Couture is for the curious, it is for the dreamers, the believers, and the makers. It allows artists, designers and fashion houses to exaggerate their finest qualities, celebrating what makes them unique.
DIOR
The location alone set the stage for a breathtaking affair. Inside Monsieur Dior’s former home, nature weaves its way into every element with a grand tree at the center of it all. Feminism was apparent and appreciated as Maria Grazia Chiuri made the collection about celebrating women and their finest structure – it is about giving them the choice of how they want it to be portrayed. A collection in all black – laces, cutouts, feathers, voluminous silhouettes – a color chosen because it portrays the women’s silhouette in its best light.
“This season, the Dior Couture look was themed around architecture. All the girls were wearing veils or little berets, so I created high, elongated knots with braids for modernity.” Says Redken Global Creative Director Guido Palau. “I first prepped the hair by blowing all the hairlines up with Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame, then, using Redken Dry Texture Paste 05, made two thin scalp braids upwards towards the crown of the head. Once complete, I gathered all the hair up into a tight, super-clean knot using Redken Fashion Work 12 Hairspray to clean up any baby hairs. I then took an invisible net and twisted the hair into couture, elongated knots, leaving out the little braids. When the knot was secured, I placed the braids around the knot and fastened them. Then, I polished off the look with a few extra spritzes of Redken Fashion Work 12 Hairspray.”
GIVENCHY
Claire Waight Keller finds new freedom in her Couture Collection with all the antidotes of the perfect tailoring she’s best known for. Much like Dior, her pieces spoke volumes while also sporting a voluminous silhouette. Taking her collection out on a “limb,” her audacity was applauded and her fashions were fantastical.
“The inspiration at Givenchy Couture was a girl lost in a French chateau. There were a few different looks. First, the girls with short haircuts were blown smooth with Redken One United and clipped down to flatten out any bulk. Then, I did some extreme looks that were like birds in flight. To achieve this, the hair was blown dry using Redken Satinwear 04, keeping some areas flat and accentuating other areas by blowing upwards, like a bird’s wing, holding each look with Redken Triple Take 32 Hairspray. For the more dressed look, I first prepped the hair using Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame, then created a clean center part and blow dried the hair smooth. Then, the hair was tied into a tight ponytail at the base of the neck. I lightly sprayed the lengths with Redken Fashion Work 12 Hairspray and ran a flatiron through to give a straight end. Using a thin elastic, I then folded the hair up into the base, leaving the ends out. I finished the ends with a spray of Redken Forceful 23 Hairspray and a ruffle with my fingertips to create a punky end.” - Redken Global Creative Director Guido Palau.
VALENTINO
Layers of color made their way up and down the runway as Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Couture show brought most of the crowd to tears. It was not just his use of vibrant colors, but the way in which he presented them, with diversity to detail. His designs somehow checked all boxes of: modern, vintage and timeless. Leading the way for a new chapter for the House of Valentino.
“The look for the hair this season was pure Valentino: inspired by folklore, and with a nod to the 60s.” Says Redken Global Creative Director Guido Palau. “I started the look with freshly-washed hair using Redken Nature + Science All Soft Shampoo and Conditioner, then I blow-dried each girl’s hair smooth with a small amount of Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame. After making a clean, center part, I added two tiny braids either side of the head using a little Redken Dry Texture Paste 05 to smooth. Then, I gathered the hair into a ponytail at the base of the neck, covering the ponytail with an invisible net while making a fold with the hair underneath. I then brought the ends of the ponytail around the base of the fold and wrapped them cleanly. Taking the two side braids, I then wrapped them cleanly around the base while spritzing Redken Forceful 23 Hairspray as I went for added hold.”
Images: Courtesy of Redken Global Creative Director @guidopalau
