created a dark, exaggerated brow and graphic eye-liner combo… that all but stole the show.

Image: Instagram/eugenesouleiman

CHANEL X SAM MCKNIGHT

Yet another homage to the legend that was Karl Largerfield, this season’s emotionally charged ‘Chalet Gardenia’ Chanel show was a masterfully executed wonderland of fabrics and faces; a whimsical send off befitting the former Chanel Creative Director’s inimitable vision and creative legacy. “Sparkly hair slides, ribbons, brooches and camellias adorned the simple, clean healthy hair,” revealed hair director Sam McKnight via instagram. “Hair half up half down, natural cool girl textures tied with ribbons… a celebration of Karl and all things Chanel, in a magnificent mountain village, complete with snow.”

Image: Instagram/hairbysammcknight