Keeping you entertained – and informed

Posted by on Sep 18, 2012 in Helen's Blog | 11 comments

Helen Oppenheim

Come with me on a historical journey into the hair fashion world.

The Helen Oppenheim Hair Fashion Photo Archives are a unique and inspirational resource for the media, movies, tv, theatre, anyone wanting a new hairstyle. There are  more than 5,000 photos from the ’60s to the present, many innovative firsts, many not dated, still relevant and wearable today, even from way back then. Scroll for More, More, More.

Ideas. This is what you will find on www.helenoppenheim.com, the result of my art directing, conceiving, taking and collecting photos over decades. Yes, I’m a hoarder. I specialize in hair and fashion trends, and have photographed myself backstage at NY Fashion Weeks for years. Most fun I’ve had. There are “treasures” hidden here and there and I hope you will find the time to discover them.

I use my blog mostly to highlight interesting photos on the website, as well as whatever tickles my fancy. I am not intending to be politically correct all the time, so I may ruffle a few feathers. Be warned. But I hope to keep you entertained. And informed.

I was born in London, lived in Montreal for years, and for the last few decades in New York City. All have influenced me. I  have toiled away as a journalist and PR for some of the world’s best, and have been US Correspondent for Peluquerias Magazine of Barcelona since 1982. I’m hard to please! Too honest, perhaps. So I have lots of friends, also lots of enemies and expect to make a few more of both.

Now, I’m working on my legacy, for posterity. This is a Work in Progress. I expect it will take forever. So, stay tuned…

This is a Work in Progress I expect it will take forever. So, stay tuned…

Helen Oppenheim - Hair & Photo Guru

Love it. Absolutely love it. Thank you, Mitchell Field, for this great gift of a bus with wonderful words! Click Comments box bottom right and scroll down for Comments from fans

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Remembering John Sahag 20 Years – 2025

Posted by on Jun 14, 2025 in Helen's Blog | 0 comments

Remembering John Sahag 20 Years – 2025

Photos Helen Oppenheim. Collage helenoppenheim.com

It is 20 years since the legendary John Sahag left us to do the hair of the angels (January 2, 1952 – June 15, 2005).  The Lebanese-born Australian-raised Armenian became famous in Paris as the first internationally-recognized freelance hairdresser. He worked his magic on the heads of the supermodels and superstars of his era and made The Dry Cut famous in his John Sahag Workshops on Madison Avenue in NYC from 1985, active until recently.

This collage shows just some of his magic which made him so famous.  It was the last time I saw him, at the IBS Fuse Show in New York, 2003, when I photographed his futuristic butterflies backstage.

Hair was braided, wrapped, twisted, knotted, in butterfly shapes.  Meticulously engineered couture hairpieces (which took 4 hairdressers and 4 assistants 4 weeks to create) were cut-up, colored, entwined, tied with elastics and attached to heads, with seams showing, some sprayed with more color, a crazy abstract playful hair mix. Sahag was inspired by the butterfly theme of Gaelyn & Cianfarano’s stunning summer fashions, some in latex, and leather-look recycled bicycle rubber inner tubes.

To see more magical photos by Sahag, to read about him, how-to’s, all with plenty of inspiration, go to Hair Then/John Sahag on this website, helenoppenheim.com

Hair: John Sahag, The John Sahag Workshop, NYC, 2003 … Makeup: Jun Funahashi/L’Atelier … Butterfly Tattoos: Stephanie Tomaz … Fashions Gaelyn & Cianfarani … Fashion Styling: Lisa Von Weise … Photos: Helen Oppenheim

 

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Photos Helen’s Blog Jan 23 to May 20, 2025

Posted by on May 27, 2025 in All Photos on Blog | 0 comments

Photos Helen’s Blog Jan 23 to May 20, 2025

Full Credits on Website. Collage by helenoppenheim.com

Collage of photos, hair history, info and inspo on Helen’s Blog from January 23rd to May 20, 2025.  Full credits are on Website Like No Other – helenoppenheim.com

Top Row L-R : NYFW FW2025, Selkie Libertines, 18th Century Marie Antoinette inspirations, Kimberley Gordon Creative Dir./Designer, Hair by Linh Nguyen for Cutler/Redken, Makeup Lottie with Color Pop, Photos LaunchMetrics and Getty (Wig) … NYFW FW2025, Diana Mahrach Couture, glam evening wear, Hair by Marco Maranghello, MakeUp by MakeOverArtistry, Photos by Helen Oppenheim.

2nd Row: Selkie Angel @ NYFW SS2024, Hair by Linh Nguyen for Cutler/Redken, Makeup by Lotte with Color Pop, Photo: Helen Oppenheim  …  Sargent and Paris @ The Met Museum, Self Portrait and Book Cover, Madame X detail, Photos Metropolitan Museum of Art … Sargent and Paris, must-see major exhibition at The Met Museum April 27 to August 3, 2025, Photos Metropolitan Museum of Art and Helen Oppenheim … Jabot trend alert, Ralph Lauren Fall 2025, and Leon Bonnat painting @ Sargent and Paris Met Museum Exhibition, Photos Masato Onoda, WWD, Unknown , and Helen Oppenheim … Angelo Seminara Colorific Hair Artist, Goldwell, Makeup by Daniel Kolaric, Photos by Andrew O’Toole (and Txema Yeste)

3rd Row : Easter Parade Fabs on 5th Avenue 2025, Photos by Helen Oppenheim …  John Sahag (1952-2025) – 20 years June 15 – @ Workshop Creative Evening, Photo and Collage by Helen Oppenheim … Shimmering gold heads @ The Solid Gold Exhibition, The Brooklyn Museum 2025, Hair and Photos by Edward Tricomi, Warren Tricomi … Edward Tricomi backstage with Polly Mellen, NY Fashion Week, Photo Helen Oppenheim

To see more details, who did what, scroll down this blog two or three pages (click the red More More More bottom left to go to the next page.  To see the latest blogs, CLICK HERE

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Photos Helen’s Blog Jan 23 to May 20, 2025

Posted by on May 27, 2025 in Helen's Blog | 0 comments

Photos Helen’s Blog Jan 23 to May 20, 2025

Full Credits on Website. Collage by helenoppenheim.com

Collage of photos, hair history, info and inspo on Helen’s Blog from January 23rd to May 20, 2025.  Full credits are on Website Like No Other – helenoppenheim.com

Top Row L-R : NYFW FW2025, Selkie Libertines, 18th Century Marie Antoinette inspirations, Kimberley Gordon Creative Dir./Designer, Hair by Linh Nguyen for Cutler/Redken, Makeup Lottie with Color Pop, Photos LaunchMetrics and Getty (Wig) … NYFW FW2025, Diana Mahrach Couture, glam evening wear, Hair by Marco Maranghello, MakeUp by MakeOverArtistry, Photos by Helen Oppenheim.

2nd Row: Selkie Angel @ NYFW SS2024, Hair by Linh Nguyen for Cutler/Redken, Makeup by Lotte with Color Pop, Photo: Helen Oppenheim  …  Sargent and Paris @ The Met Museum, Self Portrait and Book Cover, Madame X detail, Photos Metropolitan Museum of Art … Sargent and Paris, must-see major exhibition at The Met Museum April 27 to August 3, 2025, Photos Metropolitan Museum of Art and Helen Oppenheim … Jabot trend alert, Ralph Lauren Fall 2025, and Leon Bonnat painting @ Sargent and Paris Met Museum Exhibition, Photos Masato Onoda, WWD, Unknown , and Helen Oppenheim … Angelo Seminara Colorific Hair Artist, Goldwell, Makeup by Daniel Kolaric, Photos by Andrew O’Toole (and Txema Yeste)

3rd Row : Easter Parade Fabs on 5th Avenue 2025, Photos by Helen Oppenheim …  John Sahag (1952-2025) – 20 years June 15 – @ Workshop Creative Evening, Photo and Collage by Helen Oppenheim … Shimmering gold heads @ The Solid Gold Exhibition, The Brooklyn Museum 2025, Hair and Photos by Edward Tricomi, Warren Tricomi … Edward Tricomi backstage with Polly Mellen, NY Fashion Week, Photo Helen Oppenheim

To see more details, who did what, scroll down this blog two or three pages (click the red More More More bottom left to go to the next page.   To see all  Helen’s Blogs highlighting work archived on this website, CLICK HERE

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Ralph Lauren Romantic Jabots Trend – 2025

Posted by on May 20, 2025 in Helen's Blog | 0 comments

Ralph Lauren Romantic Jabots Trend – 2025

Photo Ralph Lauren: Masato Onoda, WWD Sargent Exhibit: Helen Oppenheim

Trend Alert for Fall 2025.  Jabots. The romantic jabots made a fashion statement at the Ralph Lauren Fall 2025 Fashion Show as they cascaded under black sweaters.  Edwardian-inspired, The Modern Romantic frilly shirt, far left, was worn with a vintage-looking brooch, an aged leather jacket and another trend – balloon pants, tailored, tucked into boots.
Photo: Masato Onoda, WWD + Unknown
More on the Ralph Lauren Show, Click Here

Of interest, a jabot in the painting of Comtesse Potocka (Princesse Emmanuela Pignatelli di Cerchiara) by Léon Bonnat, a contemporary of John Singer Sargent and included in the Sargent and Paris Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (April 27 to August 3, 2025)
Photo: Helen Oppenheim

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Selkie Libertines NYFW Fall – 2025

Posted by on May 15, 2025 in Helen's Blog | 0 comments

Selkie Libertines NYFW Fall - 2025

Photos Courtesy Selkie/Launchmetrics and Getty Images

For her absolutely fabulous Fall/Winter 2025 New York Fashion Week Show, Libertine, Selkie’s Creative Director, Kimberley Gordon, embraced historical excess with inspiration from the opulent Marie Antoinette late 18th century time period, “that over-the-top period of abundance in clothes” – and hair, when “having a boat in your hair was not only a norm. It was a political statement.”

Kimberley Gordon drew parallels between today’s cultural momentum and the revolutionary spirit of 18th century France with Selkie’s latest collection, Libertine.  “We’re on the precipice of what feels like a revolution,” she says, “transforming the historically masculine movement into a celebration of feminine power.”

The hair by Linh Nguyen, Cutler Salon and Redken, was out of this world, fabulous and fun, with wigs up to there, and wide out to there, adorned with amazing concoctions.

Lotty’s magical makeup with Color Pop included powdered faces, large moles, black lined pink lips, heavy rose cheeks.

To see photos larger, and more photos, CLICK HERE

 Creative Director: Kimberley Gordon: @wedreamoficecream … Lead Hair: @linhhair
@cutlersalon @redken … Wigs: @showgirlvanitywigs … Lead Makeup: @lotstar … @colorpopcosmetics … Fashion Styling: Alisha Silverstein @alishasilverstein
Production and PR: @emilybungertmn @poly_global_world
Runway Photos: Launchmetrics … Wig Photo:  Janice Yim @gettyimages

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Impressive Sargent And Paris @ The Met – 2025

Posted by on Apr 24, 2025 in Helen's Blog | 0 comments

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 Impressive Sargent And Paris @ The Met – 202

Photos: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Helen Oppeheim. Collage: helenoppenheim.com

The must-see Sargent and Paris can be viewed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue April 27 to August 3, 2025.  The major exhibition of  approximately 100 works of art by John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) coincides with the 100th anniversary of his death, and includes many preparatory sketches for the then daring masterpiece of Madame X, Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau (1859–1915). which created a scandal when first shown in Room 31 at the Paris Salon.  Included in this collage, Madame X, far left, and just a few of the impressive Sargent paintings, watercolors, and drawings from his early career in Paris and portraits when he was famous.

Top Row, Left to Right: Entrance to the Exhibition and Self Portrait John Singer Sargent, 1886 …  The artist in His Studio with the painting of Madame X, Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau ca. 1884

2nd Row: Beggar Girl, 1880 … La Verre de Porto (A Dinner Table at Night) 1884  … In the Parisienne Room, a work of by Léon Bonnat of Contessa Potocka (Princess Emmanuela Pignatelli di Cerchiara) 1880 (note the Jabot, a fashion trend for Fall 2025)

3rd Row: La Carmencita (La Carmencita (Carmen Dauset Moreno) ca. 1890 … Dr Pozzi at Home, 1881 … Madame Ramón Subercaseaux (Amalia Errázuriz y Urmeneta) 1880

Photos: Entrance and Self Portrait: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
All Other Photos: Helen Oppenheim … Collage: helenoppenheim.com
To see more photos, and bigger, go to my Facebook page, CLICK HERE

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Sargent And Paris @ The Met – 2025

Posted by on Apr 22, 2025 in Helen's Blog | 0 comments

Sargent And Paris @ The Met – 2025

Images Copyright @ The Metropolitan Museum of Art 2025

Coming Soon, a Major Exhibition of Works by John Singer Sargent (1856-1925)  from his Transformative Decade in Paris with approximately 100 works of art including the iconic Madame X, Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau(1859–1915). The exhibition presents an in-depth exploration of the creation of the painting and a nuanced view of the scandal it caused.

The must-see Exhibition opens at the Metropolitan Museum of Art April 27 – August 3, 2025, in the Tisch Galleries, Gallery 899, 2nd Floor . Stay tuned for more, including all of Madame X, about which, when he sold the work to The Met in 1916, Sargent wrote that it was “the best thing I’ve done.”

Images of Self Portrait John Singer Sargent and
Book Cover Yale University Press London with detail of Madame X
Copyright @ The Metropolitan Museum of Art 2025.
#MetSargentandParis. www.MetMuseum.org

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Easter Parade Fabs 5th Avenue NYC – 2025

Posted by on Apr 20, 2025 in Helen's Blog | 0 comments

Easter Parade Fabs 5th Avenue NYC – 2025

Photos: Helen Oppenheim. Collage: helenoppenheim.com

Here are some of the fabs photographed at the Easter Paradeand Bonnet Festival on Fifth Avenue in NYC 2025.

I love the fun  everyone has, the joy, and the work that must have gone into these amusing, creative outfits, especially the bonnets, hers and his, on which so many must have spent hours and hours, probably days, concocting.    To see more photos, and all the photos bigger, go to my Facebook and Instagram pages.

Photos: Helen Oppenheim

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Angelo Seminara Colorific Hair Artist- 2025

Posted by on Apr 5, 2025 in Helen's Blog | 0 comments

Angelo Seminara Colorific Hair Artist- 2025

Photos: Andrew O’Toole

I love love love the creativity of Angelo Seminara (@angeloseminara_hair  / @streetersagency)
He says “he is driven by an insatiable hunger for innovation” and he is.  Here is some of his amazing extraordinary work:

Far Left : 3D hair creation from the Bolt Collection (Goldwell/Issuu) –
a series of contrasting fluorescents vibrating similarities to the fabrics, textures and color effects of the signature designs by Missoni and Issey Miyake.

Top Center New waves,  AIPP Avant-garde Category Winner 2023-2024

Top Right : Red black mid length bob, 2016

Right Middle Center : Turquoise hair from the Evoke Collection, a futuristic hidden technique

Bottom Center : “A voyage into untamed creative territories, flirting with the extraordinary … that elevate hair to the status of living art.”

Bottom Right : The one and only Angelo Seminara, Hair Artist

Hair Concepts and Creation:
Angelo Seminara
Makeup: Daniel Kolaric
Photos: Andrew O’Toole
(Bolt Photo: Txema Yeste)

To see some of the hair artist’s past work (2010-2014) archived on my website, helenoppenheim.com CLICK HERE It’s worth a look.

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Diana Mahrach Couture @ NYFW – 2025

Posted by on Feb 19, 2025 in Helen's Blog | 0 comments

Diana Mahrach Couture @ NYFW – 2025

Photos: Helen Oppenheim. Collage: helenoppenheim.com

“Fashion, Arts, Jewelry” an event featured glam eveningwear for her and him by Diana Mahrach Couture, held during NewYork Fashion Week 2025 at the super elegant 3 West Club.

Marco Maranghello was the Creative and Hair Director.  Ponytails ruled, many glammed up with jewelry in the hair, here and there, or on the forehead.  MakeOverArtistry are credited as Director of Makeup and Backstage Director.

The fun evening was Emcee’d by five-time Emmy Award Journalist Kristen Thorne, a special musical performance was by singer-songwriter Melina. The event honored Julia Haart and Consuelo Vanderbilt-Costlin (her handbags from the debut collection of CK by Consuelo Vandebilt made a statement) and benefited The New York Women’s Foundation (NYWF)

All photos by Helen Oppenheim
To see more photos archived on this website, and bigger on my social media, stay tuned …

 www.dianamahrachcouture.com
IG: @dianamahrachcouture| F: dianamahrachcouture
IG: @nywomensfdn | F: NewYorkWomensFoundation | X / T: @nywomensfdn
IG:  @melina_singsIG
@marcomaranghello @makeoverartistry  @malazmmua
IG: @lawlormedia | F: LawlorMediaGroup | X / T: @LawlorMedia

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