Rodarte & Aveda @ NYFW

“The Rodarte hair look for this season is sleek and shiny—at once free-flowing yet controlled. I was inspired by the idea of a modern, young girl who is strong and capable yet sweet and innocent. The look is young and dreamlike, with handmade metal flowers that make a statement.”
–Odile Gilbert for Aveda

After the Girls from Rodarte chatted up long time supporter Natalie Portman they spoke with Aveda about the inspirations behind their latest look:

Q: What was your inspiration for this look? How did you collaborate with the designer to create the look?
“Kate, Laura, and I wanted to create a hair look with a dreamy, almost childlike feeling. From the front, the hair looks like it is left down, but in back, it is controlled, adorned with metal flowers that look like barrettes. There’s also a Mexican influence on the look, since the Rodarte collection this season is inspired by bordertowns. We wanted to reflect this inspiration with the vintage flower ornaments and shiny, side-parted hair.” –Odile Gilbert for Aveda

Q: What is the inspiration for your collection? What is the look you are capturing?
“Our collection this season explores the idea of sleepwalking. The idea of a dream state, or an in-between state, inspired us.” —Kate Mulleavy of Rodarte

Q: You have made a real effort to “green” your show this season. How do you feel about this accomplishment?
“Laura and I are committed to protecting the environment. Our greatest inspiration comes from the natural landscape that we grew up in, so we are proud to be partnering with a company like Aveda that promotes environmental awareness and responsibility.” —Kate Mulleavy of Rodarte

Photos by Aveda

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Jason Wu Goes Fiercely Green

Jason Wu partnered with Aveda and Odile Gilbert this season to created a truly original organic look. The video below reveals the truly brilliant marriage of chic sophistication and elegant edgy-ness bound up within those crisp black ribbons. Interview questions with Jason are also below.

Q: What is the inspiration for your collection? What is the look you are capturing?

“Contemporary artist, Tara Donovan’s, installations were my creative starting point; she makes amazing displays out of plastic cups, clear tape, and all sorts of everyday materials. Her art makes me rethink the way I look at texture and materiality.”


Q: You have made a real effort to “green” your show this season. How do you feel about this accomplishment?

“The entire eco movement is something I’ve always had an interest in, so now it is time to take an active role in ‘greening’ the fashion industry. I think the recycled paper invitations we sent out this season was a great beginning, and partnering with an environmentally conscious company like Aveda makes a powerful statement as well.”

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Shalom Harlow at John Patrick Organic

We always take a moment to pause for one the "girls."

The original supermodels summon moments of silence as their ability to enthral my 11 year old self is the entire reason Beauty's SPOT exists. Here is Shalom Harlow primping - Aveda style - before the John Patrick Organic show. No words.

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Beauty's Product: Free Holiday Treats from Aveda!

Always the busiest shopping day, this year Black Friday comes with more pressure than ever. Add long, pre-dawn lines and hectic bargain-hungry crowds to recent headlines and holiday stress is sure to reach record peaks. This season take refuge with Aveda’s gift ideas and the oasis choice oasis of shopping wellness at Aveda Concept Salons, Spas, and Experience Centers nationwide. Of these the choicest of holiday gift sets, my choice is the Himalayan Glow Holiday 2008 Gift Set.

Featuring, Aveda's signature soy-wax aromatherapy Holiday candle, infused with certified organic essential oils of cinnamon, clove, and vanilla. The Himalayan Glow Soy-Wax Candle - features an uplifting, organic aroma inspired by the rituals and culture of Nepal. It also features a 95 percent post-consumer recycled glass container and a reusable gift box made with Lokta paper from Nepal. $32.00 is a small price to pay for such an authentic Himalayan Glow, no? While you are making your pick don't forget to:

1. A Complimentary Boost. Pamper yourself mid-list with Aveda’s complimentary wellness rituals including: a Makeup Finishing Touch (where makeup is sold), Stress Relieving Scalp and Shoulder Ritual, Stress Relieving Neck and Shoulder Ritual, Stress Relieving Hand Ritual or Caribbean Hand Treatment.

2. Chill Out. Skip that high-priced green tea from your local “mega bucks” coffee emporium and enjoy a free cup of Aveda Organic Comforting Tea at Experience Centers near you.

3. Let Aveda do all the work. Cross off the co-worker, hostess, teacher, sister and
brother from your holiday shopping list with Aveda™ 2008 Holiday Collection limited edition gift sets. Feel good giving a gift that gives back, as each gift set supports the indigenous community and craftsmanship of Northwestern Nepal.

4. Breathe

Beauty's Product RAVE: Aveda Re-Launches Vintage Clove Shampoo and Saves Marine Life

Unless you are willing to say, "Baby Sea Turtle, I'll bust a cap in yo' ass." out loud in your kitchen every time you throw away a bottle cap, listen up. Apparently I'm not the only one who didn't know what to do with her plastic bottle caps and it's creating a real problem for baby turtles and marine life in general. I can attest to this personally as I recently saw a pelican in San Felipe Mexico with a bottle shaped gullet and I seriously considered sacrificing my arm to try and remove the obstruction. Luckily for my arm and the earth's marine life Aveda is thinking on a larger scale than I am.

In honor of their 30th anniversary, Aveda is introducing the world's first cap recycling program. Not only are they accepting old caps but on September 15 they debuted the first 100% post consumer recycled caps on their Limited Edition Vintage Clove Shampoo. Happy Birthday Aveda! I am lucky enough to be a proud owner of the Ayurveda-inspired, organic clove and coffee filled shampoo and I ADORE it. The smell reminds me of old, kindly Indonesian men and it reads the riot act to my unruly locks. Not only is the potion inside magic, and the recycled cap ingenious, but the bottle itself is made of a minimum of 96% post-consumer recycled (PCR) high-density polyethylene (HDPE)—the highest percentage recycled content in colored bottle containers to date in the beauty industry. (The remaining 4% HDPE is virgin resin used as a carrier for the bottle colorant.) Learn more about Aveda's school-based cap recycling program here. Indulge yourself, make amends to the baby sea turtle community, and get yourself a bottle.

Backstage at Rodarte with Aveda and Natalie Portman

Not every show at fashion week is packed with celebs. Rodarte however is. The female design duo behind the line count Natalie Portman, Anna Wintour, and Frodo as close personal friends. In choosing Aveda to create the hair for their show, this power fashion house is making a statement that the environment is priority not only for them but for the fashion industry. Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the dynamic duo behind Rodarte explain, “Spring 2009 explores the link between site specific art and the search for life in space. Earth art and science fiction are intertwined. The central theme of the collection centers around the idea of remnants; things that are wasted away or gathered and then left behind as a skeleton of the past.” The gowns were stunning as was the hair. Lots of lovely celeb pics and hair how-tos below.

Odile Gilbert, lead hair stylist for Aveda, created the alien-like look saying, “The inspiration is an alien; hair is wrapped in circular motions into a brain-like bun and covered with a gold or silver leaf. The idea was to create something very pure, simple and clean. To create this look, I approached the hair like origami—carefully folding and wrapping hair in circular motions and securing tightly in place.”

Get the Look/Step-by-Step:

Step 1: Separate hair into top and bottom sections leaving a wide strip from the front to mid-way down the head.

Step 2: Separate bottom section into three parts. Beginning with the middle section, dampen hair with water, spray with Aveda Air Control Hair Spray, and comb through. Secure into a tight pony tail approximately two inches above the nape of the neck. Wrap hair into a bun using a circular motion and secure in place with pins.

Step 3: Take bottom left section of hair to work with; dampen with water, spray with Air Control Hair Spray and brush through, then comb using a fine tooth comb to smooth. Wrap hair around the bun tightly in a circular motion and secure with pins. Re-spray with Air Control Hair Spray to seal fly-aways. Repeat with bottom right section of hair.

Step 4: Separate remaining top section of hair in half. Dampen bottom half with water, spray with Air Control Hair Spray and comb through. Divide again into two more sections—right and left. One at a time, wrap each section around the bun in a circular motion, securing in place with pins. The bun becomes larger and wider with each section of hair added.

Step 5: Take remaining top strip of hair; dampen, spray with Air Control Hair Spray and comb through to smooth. Comb hair back and directly over bun, securing in place with pins and Air Control Hair Spray. Tuck ends into the bun and seal with pins.

Step 6: Coat bun with Brilliant Retexturizing Gel. Place a gold (for blondes) or silver (for brunettes) leaf over hair to cover the bun. Smooth in place with fingers and spray with Air Control Hair Spray.

Aveda Products Used:
Air Control Hair Spray
Brilliant Retexturizing Gel

Backstage with Aveda at 3.1 Phillip Lim

According to earth friendly designer Phillip Lim going green is a way of life for him. In fact he has created a line of entirely eco-friendly clothes called Go Green. For his successful 3.1 Phillip Lim line he also makes every effort to be green. Inviting eco-conscious beauty pioneer Aveda to do the hair for his show was the natural choice. Lim says, “The collection is a fresh take on ‘Spanish’ dressing and calls forth the tension between the bullfight and the flamenco. This is about violent romanticism—a.k.a., drama, forcing curves into soft silhouettes. For the men, this collection is about matadors in training.” To compliment this idea the inspiration for the hair was Eva Peron meets Juliet Lewis; giving the ’40s a more a modern feel and shape.

Odile Gilbert was the key hair stylist for Aveda. Oldie defines his creation by saying, “This look is very intricate but the off-center bun above the ear is a very elegant, sophisticated evening look.” Sophisticated, dramatically romantic, and environmentally conscious; fashion week, fashion chic, indeed.

Get the Look/Step-by-Step:

Step 1: Create a deep side part and section hair off behind the ear. Spray with Air Control Hair Spray and brush through to smooth.

Step 2: Create a high pony tail right above the right ear and secure in place with an elastic.

Step 3: Divide pony in half and roll each section around a “rat” (small hair sponge), creating a cylinder-like shape. Hold in place with pins and spray with Air Control Hair Spray.

Step 4: Repeat with other section of pony tail, creating a bow-like shape.

Step 5: Apply a small amount of Aveda Light Elements Defining Whip throughout remaining section of hair on other side of the head. Spray with Air Control Hair Spray before wrapping hair down and around the back of the head along the hair line, and up around the base of the pony tail. Secure with pins throughout to keep in place.

Beauty's Product: Fashion Week Booty To Benefit BCA

I'm sitting in my best friend's bedroom paralyzed by a week of seemingly endless fashion and beauty. I am officially fashion week road kill. In fact it seems most of New York is a little tired from fashion week. Yesterday my cab driver looked at my press pass with mildly desperate, sunken eyes and said, "Miss when will this be over?" For me it will be over today. At 3:30 I'll stumble downstairs and walk a block to the Met for an interview with Lisa Butler, MAC Key Artist for the Tommy Hilfiger Show.

During this, my coveted break from the tents, I find myself unable to get out of bed due not only to exhaustion but also because of the physical impossibility of such a proposition. I am surrounded by oddly shaped heaps of swag bags. (I promise I won't be greedy and keep it all to myself. In fact you will be able to win most of it during October by commenting on posts when we go PINK to raise money for the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign.)

Many of my loyal readers know that I am in the process of relocating. Here is my question: Would it be wrong of me to select my new city based simply on the inconceivability of transporting all this beauty booty from it's current location? While we all ponder this question let's ogle one highly coveted swag bag from the Philip Lim show.

Amazingly, the gift bag has a $250 value and includes Aveda Dry Remedy Shampoo, Aveda Moisturizing Treatment Masque, and a huge box of Nars goodies. The best part is that it comes in an exclusive Phillip Lim organic tote!!

The full list of contents is as follows:

AVEDA Dry Remedy Shampoo
AVEDA Dry Remedy Moisturizing Treatment Masque
Aveda Dry Remedy In
NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Persepolis
NARS Blush in Penny Lane
NARS Lip Gloss in Chihuahua
NARS Eyeliner Pencil in Kitty
NARS Perfecting Powdered Sheets
NARS Mini Body Glow

Aveda at Preen

The Look:
The look is androgynous with a hint of romance. The front is quite masculine, sides are sculpted with a raked-back effect and the remainder of the hair is tied into a loose, low-slung knot at the nape of the neck.

Show: Preen
Lead Hair: Eugene Souleiman for Aveda
Aveda Lead: Dennis Clendennen, Dionysus, The Woodlands, Texas

Get the Look/Step-by-Step:

Step 1: Section off a triangle behind the crown of the head and pull back. Spray the sides with Volumizing Tonic and comb hair back with a wide tooth comb to create separation and a raked-back look. Dry sides of hair with a diffuser.

Step 2: Separate top triangle of hair into two sections, top and bottom. Blow dry each half straight and spray with Volumizing Tonic.

Step 3: Release both sections of hair and comb together with a fine tooth comb first, then a wide tooth comb (comb lines should be visible), adding more Volumizing Tonic to roots, to create a raked back effect.

Step 4: Slightly loosen shape with fingers to diminish comb marks and separate with hair pins. Dry with a diffuser.

Step 5: Pull all hair back, twist and tie into a low-slung knot a bit off center. Pull knot to tighten and finish the look with a list misting of Air Control Hair Spray.

Aveda Products Used:
Volumizing Tonic
Air Control Hair Spray

Lead Stylist Quotes:

Q: What was your inspiration for this look? How did you collaborate with the designer o create the look?
“The front is quite masculine, sculpted and severe while the bottom is wrapped into a loose, romantic knot. I was inspired by the androgynous look that was very much in fashion when I started creating editorial cover looks in the mid to late ’90s. This look beautifully contrasts with Preen’s collection, which is very feminine; the overall look is very strong.”

Q: How could a woman achieve this look on her own?
“This look is very adaptable for street wear. Spray sides, front and top with Volumizing Tonic and comb through with fine tooth comb, and then with a wide tooth comb to give separation and direction. Dry hair with a diffuser for a natural effect and tie in an off-center knot. Aveda’s Volumizing Tonic is a great setting product for this look.”


Designer Quotes:

Q: What is the inspiration for your collection? What is the look you are capturing?
“The look we’re going for is a feminized biker, hippie, Native American combo with an edgy Jimmy Hendrix attitude. The collection captures tribal-inspired patterns, printed denim on silk, sheer fabrics, bold zippers, cut-outs and sexy, laced-up backs.”

Q: You have made a real effort to “green” your show this season. How do you feel about this accomplishment?
“The environment is very important to us. We have a baby on the way and so are even more concerned about preserving the planet for future generations. We’re thrilled to be partnering with Aveda and are grateful for the example they are providing for us in terms of greening our show.”

Q: Have you made any additional efforts in your own life to care for the planet? i.e., not using bottled water at home? Turning your thermostat down? Bringing your own bag to the grocery store?
“Thea and I are conscious of the massive amount of paper and cardboard we use in the studio for pattern cutting and other projects. We make a concerted effort to recycle all materials we possibly can.

“We love the Aveda Sigg bottles and will be using them in our studio back in London. In certain parts of England, you can still have milk delivered in reusable glass bottles. Perhaps we should be looking to the past for other inspirations on how to reduce our carbon footprint.”

Aveda at Alexander Wang

Aveda is doing big things for their 30th anniversary and I can't wait to tell you about them. Unfortunately I am not allowed to yet. Until then check out their amazing looks from the Alexander Wang show with a step by step how-to below.

The Look:

This look is about the girl who’s just left the gym and has pulled her hair back into a “sweaty,” textured, undone half-pony. The bottom is loose and the texture is dry.

Lead Hair: Eugene Souleiman for Aveda
Aveda Lead: Dennis Clendennen Dennis Clendennen, Dionysus, The Woodlands, Texas

Get the Look/Step-by-Step:

Step 1: Spray Aveda Volumizing Tonic throughout dry hair and finger comb to create a “sweaty” texture – a.k.a. – “gym hair.”

Step 2: Mist Aveda Air Control Hair Spray onto hair and pull top half into a ponytail. Twist hair from the top of the pony to the end and dry with a diffuser.

Step 3: Sprinkle Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion at the roots and rake it through with fingers to add texture, volume and grip.

Step 4: Massage the twisted pony upwards while drying with a diffuser to add texture and flyaways.

Step 5: Release ponytail so that hair is loose with messy tendril curls. Spray with Air Control Hair Spray and dry again with a diffuser.

Step 6: Bring the top and sides of hair together into a half-pony and secure tightly at the crown with a black string.

Step 7: Rake hands through roots once more to add roughness and texture.

Aveda Products Used:
Volumizing Tonic
Pure Abundance Hair Potion
Air Control Hair Spray

Lead Stylist Quotes:

Q: What was your inspiration for this look? How did you collaborate with the designer o create the look?

“The collection is very much street wear and athletics inspired. This is a girl who has been playing basketball all day and has casually pulled her hair back. The crown is damp to capture a ‘sweaty’ look and the bottom is dryer, full of texture and flyaways.”

Q: How could a woman achieve this look on her own?

“This is a look that works well for long hair and can be easily adapted to create a slightly more polished effect. The key to this look is to create texture at the roots and loose, messy waves at the ends.”

Designer Quotes:

Q: What is the inspiration for your collection? What is the look you are capturing?

“This season, I was inspired to push fashion in a new direction and challenge myself to create something very different, new and fresh. This look reveals another dimension of the ‘girl’; she’s street-smart, athletic and casual with a hint of Miami Vice—basketball meets walk-of-shame. Colors are art deco inspired, faded and sun bleached.”

Q: You have made a real effort to “green” your show this season. How do you feel about this accomplishment?

“It feels good to contribute to such an important cause—and I thank Aveda for their help and guidance. The environment is such an important concern and it can sometimes feel overwhelming so it’s great to remember that every bit helps.”

Q: Have you made any additional efforts in your own life to care for the planet? i.e., not using bottled water at home? Turning your thermostat down? Bringing your own bag to the grocery store?

“We’ve recently moved our studio into a new building and we are utilizing all the natural light to minimize our reliance on lamps and overhead lighting. We also replaced bottled water with Brita filters and eliminated disposable cups, plates and cutlery.”

OMG! Aveda Founder Launches First USDA Organic Shampoo and Conditioner in the USA

Intelligent Nutrients will be the first USDA certified organic hair care line in the United States! Check out this article from WWD. (Note the Aveda founder is launching this line from his organic farm in Wisconsin. Go Badgers!