Fashion Scoop Daily

Platinum. 18 karat gold. Topaz. Opal. Rhododite. Tourmaline. Garnets. Amethysts. Diamonds!

Sounds dreamy right? Well, they are!

I had the privilege of working with a talented team on this editorial in order to radiantly capture the bold and exquisite designs of Kerri Halpern of Madstone Design, In collaboration with Nine Eighteen Boutique, Edgar Gomez, the art director and stylist for the day, developed a story to showcase these beautiful pieces.

The collection was based on and inspired by Greek Mythology. Poseidon. Apollo. Ares. Persephone. Medusa. Athena. All of my favorite mythical deities from my books as a kid. Of course I had to be a part of this project!

The goal was to evoke a Greek goddess encapsulating the different traits of each god. Jordan Raines’ beauty was easily a fit for such a timeless piece.

My inspiration for the beauty piece in this story was golden wreaths, waterfalls, rope, and wind moving through hair.

Jordan’s face was prepared with Laura Mercier’s Radiance Primer for an effortless glow.

To enhance the glow and give an ethereal flush, I used one of my favorite products NARS Multiple in Portofino. This multipurpose stick has a creamy consistency and may be used on more than one area of the face. I gently tapped a bit on the apples of her cheek with my ring finger for an innocent flush. I patted a generous amount on the center of her lips as to evoke the feeling of having just eaten a cluster of red grapes. Finally, I blended a small amount through her eye crease to warm up and brighten the eye area.

After a light coating of mascara, I lined the lash line lightly with Dior Addict- It Line Liquid Liner in Black.

Textured waves were created with a tapered wand and Bumble and Bumble Spray de Mode. I love it because it has heat protection abilities, memory, and a light brushable hold that will withstand rapid hair changes and movement. The hair transitioned from loose waves to emulate the waves of Poseidon, a braided coiff to channel Athena, and a halo braided crown to personify Ares. Medusa was brought to life by gathering her hair into a regal updo and allowing tendrils to fall as I wove an 18 karat gold necklace through her curls as a diadem.

Dream and enjoy this editorial collection as much as we did when creating it!

Credits

Editorial Feature for www.fashionscoopdaily.com

Art Direction/Styling: Edgar Gomez

Hair and Makeup: Walter Fuentes of WAFU Artistry | www.wafuartistry.com

Photography: Nicollette Mollet www.nicollettemollet.com

Muse: Jordan Raines courtesy of The Dragonfly Agency

Jewelry: Provided by Nine Eighteen Boutique with creations by Kerri Halpern for Madstone Designs

May 31, 2014 was a special date set aside to host a wonderful annual celebration for a beautiful cause. The occasion benefited AIDS Outreach Center and those supporters and donors that lend their hand to make an impact on such a great cause.

The evening offered a wonderful runway show featuring the brilliant designs of Geoffrey Henning. The mood was set to the tone of the daring 60’s. Geometry, fluid lines and flowy silhouettes were all the buzz.

I had the honor of leading hairdressers backstage in creating the look for this night. As a team, Juan Lerma of Amrel Styling and I conceived a look that would be true to the era yet modern. After a bit of brainstorming, we agreed to pay homage with an iconic bouffant.

The look was to be replicated on 14 models provided by The Campbell Agency before being whisked to makeup for a bold and graphic mod eyeliner in black and white. Usually, when I do a runway hair test, I like to practice ideas or techniques on a long hair mannequin before proceeding to a live model the day of the show.

This is the finished look which consisted of a smooth French twist combined with a bouffant crown and a deep swooped side part. Follow the journey of how this look was created!

HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN PADDING

When working with exaggerated silhouettes or bigger volumes, I like to use padding or “rats” as a foundation to the style to create density and use less back combing.

Hair padding this large can be difficult to find. Outfitting this many models can also add up in cost. So, naturally, I just make my own!

I always have Kanekalon fibers on hand in every color since they create a great filler. I always look for the brand Zury since I find that it is soft, matte, and malleable. You can find it at any beauty supply store and generally runs about $2.99 a bag.

I also keep hair nets in stock for session styling and bridal work. I particularly prefer the Jac-O-Net brand since it is sheer and strong. I also keep this in shades like blonde, light and dark brown, silver, white, and black. You can also find these at any beauty supply store and usually run about $.50 each.

I cut the bundle of hair into 2 pieces for more control.

Take one piece and roll it onto itself to create a little roll.

Next, I place the roll into a hair net and twist the ends to tighten them. This creates a little sealed pocket for the padding to sit in. Pinch the ends and tuck them into the roll.

I created several in different colors to match the model’s hair color.

THE LOOK: MOD BOUFFANT

Hair that is smooth works best for this look. I prepped the hair using Kenra Professional Volume Styling Foam and Paul Mitchell Hot Off The Press to protect from the smoothing iron heat.

Isolate a small triangle section at the front hairline measuring from temple to temple. This will be your swoop fringe. Section the hair from ear to ear through the crown of the head. Isolate these 2 sections.

Overdirect all of the bottom section to the left. Find the center of the head and pin in a straight line with your pins facing upwards. This will create a spine for support and avoid the pins slipping out.

Now, take your padding and pin it vertically against the spine you have just created. Try to mold your padding onto the shape of the head and do not let it sit too low on the nape as it will show in the finished style.

Now, overdirect all of the hair back to the right and cover the padding. This will simulate a voluminous French Twist. Have loose ends? Tuck them into in the roll and padding.

Lightly backcomb the crown area to create a bit of height. Secure another pad horizontally across the head.

Now direct all of the top hair back and pin at the top of the French Twist.

Make sure that all of the hair smooth. Check for balance, symmetry, and proportion.

Release the front triangle section and smooth over with a smoothing iron in the way you would like the swoop to go in. This look was more modern so the swoop sensually covered the eyebrow and part of the eye. Part of the ear was covered as well and was pinned into the French Twist in the back.

Once everything is in its place, mist with a finishing spray for hold. I used Kenra Professional #26 Finishing Spray.