For one glorious, glamorous, absolutely fabulous week in September, the world’s most fashionable gather for New York Fashion Week in Bryant Park to check out the hottest trends for Spring 2009.  It’s a chance for Hollywood celebs, NYC socialites and fashionistas from everywhere to skip right past the oncoming winter season and indulge in the carefree styles created for warmer weather.

While the fashions take center stage, it’s the hairstyling that puts the finishing touches to the runway looks, which is why salon industry companies send their best and brightest to Manhattan.  Backstage, these talented stylists work like mad to manipulate models’ tresses into the ‘dos that reflect the vision of each designer—whether it’s chic, sassy or rock and roll.  Here’s a preview of some of the best hair seen at the spring fashion scene.

Orlando Pita + T3–Carolina Herrera
Fashion Week wouldn’t be as fashionable without the talents of Orlando Pita and T3 Micro tools and products. He worked backstage at Carolina Herrera, creating an updated version of a classic updo. “Carolina wanted the hair up,” Pita stated, but I didn’t want to do a ponytail or bun.” So to contrast the feminine, sophisticated clothing and to satisfy the designer’s penchant for a classic updo, Orlando put his nimble fingers to work creating a well-groomed, boyish updo.
View Orlando’s How-To here!

The ghd Directive Team–Proenza Schouler, Alexander Herchcovitch, Miss Sixty and Monique Lhuillier
At Proenza Schouler, Jack and Lazaro merged military with late 70s and early 80s-inspired shapes and lines to create a fashion collection that was equal parts tough, confident and feminine. To complement the designers’ “Industrial Meets Deco” looks world famous hairdresser Didier Malige guest-starred backstage with Omar Lopez and the ghd team. They created deeply parted, eye-sweeping finger waves, artfully pulled back to one side and cascading down one shoulder. 

The next day, the ghd Directive Team hooked up with Fashion Week fixture Eugene Souleiman for Monique Lhuillier.  Her theme–“luxurious tropical island chic”—was characterized by dry, crisp fabrics, straw braiding techniques, basket patterns and wave prints that evoked relaxing, glamorous, luxurious tropical vacations.  Since the Lhuillier girl was all about heading from the beach to cocktails at sunset, the team whipped up easy, relaxed chignons that complemented the summer-inspired collection perfectly.

For Miss Sixty, Leonardo Manetti took the lead, creating hair looks for the brand’s “Urban Superheroine” vibe.  The clothing was an homage to the freethinking, liberated decade of the 1970s – and glamorous, feminine and self-confident women strutted down the runway sporting edgy, urban ‘dos.

At the Alexander Herchcovitch show, Lopez and the Directive Team fashioned ‘dos to balance the structured, military designs. They braided the hair into interesting “S” shapes to for an elegant, bohemian finish.

Joico–Michael Angel
Joico sent celebrity stylist George Papanikolas to take the lead at the Michael Angel show. For the past several years, Angel has devoted himself to art, creating digital and manual artwork, so for his first-ever show at Fashion Week, the designer brought these images to life by translating his favorite pieces into unique high-fashion garments. His debut collection depicts a modern woman – strong and self aware, which Papanikolas interpreted with sleek, smooth coifs, created with the latest Joico products.

P&G—Catherine Malandrino
P&G Pro sponsored the Catherine Malandrino show, appointing the iconic Odile to take the hair lead, supported by Wella’s Eva Scrivo, who enhanced the runway looks with interesting colors. Malandrino’s collection was inspired by 40s and 50s Paris – soft, feminine silhouettes with an underlying edge. To elaborate on the look, Odile and the P&G Pro team used Sebastian products to create hairstyles that evoked “rockabilly” flair with volume on the top of the head in the form of chignons.  Customized Wella-colored extensions were woven into the chignons to match and complement each model’s haircolor.
View Odile’s How-To here!

Aveda– Alexander Wang, Rodarte, Preen and 3.1 Phillip Lim
The environmentally-friendly company did Fashion Week with a touch of green.  Each designer who partnered with Aveda agreed to replace all bottled water backstage with reusable aluminum SIGG bottles filled with NYC tap water; eliminate the use of fur; serve organic, locally-sourced food backstage and print all show programs and invitations on post-consumer recycled paper.  So besides beautifying the backstage at Fashion Week, Aveda seized the opportunity to beautify the world.

For Alexander Wang, Eugene Souleiman joined Aveda’s Dennis Clendennen and the team. They created a look they describe as “a girl who’s just left the gym and has her hair pulled back into a sweaty, textured, undone half-pony.”  The bottom was left loose and the texture dry. “The collection is very much street wear- and athletics-inspired.  This is a girl who has been playing basketball all day and has casually pulled her hair back,” says Souleiman. “This is a look that works well for long hair and can be easily adapted to create a slightly more polished effect.”

At Rodarte, Odile joined Clendennen and team to create hair inspired by other-world aliens.  Strands were wrapped in circular patterns to form tight buns and covered in silver or gold leafing. “The idea was to create something very pure, simple and clean. I approached the hair like origami – carefully folding and wrapping hair in circular motions and securing tightly in place,” says Odile.

At Preen, the team whipped up androgynous looks with a hint of romance.  The front was masculine with sculpted, raked-back sides, and the remainder of the hair was tied into a loose, low-slung knot at the nape. “This look beautifully contrasts with Preen’s collection, which is very feminine; the overall look is very strong,” comments Souleiman.
View Eugene’s How-To here!

Finally, Odile rejoined the Aveda team for the 3.1 Phillip Lim show.  Here, the look was Eva Peron meets Juliet Lewis, updating the 40s with a modern feel and shape. Hair was pulled back tightly then fashioned into gorgeous, off-center buns. Odile describes the look as “very intricate, and the bun above the ear is a very elegant, sophisticated evening look.”

FHI Heat + Ecru New York—Fresh Faces in Fashion: Lialia, Crhee, Ideeen and Sariah
To kick of Fashion Week, Gen art sponsored “Fresh Faces in Fashion” – a show which allows industry newcomers to debut their collections. FHI Heat and Ecru New York were on hand to handle hairstyling duties for newbies Lialia, Crhee, Ideeen and Sariah. Stylists enhanced natural textures and created variations of classic buns and unstructured yet balanced, simple looks. States Justin DePasquale, Creative Director and Lead Stylist of Ecru New York, “For all the female models, we first evaluated the natural texture of each model’s hair and emphasized it by either adding texture or else toning the texture down.”

Linea Pro + Sahag Workshop–Venexiana
At Venexiana, the fashionable flat irons were used by the legendary salon team, headed up by Karmela Lozina and Jutta Weiss, to create a fresh, young take on the dressed-up chignon.  The result was deconstructed and creative, highlighting a mix of contrasting braids, the shine of natural and synthetic hair textures and effortless, free-floating wisps of wind-blown hair.  The approach perfectly complemented designer Kati Stern’s collection, which highlighted couture-inspired cocktail dresses and exquisite evening gowns – all with an edge. Snakeskin, chiffon and silk were embellished with Swarovski crystals and gold threading, making for a glamorous, feminine look.

Eiji Yamane Salon–Zang Toi
Eiji Yamane, owner of NYC’s Eiji Salon, along with his team of artists styled the hair for Zang Toi’s show during a Fashion Week preview showing on September 4th for Bravo TV’s “Real Wives of New York City.” Later in the week, the team again styled looks for Zang Toi’s fashion show benefit event for Lance Armstrong’s Foundation on September 10th. 

Click on individual images for more details on the looks!

Purchase this DVD: New! World Fashion Tour Autumn/Winter ’08

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