It seems as though London Fashion Week is always a great juxtaposition between the crown and the crowd. Traditional brands like Burberry wear their colors tried and true, while industry “wild child’s” mix up the fashion scene by putting a fresh new spin on things. Neutral tones, cheetah print, and bright and bold shades struck a cord as the thread of conscious fashion and sustainability wove its way through designers old and new. Amidst the talks of Brexit and a turbulent social climate, London put on a brave face and simply stunning shows. Fashion in London has always been a way to express yourself and in a time where the youth is stifled by their voice, their visual representation is more important now than ever. Keep reading to see some of the top shows, their styles and how to get their much-loved beauty looks!
BURBERRY
Burberry turned heads from the trenches to the bangs. Riccardo Tisci expressed blatantly that his collection was aristocratic at heart. And with Gigi Hadid making her first London Fashion Week Burberry debut on his runway, a mix of individuality and unattainability came center stage. Burberry’s looks are reserved for a select few – those who are making a statement on the high streets of London. With layers upon layers, corsets on top of polo shirts and jackets strewed to the side as models stomped down the runway – we could see inklings of a well-spent youth come to age.
With a few different looks to love, the one that stood out the most – and was admittedly reserved for a few distinct models – were the intricate filigree patterns created with a gel finish. “There’s both men and women at the Burberry show this season with four main looks. The first group of women are very groomed, similar to last season. I’ve blown the hair out and away from the face with Redken Satinwear 04. It’s a bit more elevated than a bun - it’s more of a chignon. I’m using Redken Triple Dry 15 spray on the lengths for grip, then a few final sprays of Redken Fashion Work 12 Hairspray to clean up the look a bit. The first group of men were all cut and groomed then blown out with Redken Satinwear 04. I’ve run Redken Brews Hairspray through their hair with my fingers for a softer hold. The remaining girls have a very intricate gelled look with Redken Hardwear Gel 16. It’s inspired by a much more elaborate version of youth culture. This gel is my main product with a touch of Redken Forceful 23 Hairspray to hold it. The rest of the men have buzzcuts with a bit of an extreme bang. The fringe being left out is also kind of a nod to the extreme youth culture looks we see.” – Redken Global Creative Director Guido Palau.
GET THE LOOK:
- Start with clean, freshly washed hair using Redken Frizz Dismiss Shampoo and Conditioner to minimize any frizz.
- Towel dry your hair until slightly damp and allow your hair to air dry.
- Once dry, pull your hair into a ponytail at the back of your crown and secure into an elastic.
- Using Redken Hardwear Gel 16, work the hair into a swirl with bobby pins, minimizing any frizz.
- Depending on the design you’d like at the front of your hairline, section out small sections of hair at your hairline using a fine-tooth comb.
- Continuously applying Redken Hardwear Gel 16 to the sections as you sculpt the design with the fine-toothed comb, keeping your hair close to your forehead.
- Once you’ve created your desired design, spray a few spritzes of Redken Forceful 23 Hairspray over the whole look and allow to fully dry for added hold.
CHRISTOPHER KANE
Image: Instagram//@christopherkane
The classics of Christopher Kane appealed to the masses, as his signature sensual lines were a mix of latex and lace. The peplum waistline, layered effect, and liquid-like fabrics intrigued fetishes far and wide with a renewed sense of creativity. Slight humor was aware throughout as fluidity reigned supreme. While designs were sleek, hair was natural. “We focused on minimal, air-dried texture at Christopher Kane with a touch of personality,” says Redken Global Creative Director Guido Palau. “It has the same understated, chic quality as a cashmere sweater, where looks effortless, sophisticated, and luxurious. I blew out the hairline and let the rest of the lengths dry naturally to give the hair a rich look. I’ve used the NEW Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame to tame frizz and heat protect the hair.”
GET THE LOOK:
- Start with clean, freshly washed hair using Redken Frizz Dismiss Shampoo and Conditioner.
- Towel dry your hair until slightly damp.
- Apply a quarter-sized amount of Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame to tame frizz and heat protect your hair.
- Center-part your hair using your fingers.
- Lightly blow-dry your hairline out to keep it clean and beautiful, leaving the rest of your lengths to air dry.
- Once fully dry, rub a pump of Redken Frizz Dismiss Instant Deflate Oil-In-Serum between your palms and run your palms over your lengths and ends to add shine and further tame any frizz.
VICTORIA BECKHAM
Image: Instagram//@victoriabeckham
Neutral, white and lipstick red proved to be the colors of London Fashion Week as Victoria Beckham showcased these hues. Hitting the ground – or the catwalk – running, her modern feminist vibes shined at her AW19 show. Texture was everywhere as layers of wools and tweeds took on a 70s flair. Jumpers were a welcomed look to mix up the usual AW silhouettes. It seems as though this season, Victoria Beckham is unveiling usually buttoned-up parts of herself through her recent collection. Her “look” is made for the sophisticated She-E-O who also has a playful side. When it came to the hair, sleek hair matched her sleek designs as a center-parted pony came front and center. “Victoria’s really established her beauty idea now. It’s a very nonchalant kind of beauty,” says Redken Global Creative Director Guido Palau. “Her clothes are so rich and chic that the hair has to be easy. The look has a certain quality to it, and this show has a bit of personality as well. I’ve blown the hair out with a messy center part using the NEW Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame to tame frizz and heat protect the hair then pulled it into an effortless ponytail at the nape of the neck.”
GET THE LOOK:
- Start with clean, freshly washed hair using Redken Frizz Dismiss Shampoo and Conditioner.
- Towel dry your hair until slightly damp.
- Apply a quarter-sized amount of Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame to tame frizz and heat protect your hair.
- Center-part your hair using your fingers then blow dry your hair with a boar-bristle brush, keeping your hair smooth.
- Once fully dry, pull your hair into a loose ponytail at the nape of your neck and secure with an elastic. If needed, apply a bit more of Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame to your lengths.
- If you need a little more texture, add a touch of bend to your lengths with a large-barrel tong.
- Spray a few spritzes of Redken Fashion Work 12 to set the look.
MARY KATRANTZOU
Image: Instagram//@marykatrantzou
The spectacular show that was Mary Katrantzou had an almost-couture vibe. From colorful ruffles, feathers and ombre masterpieces floating down the runway juxtaposed with layers of lapels and tweed prints, Katrantzou’s designs proved fashion as art. Color throughout the wardrobe was echoed in the City Beat shades Redken Global Color Creative Director Josh Wood created in the hair. After taking a peek at these shades, we have a feeling we will see these stunning hues and expert placement making their way into the mainstream shortly. Not only did Josh debut simply stunning hair color to match the look, he detailed two new color techniques that every artist should be aware of. “Color clouds’ and ‘horizon color’ are the latest trends seen on 20 models as part of Mary Katrantzou’s stunning FW19 collection. To get the bespoke look, Wood and his creative team hand painted these designs over five days using Redken City Beats mixed to perfection to make the unique tones seen on the catwalk.
“Mary has sectioned her collection into four worlds – each representing an aspect of the four elements; earth, wind, fire, and water. We’ve created two patterned hair techniques; ‘color clouds’ and ‘horizon color’ to work alongside and enhance her creative vision”, says Wood. “‘Color clouds’ is a combination of intense color that blurs and blends out to the palest color on the edges. These pieces were added to the models that have a light hair base – the dark blondes through to the platinums. For the darker haired models, ‘horizon color’ pieces were inserted into their crown and hairline. The extensions are saturated at the roots – in ink, emerald green, or purple violet – and faded out in reverse ombré to a paler end of hair.”
Redken Global Color Creative Director Josh Wood worked closely with both the designer’s fabrics as well as makeup artist Lynsey Alexander to make sure he had the perfect hues for each model’s skin tones. The result is a palette of seafoam, morning dew, sky blue, cracked earth, sunset coral and pink. “It was a joy working on this show. Mary wanted to give us a real platform to showcase the hair color. It’s very undone, rough and raw. There is a natural, worn-in finish that’s almost anti-groomed and a little bit unkempt. Hair is swept across the face. There’s a lot of natural power in this show”, says Wood.
PORTS 1961
Image: Instagram//@ports1961
Nataša Čagalj’s laidback tailoring put a spin on everyday wear for women at Ports 1961. Updated trenches and deconstructed favorites graced her runways with mixed patterns, slouchy boots and neutral toned knits. Messy slicked back buns paired with fringe earrings that echoed patterns throughout the runway. This look is a style that expertly translates for clients whether going shopping or heading out for a night on the town. With expert texture and tidbits of tendrils, it’s the 90s revamped look we can’t help but fall in love with. “The Ports 1961 show featured beautiful chignons using Redken Triple Dry 15. I’ve raked the hair back with my fingers, leaving little bits of hair loose, so there’s a nonchalance to the look. It’s a very luxurious look that really complements the clothes.” – Redken Global Creative Director Guido Palau
GET THE LOOK:
- Start with clean, freshly washed hair using Redken Frizz Dismiss Shampoo and Conditioner.
- Towel dry your hair until slightly damp.
- Blow-dry your hair using your fingers to leave the texture natural.
- Using a large-barrel tong, add more movement around the hairline. Then spray a few spritzes of Redken Triple Dry 15 to add in some texture and effortless softness.
- Run your fingers through your hair and pull your lengths back, twisting them around into a twist and using bobby pins combined with a few spritzes of Redken Fashion Work 12 to secure the look as you go.
- Pull out a few rough sections around the hairline to dishevel a little, and, if needed, spray a few more spritzes of Redken Fashion Work 12 to set the look.