If I had the disposable dough, I'd probably own every piece Yigal Azrouël makes. (In fact, be on the lookout for sister publication Nailpro's upcoming November 2009 cover in which we dress the model in a piece from his fall collection! Can you say "zippers" and "crinkled matte navy"?) His pieces are edgy, youthful, chic, daring, artfully done, etc., etc.
For Spring 2010, he's slashing fabric using the tenets of geometry and...surgery. More than once Azrouël throws out the terms "scalpel precision" and "lacerating," which sound quite clinical but look anything but Dr. 90210.
The lovely Antoinette Beenders, who I got to observe earlier in the week work her magic at the hair test for past Project Runway winner Christian Siriano (more on that in the January 2010 issue of Launchpad—keep your eyes peeled!), is giving Yigal's girls what she deems a "wet-a-porter" 'do due to the faux-soaked nature of the style. The crown, front and sides of the style are saturated with water and Aveda Light Elements Texturizing Creme for chunky texture and light hold. Then Antoinette layers on Aveda Brilliant Humectant Pomade to up the wet-look ante. The sides are pulled back tight "for a bit of masculinity and to show off the cheekbones," she says, and the crown is raised slightly and raked through with a wide-tooth comb to lend even more texture.
But the knot Antoinette twists in the back is dry, which she says "combines textures to make this look a little bit 'punky London'...but with a NYC style." Some of the ends of the knot are left to splay out, and she first flat-irons the strays, then scrunches them between her fingers, using even more Texturing Creme, which she deems the product of the season.
And I love that piling on the product is becoming a trend, especially because styling products' formulations are sophisticated enough to actually moisturize and nourish hair as they style.
On a sidenote: I am seeing tons and tons of texture backstage. Whether piece-y definition or curls mixed with braided (and then unbraided) crimps and fuzzy, flossy strands, the feeling is all texture, all the time. Don't retire the flat iron just yet, though. They're still playing a major role in styling.
(Photo credits: Runway: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for IMG)
