BEC + BRIDGE x REDKEN

Day 2 of MBFWA kicked off with a bang, as Aussie design staples Bec + Bridge shared their ’20 Resort collection: Wipe Out.

Drawing cues from the quintessential Australian beach muse, Hair Director for Redken Richard Kavanagh fashioned a 70’s inspired crimp, in part inspired by the girls of Puberty Blues.

“The hair has a very natural, slightly androgynous feel to it, with a lived-in textured wave through the mid lengths,” said Richard. “Our girl is that effortless, cool girl with naturally curly hair. It’s as though she’s tried to tame it by flattening down with a hat.”

“It was nice to take Bec and Bridge’s vision for the show and translate the personality and character they’re projecting into a hairstyle,” he continued. “Keeping it cool and down to earth, while at the same time having a distinct direction and personality.”

Joined by a team of Redken stylists, Richard harnessed each models’ natural texture to create this organic, youthful look; calling upon Redken’s new Dry Texture range for a beautiful, lived-in finish.

Image: Redken

P.E. NATION x O&M

Complimenting the high octane energy of design favourites P.E. Nation, O&M Hair Director Brad Mullins led a team of stylists (including Australian Artistic Director for O&M, Travis Bandiera) in creating the ultimate cool girl hair.

‘There’s strength in unity and community and this collection is really about standing strong,” said designer Pip Edwards of the collection.

“We want women to have fun with their dressing and unleash confidence this season. Resort ’20 is a reflection of the brand’s evolution, showcasing a concrete blend of fashion pieces paired back with luxe performance wear with our P.E. twist”.

“I was really inspired by the girls, the clothes and the brand itself, so I wanted to create the the perfect ‘cool girl hair’,” continued Brad.

Embracing middle parts and natural texture, the look juxtaposed wet elements at the roots with natural, undone pieces at the lengths; a natural movability achieved with O&M’s Atomic Thickening Spritz and new Desert Dry – a rose scented dream!

“Although we’ve maintained the middle part and slick across the models, I wanted each girl to maintain her own individuality as diversity is so key for us.”

“Girls with curly hair have maintained their natural curls – we’re working with their natural movement and edges. For some girls we used a braid at the nape of the next, to create a beautiful shape at the sides.”

Image: O&M

TIGERLILY x GOLDWELL

Following a 17 year hiatus, swim staples Tigerlily made their long anticipated return to the MBFWA arena, with an aptly resort inspired offering: ‘Aloha State’.

Featuring a flurry of florals, summer prints (polkadots, paisley and chequers – oh my!) and signature details, the collection bore palpable evidence of designer Jodhi Meares’ penchant for the pretty, inviting models and show-goers alike into her re-imagined coastal dream.

Directing hair for the occasion was the inimitable John Pulitano for Goldwell, who drew cues from the old Hollywood icons (Lauren Bacall anyone?) to create a 50’s inspired ‘coiffed waterfall’ that fused wet and dry elements for a beachside feel.

‘The look is an ode to the 40’s and 50’s screen sirens, which you can see in the wave we created at the top,” said John. “We modernised the look with a beachy texture, creating the wet look elements with Goldwell’s Curly Twist Surf Oil for shine and moisture.”

The look was finished with an assortment of hair clips, artfully jigsawed at the back of the hair.

Image: Getty

MATTEAU x ORIBE

Led by Hair Director for Oribe Paloma Garcia – and inspired by the salt-skinned and sun-kissed ladies of the Amalfi coast – resort label Matteau showcased their latest collection, inside Sydney’s Baker Street Studios.

A diverse cast of models (including actress slash model Phoebe Tonkin) subsequently inspired a diversity in hair, with Paloma creating two signature looks for the afternoon runway.

“The show featured 25 girls, all beautifully diverse [in appearance].” said Paloma. The first look? A masterfully articulated wet-knotted bun. “We wanted the girls to look like they’d freshly stepped out of the ocean.”

And, off to dinner on the riviera.

The second look – a natural, loose ponytail and centre part – harnessed the combined powers of Oribe’s Super Shine Light, Gold Lust Oil and Apres Beach to evoke a look and feeling of humidity.

Summer couldn’t come sooner.

Image: Oribe

JONATHAN SIMKHAI X GHD

Bringing a welcome taste of New York City luxury to Sydney’s Bondi Beach was MBFWA’s international act: Jonathan Simkhai, who showcased his Pre-Spring 2020 collection outside North Bondi’s iconic Surf Life Saving Club.

“I kept visualising the remarkable Bondi Beach sunsets,” Simkhai shared of the inspiration behind his collection. “The hour at twilight when the sun is just above the horizon… illuminating everything around while brightening the faces of those you’re with. The magic hour.”

Mirroring the soft incandescence of the collection’s pieces was ghd Creative Director Richard Kavanagh, who created a ‘no makeup makeup’ hair look heroing gentle, effortless waves.

“I was inspired by the vision for the collection – the moment at sunset when the light hits the face in a magical way, and you’re with the ones you love,” said Richard. “I wanted the hair to reflect this, with a look that feels very untouched and lived in… like you’ve enjoyed a lazy day in the sun. I created soft, loose waves that mirrored this mood.”

Hair was first roughly dried using the ghd air hairdryer before which lengths were sectioned and curled using the ghd curling tong. To maintain a loose, natural and effortless wave, hair was wrapped in varying directions, before being raked through with fingers for a tousled finish.

Image: ghd

BASSIKE x GHD

Renowned for their design-led aesthetic and an array of uber-wearable staples, Australian outfit Bassike showcased their 2020 Resort collection, with an intimate dinner and presentation inside Sydney’s lush Apollo Restaurant.

Inspired by a ‘spirit of playfulness’, this season’s offering celebrated the ‘depth and vibrancy of life’, introducing bold pops of colour to the brand’s characteristically neutral palette.

Complimenting the collection’s timeless air, Creative Hair Director for ghd Keiren Street fashioned his take on cool girl chic, creating an effortless hair look that heroed natural texture.

“Effortless texture was key for Bassike,” shared Keiren. We wanted the look to feel very ‘slept in’ – as though you had gone to bed with damp hair and woke up with a natural, delicate wave.”

To achieve the desired finish, hair was first combed back away from the face with ghd’s detangling comb, allowing hair to fall into a natural parting.

Next, hair was misted with ghd unplugged heat protect spray before being diffused with the ghd air hairdryer and diffuser. Texture was built using ghd’s curl hold spray, with subtle ‘s’ bends created using the ghd platinum+ styler.

“Picture those little kind of quirky waves – a little bit shiny – when you’ve washed your hair the night before. Beautiful silky hair, made [extra] pretty and given little bit of texture on the top.”

Image: ghd