I'll start with London. The general street style in London is so eclectic and edgy that it's almost impossible to generalise. I saw some fantastic creative fashion during my short time there, and the hair is equally creative. The undercut, disconnected looks that are seen on celebs like Rihanna and Ruby Rose are big in London, as well as a newer trend for volume. On the catwalks during Fashion week, there were a lot of designers showing models with big, messy, backcombed hair. Long gone is the dead-straight, ironed-to-death hair. Volume is BACK which we know but in a serious styled down way, Kevin.Murphy has been leading the way.
I also noticed some punters working a combination of the two major trends- undercut and volume. A MAC makeup artist, who I didn't get a chance to photograph, had a brilliant afro with shaved sides. She looked absolutely amazing, and it was my favourite look from the whole trip.
I just missed New York Fashion week, but spent some time with a Bumble and bumble stylist who was still in town- John Ruggiero. New York is a buzz of energy and although John is based in L.A. he took time to show me some cool hair and how Bumble and bumble work.
I'm not sure what i was expecting from New York, what I got was a great city, loads of people and a real mix of cultures,and some interesting fashion. I was supposed to meet up with Vivienne MacKinder who has just been inducted to the American Hall of Fame but our schedules didn't quite match up. Hopefully I can interview her later in the year for prohairstylist .
Having spent time around London Fashion Week and then coming to New York I was expecting a similar fashion, but I left in love with New York but not with its fashion and hair.It was a little conservative for my taste and nothing really blew me away in the street, which was in contrast to London. I went all over NYC- Upper East Side, West Village, Greenwich Village, East Village, Lower East Side, Midtown, Brooklyn, everywhere! The style there is just not quite as edgy and cool as London. Don't get me wrong, everybody looks great, and there are millions of models in the city, but it just didn't set me on fire creatively. I guess I'll just have to go back to New York and have a closer look- any excuse to return is good enough for me! I <3 NY!