Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2009 NYC: Catherine Malandrino

 

Me with Eva Scrivo backstage

Me with Eva Scrivo backstage

Monday afternoon I headed to the Chelsea Art Gallery for the Catherine Malandrino show, where I talked to lead stylist Odile Gilbert for Sebastian Professional and salon owner and show haircolorist for Wella Professionals Eva Scrivo, who teamed up to create "rockabilly chignons." The look perfectly complemented the collection's '40s- and '50s-inspired feminine yet edgy silhouettes. The preparation started weeks before, when Scrivo and her team individually colored more than 20 natural hair extensions and accentuating pieces using Wella Koleston Perfect haircolor. To find inspiration, Scrivo said she looked at many shades of wood. On the day of the show, Gilbert created the glamorous chignons by pulling hair into a ponytail and wrapping the hair and wefts around a foam form centered on top of the head, working with Sebastian Professional Taming Elixer weightless smoothing crème serum, Shaper Fierce ultra-firm finishing hairspray and Shaper Zero Gravity dry, brushable, lightweight control hairspray. Meanwhile, key makeup artist for M.A.C James Kaliardos said he was "feeling orange," which he said he's seeing a lot of this season. The look, which Kaliardos told me was somewhat inspired by Edith Piaf, featured orange lip balm topped with orange lipstick, orange blush and "rockabilly eyes," whatever you may interpret that to mean! —Lotus Abrams, managing editor

Catherine Malandrino

Catherine Malandrino