Each season when I'm reporting backstage during NY Fashion Week I always take a moment to look around, take in all the craziness and remind myself how blessed I am to be there. Funny thing is, the most sought out celebrity hairstylist, Ted Gibson, doesn't take the scene for granted either. As someone who understands hair, is a great listener, has experience in editorial, celebrity and runway, my friend Ted also turned his passion into his career. It's no wonder why designers like Rachel Roy always partner with him. From Rachel Roy's hair trial to her presentation, Ted gave me the scoop on how the creative process went down.
"It takes a village," Ted said right off the bat. Yesterday was Rachel Roy's Fall 2013 digital presentation, which streamed live on her Facebook page. Before the presentation on Friday, Roy's creative team including Stylist, Julia von Boehm (every designer uses a stylist to help pull looks together with accessories and details), Ted and Bobbi Brown (on makeup) all met to brainstorm and come up with the look.
"The great thing about Rachel is that she knows exactly who the girl is that she's trying to portray," explains Ted. "I listen and am always focused on her direction so she values my opinion."
After shooting around ideas and making sure his thoughts worked cohesively with Bobbi's, the two artists got to work and produce a finished look for Rachel to sign off on. Most of the time for trials like these hairstylists and makeup artists are working on fit models, because the models for the show aren't even cast yet. Yes, this is four days before.
"I really wanted the hair to be able to reflect an effortless chic style, but still make a statement," Ted stated.
Yesterday was show day. Ted and the team began working on the models promptly at 7:30am. Since it was a presentation there were only three, but that didn't mean there was any less effort put in. "The collection was all about refined opulence," he explains. With lots of texturized fabrics, fake fur and embroidered pantsuits, he didn't want the hair to be too overdone and described the look as if "the models were out all night and just showed up to the presentation."
Texture. Texture. Texture. Believe it or not no curling iron was used. He took the hair in sections and sprayed it from midlength to the ends with Build It Blow Drying Agent then twirled each section in opposite ways (forward and back) before drying. Once dry, he created three loose braids, leaving the ends out so they didn't have as much texture, and left them in as the models got their makeup done. Afterwards, he took them out and refined the waves with his hands.
"A girl from downtown can wear it and so can a girl from uptown," he explained. The look was accessible just like Rachel's collection. Job well done.
It's officially New York Fashion Week and you're invited backstage with me! I rounded up my troops – BeautySweetSpot intern, Ashley and former intern, Carly and we're ready to roll.
This is my 12th season covering New York Fashion Week and I have to say I'm very proud of the selection of shows my team and I will be backstage for this year. Here's a few:
As WWD reported today, "the circus is in town," only this one includes models, celebrities and fashionistas! And don't forget the journalists. That's right, I'll be backstage reporting on the hottest hair, makeup and nail trends for over 20 of this September's Spring/Summer 2011 shows.
But I won't be doing it alone, my BeautySweetSpot.com intern, Carly Nelson will be joining as well as my intern from last spring, Jasmine Dilmanian. They're both fab writers and ready to stiletto stomp into the new tents of Lincoln Center and beyond.
