Monday, 9 May 2011

SDOA Session Stylists Assistant: Paper Lashes


I'm in love with these amazing Paper Lashes by http://www.paperself.com. Inspired by the art of Chinese paper cutting. Intricately cut, delicately pretty, simply beautiful and available in 11 styles, each infused with a symbolic meaning rooted in Chinese culture




Horses: symbolic of success
Peony: for happiness and good fortune
Peach blossom: a symbol of love and romance
Peacock: auspicious and lucky days
Butterfly: free, beautiful and sensitive
Clown: bring the whole happiness



They come in 2 different sizes depending on how dramatic a look you want, and range from £10.50-12.50. Glue not included so you would need to purchase this also. But if your anything like me you will have a stock already at home.





Thursday, 5 May 2011

SDOA Make-up Assistant: The Scent of Sex

Well, maybe not the scent of sex but Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Absolue Pour Le Soir is certainly filled with innuendo.


I met up with Kurkdjian himself a couple of weeks ago and asked him what his rich smelling Absolue Pour Le Soir really meant.



"For me" says Kurkdjian, "Absolue Pour Le Soir is the most sexual fragrance of the portfolio and to me it’s all about night-life and night time activities."

Take from that what you will.  I myself have been in love with the fragrance ever since I first encountered it  last year.  It takes the sexiest, dirtiest parts of honey, whisky and woody musks and turns them into something lingering and alluring.  It is a scent that will keep you up all night smelling it.  
 

SDOA Session Stylists Assistant: Tigi Product Launch



Last week Purple PR launched the new Session Series range. The Tigi team (Nick Irwin, Maria Kovacs and Marco Iafrate, Edith Chan and Little Johnny) were on hand to talk through the latest trends and even set up a little session bar where you could have your hair styled into one of the key Autumn Winter 2011 looks, all created by the team at the recent shows. 


The four looks included Textured Hair, as seen at Kristian Aadnevik, where the inspiration was dual textured with a heavy metal simplicity, Kristian who previously worked for Roberto Cavalli is certainly one to watch, and Cheryl Cole is a huge fan. Kristian was said to of delved into the darker side of fashion but still added element of ease and sexuality. Another look was the classic Ponytail, at Costume National the inspiration was the 60's - Twiggy and David Bowie, the look was quite architectural and very modern, and had an androgynous feel about it. Alternative Plaits were made cool by Nick Irwin at Felder Felder, Nick wanted to create two different sections that reflected the personality of each twin so thought it made sense to have two buns - one for each girl, the inspiration was very much Siouxsie Sioux, confident yet very wearable. Beautiful braids at Erin Fetherston were the look of the day, initially created by the Iconic Session Stylist Odile Gilbert. The hair was pretty and feminine with elements of fantasy. Perfect for the coming months, the look represented a romantic girl with a good imagination. New Waves at Basso and Brooke took a modern turn from the classic 40's look, the inspiration was about looking a nature and the beautiful, glamorous women within. Hair was put in Rollers, brushed out then a little grease was added to give it a modern twist. 


They followed on to talk us through the new range of products and as session stylist's we all have our favourites, heavenly products that we can't live without! We all need certain basics in our kits, hero products that are multi functional! Whether your creating texture, hold or adding a little grease...each product we use, can be used in a variation of ways to create different looks and textures! The creative team over at Tigi looked at what we use as session stylist and came up with a sleek new range that can more than accommodate this!
We've all heard of the Famous Five, now let me introduce you to the Fabulous Seven. With its simple yet stylish packaging that could be used around the shows without the need of duck tape (yes we have all done that before), and sophisticated fragrance that smells fresh and subtle, this range could definitely be referred to as the more grown up, elegant older sister of Bedhead and compliments the current Catwalk range made up of Curl, Sleek and Volume nicely.




The Session Series collection is made up of a Finishing Spray, great for holding shapes and adding sexy volume, Work it Hairspray which could easily give Elnett a run for it's money and doesn't smell like your Gran (saying that it's one of the things I like about it), Transforming Dry Shampoo, adds texture and volume, perfect for clean hair that needs a little umph, rescuing greasy un-kempt or bringing back over done hair, I also love this product when photographing as it adds sharp definition due to its powdery texture, you can really play about with it. I'm a big lover or Salt Spray, we all love our hair after a day on the beach, I've tried so many different salt sprays hoping to recreate this, (I'm honestly happy when I get caught in the rain as it makes my hair naturally beachy). The problem with most salt sprays is that, there either to strong so your hair goes a little crispy, or too light so the effects are too subtle, I have to say there are few products out there that cut it, but this one is up there with my favourite, since using it I have waved goodbye to my hair-dryer and left my hair to the wind, my hair is the perfect level of beachiness every day. A Wet Look Gel that was road tested at this Autumn Winter 2011 Costume National show, where Marco Iafrate used the same rubber tape aqs used on the cloths, as bands around the pony tails and added slither of gel down the parting to emulate this. Gel used to be a thing of the past but due to all the 50's styled quiff's that are going on, its got cool again but has a more modern feel. I hear the same pot of gel was taxied from show to show as it was in such high demand. You could also rely on True Wax to achieve the 50's quiff, made from natural bees wax, this is great for working polish and shine to any style. No range would be complete without a styling cream, Tigi have been the master of this since I can remember. I think we have all used a little After Party in our time, made even more famous by the phallic nature of the packaging, the new styling cream is every bit as good but without the innuendo.
The new range launches in selected salons at the end of May, lucky for me I have my hands on them already...but for those of you that dont be sure to keep your eyes peeled as your are in for a treat!

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

The Secret Diary of a Session Stylists Assistant...

As a lover of all things Arty I wanted to share these new print releases being released at 12pm today. Be the first to get your hands on one....


The Outsiders proudly presents two new prints by Zevs: the latest instalments in the Parisian artist’s iconic Liquidated series.


Liquidated Louis Vuitton’ and ‘Liquidated Hammer & Sickle’ join a canon of other logos that have enjoyed ‘Liquidated’ status including those employed by Chanel, McDonalds, and the NASDAQ.
Pronounced ‘Zeus’ (as in the Greek god), the intervention specialist was recently featured in seminal street art documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop sporting a sinister full-body disguise.
Priced at £200 each print is a 70cm by 50cm signed, numbered and stamped edition of 50, screen printed on to 300gsm Fabriano 5 paper. 'Liquidated Louis Vuitton' features striking gold ink on white paper – 'Liquidated Hammer & Sickle' comes in the obligatory red and yellow.

Both are available from www.theoutsiders.net at 12pm (noon) UK time on Wednesday April 27th (1pm continental Europe, 7am east coast USA and 4am west coast)








Wednesday, 20 April 2011

Secret Diary of a Make-up Assistant...



Everyone knows that if you can get something done properly for you, then do it yourself!  On that note I nipped into a new nail salon on Wigmore Street yesterday and discovered that they hand-mixed their own foot and hand scrubs.  All you need to do to save yourself a tenner on an expensive and ineffective scrub is mix together some granulated brown sugar, a dollop of cocoa butter and a generous splosh of massage oil.  (You can use essential oils but make sure you aren't allergic or prone to skin irritations first.  In any case a fragrance free massage oil does the trick perfectly.)

Monday, 18 April 2011

The Secret Diary of a Session Stylists Assistant...


Can I tell you a secret...Its not every day you see Jude Law with his top off (up close), catch a train to Paris, discover a dazzling new product or get inside tips on up to the minute trends and beauty secrets, but I do as an Assistant. Obviously not all in one day, but in the last year I've experienced some amazing days, found life changing products and learnt tricks of the trade that will sweep you off your feet. I've done some blow dry's in my time, this is my secret diary of a Session Stylists Assistant, who is about to blow you away!....

Friday, 15 April 2011

The Secret Diary of a make-up assistant...



As I sort through my mountains of lipsticks and bags of foundations I realise that each and every product has a story to tell, a lesson to be learnt.   Over the past year I have picked up tricks that you could only ever learn on the job, travelled to such obscure places that only make-up artists and hair stylists could have gone to (where even is Greenwich Docklands?) and seen some of the world's most creative individuals in action.  I'm a creative fly on the wall.  I'm the first to get my hands on a new product.  I'm a make-up artist's assistant and I'm about the spill the beans...