The long, short, curly, and colorful: Spring 2012 hair knows how to fake it!

The mane event: Lulu Johnson & Nicki Minaj join Betsey Johnson backstage at NYFW.

 “Fake it till you make it!”—perhaps not the chicest of clichés, but when it comes to trying out a new ‘do, we say go faux or just say no! That other old adage, “It’s just hair—it grows back!” is all well and good, until the salon chair spins around, and one is confronted with the aftermath of shear genius gone terribly wrong. While Spring/Summer 2012 runway hair trends ran the full gamut—from slick, sporty ponies to tousled, twisted tresses—the most head-turning trend from backstage was a big secret. In our final Beauty Break blog for S/S 2012, we’re focusing on spring hair with something to hide—four runway styles that fooled the eye.

FAUX BOBS

Arizona Muse's signature bob showcased on Tory Burch's spring runway.

While we adore top model Arizona Muse’s now famous bob haircut, not everyone can (or should) commit to a chin-length chop. Short and sweet styles were a designer favorite at the spring shows, but stylists made sure the runway look was only temporary. Backstage at Tory Burch in New York, Eugene Souleiman created faux bobs to complement Burch’s flirty, retro runway. Souleiman began with a deep side part, then pulled long locks into a pony at the nape of the neck, allowing hair to fall over the ears and create the illusion of a chin-length style. To further trick the eye, Souleiman gently pulled hairs out at the back of the pony, creating a “bob-like volume.” Photographers at the end of Burch’s catwalk had no idea the lopped locks were just ponies in disguise until models made their return trip down the runway!

A hair-raising faux bob at the Fendi Spring/Summer 2012 show.

The trend continued in Milan, where hairstylist Sam McKnight gave Fendi models stunted styles. “We’re doing a faux bob, teased back off the face, (with) lots of height,” McKnight told Videofashion. “She’s a mathematician who has a kind of mad edge,” McKnight explained his tress inspiration. The finished Fendi look was just as convincing as Burch’s bobs—from straight-on, you’d never know these short styles were long locks in disguise!

FAUX UNDERCUTS

“A quintessential English girl on a summer’s night out.” That’s how hair guru Peter Gray described the London-cool look he created for the Paul Smith Spring/Summer 2012 show. Gray’s team tousled tresses with Moroccan Oil styling cream to “give it some sheen and hold” and create a “nice loose and lazy texture.” But the sweet, English rose look also had a tough interior. To take any bulk out of the hair and create that weightless effect, models got what appeared to be undercuts, but what in reality were some very strategically placed cornrows! The lower half-to-third of the scalp was braided tightly, then hair was flipped back overtop to hide the tracks—simple as that! While it-Brit Alice Dellal may be committed to her signature buzz, we think this faux undercut is the perfect stealthy style to complement Sir Paul’s laidback, borrowed-from-the-BF spring vibe.

Undercover undercuts--covert cornrows backstage at Paul Smith.

FAUX BOMBSHELL CURLS

Betsey Johnson’s va-va-voom spring collection was all about accentuating one’s assets—if you’ve got it, flaunt it, and if you don’t, well, try some divine intervention. The same sexy attitude was channeled backstage at Lincoln Center, where tired tresses got extra body and bounce before hitting the catwalk. While London ladies received minimizing styles, Peter Gray gave Betsey’s bombshells maximizing hair makeovers with a supermodel-inspired tress trick! “You know that thing Jerry Hall used to do? She used to grab her hair and kind of fling it all the way around,” Gray explained his mane muse. Hall’s come-hither hair was recreated by pulling models’ strands into smooth side-ponytails at the base of the neck, then setting with hot rollers. Once hair was let loose, the style was left alone—instead of brushing into waves, the super-sized retro curls were allowed to have a life of their own. Extra volume piled on one shoulder creates the illusion of thicker, fuller locks with serious sex appeal. We’re sure super-sized hair fan, Nicki Minaj—who sat front-row at Betsey’s show—approved of the curl-power meets girl-power look.

FAUX DYE JOB

We couldn’t wrap up our spring 2012 beauty report without mentioning the rainbow tress trend. Candy Land dye jobs were all the rage, but before you break out the Manic Panic, consider the tricky tresses Odile Gilbert created backstage at Thakoon. Playing off the rich hues in the New York designer’s East (India) meets West (American cowboys) collection, Gilbert used highly pigmented hair powders in blue, purple, pink, green, and terracotta to faux “dye” models twisted ‘dos. The matte-finish color is anything but flat—we adore this fearless, fresh take on hyper-color hair, and really love the no-commitment, one-day (or one-runway) transformation.

There you have it: for Spring/Summer 2012, we got lippy with 3D, trippy with flashy phalanges, celebratory with statement eyes, and faux-fab with deceptive ‘dos. We’ll have more Beauty Breaks for you from the Autumn/Winter 2012-13 shows—which kick off next week at NYFW! To stay up to date with all the behind-the-scenes and front row action, follow Videofashion on Twitter, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Beauty Break: get nailed. Statement-making manicures for Soho, Sin City, Egypt, and the Playboy Mansion!

CND manicures were the only accessory at Wes Gordon's spring presentation; Poppyfield tips have Soho spirit.

We’ve all heard the expression, “Let your fingers do the talking,” and according to the pros backstage at Fashion Week, your digits have a lot to say! In today’s Beauty Break, we’re showcasing the hottest hands from the Spring/Summer 2012 shows—our favorite manicures and nail inspirations direct from the experts.

With his youthful approach to uptown sophistication, 25-year-old Wes Gordon is one to watch at New York Fashion Week—as were the classy-gone-sassy nails at his spring presentation. According to CND Nails guru Jan Arnold, Gordon’s gal has gone south for spring—South of Houston Street, that is. “She’s got a Soho sophisticated side,” Arnold tells Videofashion. This season, long, lean, almond-shaped nails were coated in a “nearly neon, yellow-based red” called Poppyfield. The vivid poppy is known for its, shall we say, euphoric capabilities, and this aptly named lacquer shade had us similarly entranced. The cheerful hue was the perfect complement to Gordon’s optimistic spring collection—so much so that the vibrant tips were the models’ only accessory! “What other fashion accessory do you need?!” says Arnold.

Fortunately, what happens backstage doesn't stay backstage. Deborah Lippmann's manicure for Narciso Rodriguez--no hangover required.

If you prefer more toned-down digits, you’re still in luck—understated shades were also trending on the Spring/Summer 2012 runways. To offset the technicolor tresses created by Eugene Souleiman at Narciso Rodriguez, nail expert Deborah Lippmann gave models a matching mani-pedi in a cool, gray color from her eponymous lacquer line. Cheekily dubbed “Waking Up in Vegas,”the soft cement hue hints at an alternatively bad-girl back-story told the murky morning after a wild night in Sin City. “You know, when everything’s just a little bit not right, a little bit off?” Lippmann describes the color story, with a wink. All hangover notions aside, subtly subversive shades of gray are a mysterious, chicly understated nail statement for spring.

Nail board backstage at The Blonds--digits worthy of the centerfold.

As a record-breaking pop-star, Katy Perry may be known for “Waking Up in Vegas,” but she’s also known for breaking rules on the red carpet, where she’s donned The Blonds’s extravagant creations more than once. We’re pretty sure Mrs. Russell Brand will likewise sink her claws into the nail trend showcased at The Blonds’s spring show. Famous for their over-the-top themed collections, the design duo’s latest mood board was covered in … bunnies. We’re not talking Peter Cottontail—we’re talking Playboy! With super-sexy cuts, glittering textiles, and in-your-face glamour on the catwalk, naughty nails were a must. “This season is about texture,” CND’s Kristina Estabrooks told Videofashion backstage in New York. While S/S 2012 makeup artists were giving lips the 3D treatment, manicurists nailed down texture by flattening their visual inspirations. “One of my favorites is this sheer black nail that looks like stockings with a French seam,” says Estabrooks. Other dazzling digits displayed on The Blonds’s bombshells included slippery oil-slick nails and our personal favorite: tips embellished with pave crystals. If you’re headed to the Playboy Mansion for spring break—or just want to channel your inner Girl Next Door—nail the pinup look with fun textures and ultra-glam accents.

Ancient accents made for a modern-day Liz Taylor tribute at Topshop Unique.

Finally, a manicure for the ultimate glamour girl: Elizabeth Taylor! For the latest Topshop Unique runway, creative director Karen Bonser looked to Liz’s Cleopatra for inspiration, and the Egyptian influence was seen backstage from the models’ gold leaf crowns to their hieroglyphic nails. Fortunately for us, the Egyptians’ simplified symbols are easy to replicate on your tips: start with bold basecoat colors—at Topshop, manicurists alternated teal, red, and metallic gold polish. Once dry, carefully adorn each nail with a white or gold shape. Let the second layer dry, then outline each shape in black lacquer with a polish pen. Topshop model Nimue Smit gives the look a thumbs-up. “It’s something different that people don’t expect,” says Nimue.  Also unanticipated: sporting a cryptic message—with a little research, you can really let your fingers talk!

What do you think of this season’s nail trends? Will you try any of these manicures? Let us know, and check back for more Beauty Breaks!

Selita Ebanks shines light on Costa Verde International School, Sierra Leone, & holiday giving, supermodel-style!

Selita Ebanks poses with artwork up for auction to benefit Sayulita, Mexico's Costa Verde International School.

She’s graced the pages of Sports Illustrated, strutted her stuff in some pretty fantastic lingerie, and she ran away with Kanye’s video—the girl even makes getting fired look good! But Selita Ebanks is more than just a supermodel—she’s also a superstar philanthropist.

Thursday night in the West Village, Ebanks was out to support the Costa Verde International School, a “green school” in Sayulita, Mexico, co-founded by Ebanks’s friend, photographer Anne Menke. CVIS aims to provide the Sayulita community with progressive education focused on environmental sustainability and responsibility in Mexico—a lofty goal to achieve with limited resources. Ebanks—looking cozy in a wooly DVF vest over her Rebecca Taylor frock—hosted the 401 Green Photography & Fashion Auction, where everything from Menke’s photos to a Mexican getaway were up for bid, with proceeds benefitting CVIS.

 Having collaborated with Menke throughout her modeling career, Ebanks was happy to shine some light—and funding—on CVIS. “[Menke’s] children go there, and it’s free admission for all the local kids. It’s such an amazing thing, to bring children from all walks of life together,” the Caymanian beauty told Videofashion. “I just had to help her.”

The curriculum at CVIS stresses community involvement—something instilled in Ebanks and her seven brothers (s-e-v-e-n!) since childhood. “It was really important to my Mom to allow us to see the world and reality. We didn’t wear rose-colored shades,” Selita told Videofashion. “We knew where our Thanksgiving turkey was coming from, so we would volunteer for Thanksgiving for the homeless, we would wrap presents for other kids.” Ebanks continues to make giving back a priority. “Community work and being aware of your surroundings is very important,” she added.

While guests sipped Gran Centenario Tequila cocktails and enjoyed music by Lovely Liar, Ebanks filled us in on another charity dear to her heart. “Shine on Sierra Leone is an organization I started working with three years ago,” Ebanks told Videofashion. The group, dedicated to lowering child mortality in the tiny, war-torn West African nation, is finally ready to open Sierra Leone’s very first maternity hospital! Ebanks couldn’t be more proud. “The team is going down on November 20, and there’s going to be a big ceremony. We are really humbled by it,” said Ebanks. “It’s just our first hospital, and I’m going to continue to work hard!” she added.

When Selita isn’t working, she still keeps busy doing good. This year for Thanksgiving, the supermodel is headed to Georgia, where she’ll be whipping up some southern hospitality in mom’s kitchen. “I’m cooking!” she emphasized. “It’s like a six-course meal she’s requested! She’s gonna put her feet up and be Mommy.” (awww …)

As for Christmas, Ebanks is sans wish list. “I’ve had a really successful year, especially with my philanthropy, so I’m happy,” she shared. Her holiday shopping list is also short and sweet. “I don’t really give gifts; I make donations to UNICEF in people’s names,” said the benevolent beauty. A supermodel-approved time-saving and life-saving present? That’s a gift that really keeps on giving!

Beauty Break: 3D lip service

Backstage at Antonio Berardi S/S 2012, this model is ready for her close-up with high-octane lips by Val Garland.

 The third dimension is having a moment—from Hollywood blockbusters to magazine covers to fashion shows, 3D is on-trend and about to be on … your face! While cheekbone sculpting and adding depth with smoky eye shadows are perennial tricks of the trade, this season saw the 3D trend move to lips, which brings us to our first post in a series of Beauty Break updates!

Now: how to get your pout ready for its IMAX debut—or at least its spring awakening. Conditioning is essential over the blustery winter months—whatever your preferred moisture method, by all means, pucker up. Nobody wants to see flakes of skin in 3D (or any dimension, for that matter), so only a smooth smoocher will suffice!

Lips were in full-bloom backstage at Prabal Gurung's Spring/Summer 2012 show in New York.

Once your lips are supple and silky, it’s time to get dimensional. One of our favorite Spring/Summer 2012 beauty moments arrived compliments of Charlotte Tilbury and the beauty team backstage at Prabal Gurung. The New York designer’s spring runway was inspired by artist Nobuyoshi Araki’s “Sensual Flowers” series, and the lippy makeup was likewise in full-bloom. Tilbury got literal with the flowery look: “We’re creating this orchid-like effect on the lip,” she explained to Videofashion backstage at New York Fashion Week. Tilbury used a trio of hues in an ombre effect to create her orchid, starting at the center of the mouth with black pigment, moving outward with purple, and ending with magenta on the outermost edge of the lips. “Kind of like a flower coming out of the mouth,” Tilbury added. The finished look is definitely dimensional; while black lipstick can ordinarily be a bit, mhhh … morbid (no?), this look is more “Kiss me now!” than kiss of death. Watch Gurung’s models on Videofashion to witness the flower power in motion!

Hot rod--make that, hot RED--lips put the petal to the metal at Antonio Berardi.

3D kissers were also on the agenda across the pond. For Antonio Berardi’s spring show, makeup artist Val Garland aimed to give lips a “high-vinyl reflex.” Just like Tilbury’s orchid creations, Garland used three colors to produce her three-dimensional pouts (see how that works?). “We’re mixing a color called Sin with a coral pigment, so we’ve got a blue-based red with an orange powder,” the beauty guru told Videofashion backstage in London. After blending the hues, Garland topped it off with a slick of gloss, and voila! Garland compared her “smashing red” look to a “metallic car hood”—which could be the best analogy ever. While a freshly waxed roadster may not sound like ideal spring beauty inspiration, the final look is definitely va-va-vrooom! These 3D lips were a seriously sexy compliment to the ruby crystal-accented exits in Berardi’s spring show.

At Jason Wu, matte was far from flat. Diane Kendal added depth with powder pigment.

If you’re not quite ready for Tilbury’s orchid lips or Garland’s full-throttle shellac, perhaps the slightly subtler beauty look at Jason Wu’s S/S 2012 show is your 3D lip style. Back in New York, makeup artist Diane Kendal bucked the tri-color trend and used just two products—scarlet lipstick topped off with neon orange powder—to create the soft-focus crimson kissers. The matte finish doesn’t mean loss of volume—just watch the way those pouts pop on Wu’s pop-art inspired runway! The dressed-up red lips were the perfect match for Wu’s sporty-couture collection.

There you have it—three powerful pouts taken into the third dimension for spring. By playing with pigment and layering hues, you can create lips that jump off the face and trick the eye—without wearing those weird glasses!

Do you have a favorite lip look from the Spring/Summer 2012 shows? Would you try any of these looks? Tell us what you think, stay tuned to our Videofashion YouTube channel for new S/S 2012 videos, and keep checking our Twitter and blog for more Beauty Breaks!

3D goes pop on Jason Wu's spring runway.

WANTED: Videofashion intern! Here’s how to apply …

 Videofashion is seeking a sensational summer intern! If you live in the New York area, are a college student, love fashion and TV,  and hopefully have a good sense of humor (negotiable), this could be the perfect way to pass those lazy summer days. Be sure to read the FULL job description and directions below before applying. Good luck!

Can you handle it?!

Wanted: Videofashion Production/Editorial Intern

Fast-paced fashion editorial programming company is seeking a motivated, reliable COLLEGE STUDENT intern to join our creative team.

This is an unpaid position but an ideal opportunity to gain valuable experience in the worlds of both television production and fashion. 

We are in our 35^th year of producing fashion, beauty, and lifestyle programming for worldwide television.  Find out more at www.videofashion.com and www.youtube.com/videofashion.

As an editorial intern you will be an integral part in the production of our programming.  Typical duties include:

• Screening fashion shows for particular fashion trends, models, etc.
• Database, internet, and magazine research
• Transcribing interviews
• Basic administrative duties using MS Excel, Word, and Access
• Participation in editorial meetings
• Occasional errands

 If interested, qualified interns will also have the opportunity to work with us as production assistants during New York Fashion Week in September and/or February!

We are seeking candidates who can commit at least 20 hours per week up to full-time (five days).  Hours and internship duration are flexible, as is start date, but we are looking for a minimum three-month commitment (through the summer).  Candidates should have a particular interest in media and television production as well as in fashion.

Please send a resume and a brief cover letter detailing your interest and availability to elloyd@videofashion.com .