Mr. Vidal Sassoon Photo Not Seen Since – 1980
Photo: Unknown
This photo of Vidal Sassoon has not been seen for decades. It was taken September 29, 1981 at the Canadian Launch event in Toronto for his hair care products. Here is the man with one of the displays by Peter Laurance, seen in the photo with Vidal Sassoon. Peter was in charge of all displays at the prestigious Holt Renfew Department Store. For more on the Canadian launch, the products, and Vidal Sassoon jeans, click:
CommentVidal Sassoon Rag Set – 1981
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
“Miracles can work in 20 minutes,” said Graham Wren of Vidal Sassoon, NY in 1981. When the hair was dry, he wrapped the entire head in rags, which he got from a five-and-dime store. They were so soft one could also sleep in them. This is an idea, for short hair or long, from way back then for those who don’t want to iron or roller set their hair for a more voluminous soft airy effect, as can be seen for the finished looks in Sassoon’s P-P-Puff Collection, very new looking then, not exactly what you’d expect from the famous geometric hair cutters! Go to HairThen on this website, Viidal Sassoon, The P-P-Puff for the finished looks.
Hair: Graham Wren, Vidal Sassoon NY 1981 … Makeup: Ted Nadel … Model: Danielle … Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre. Produced by Helen Oppenheim
CommentAntonio Lopez Chic Fun Hat Hair Idea – 1981
Illustration: Antonio Lopez
One of my inspirations for hair as well as fashion is always, now and forever, Antonio Lopez, whose fashion illustrations have stood the test of time and never cease to amaze me. He worked from life, and his girls can be marveled at in his 1982 book, Antonio’s Girls (Congreve Publishing, Text Christopher Hemphill.) Here is an illustration for a Gianni Versace editorial in Italian Vogue, 1981. It’s a great idea for long hair with a hat – chic, elegant, fun. For more Antonio Lopez, click here:
CommentThe P-P-Puff – Vidal Sassoon 1981
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
Vidal Sassoon’s P-P-Puff, 1981. With a Chinese theme! We have taken our superb precision cutitng a step further, said Graham Wren in 1981.
The big new silhouette from Vidal Sassoon Salons USA in 1981 was injected with a healthy dose
of fresh…air. Very new then, a very different and high fashion direction for Vidal Sassoon.
The look was voluminous, the effect airy, fresh, very natural, casual, with carefully cut-up hair p-p-puffing…flicking and flirting around the silhouette, framing the face, in soft, flattering ways. It was big. And soft. And sexy.
“In the same way the fashion innovators are offering a variety of lengths and moods, said Avram, Vidal Sassoon’s articulate Art Director in 1981, “we are shattering the myth that only short haircuts can
offer form, gesture and volume. Many of our newest looks are refreshingly long. We are going to all lengths to show that soft, voluminous hair is the perfect balance, the perfect accessory to fashion this
season.” For more P-P-Puffs, long and short, go to HairThen, Vidal Sassoon, The P-P-Puff on www.helenoppenheim.com
Hair: Graham Wren, Vidal Sassoon, NY, 1981
Makeup: Ted Nadel
Dress: Ellen Gleason
Jewelry: Margaret Bailey, Vidal Sassoon
Model: Danielle
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
Produced by Helen Oppenheim
CommentGold Lamé Rags – 1981
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
From rags to riches in glam gold lamé rags, hand-made by Avram and the Vidal Sassoon NY staff in 1981.
They were pretty enough to wear out for a party. We also made rags in animal, camouflage and other prints. The idea to set hair was practical and pretty, a big success with the media at the time. For full story and finished looks, go to Vidal Sassoon The P-P-P-Puff.
Hair: Avram, Vidal Sassoon, NY 1981 …Makeup: Ted Nadel …Model: Kay Romero … Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre … Produced by Helen Oppenheim
REMEMBERING VIDAL SASSOON – 1980
Vidal Sassoon with his $Million Dollar Jeans, Toronto 1980
On the day of his Memorial in London, October 12, 2012, take a minute to look at this happy photo of Vidal Sassoon launching his $Million Dollar Jeans and products in Toronto, Canada, 1980. The name Vidal Sassoon was spelled out in De Beers diamonds. As PR and Creative Director for the Vidal Sassoon Salons USA at the time, I had 2 weeks of sleepless nights to come up with this idea! For more information on this, the Pinkerton Guard, go to HairThen Vidal Sassoon Canadian Launch on www.helenoppenheim.com
Hair: Helen Chudoba, Vidal Sassoon, Toronto, 1981 … Model: Paula Turnbull … Photo: Unknown
Comment1 Canadian Launch 1980
Vidal Sassoon with Million $ Jeans Model, Toronto, 1980
Vidal Sassoon and his Million $ Jeans Here’s Vidal with his Million $ Jeans model at the Toronto Press Event to launch his jeans and his hair care products in Canada.
This was the ultimate pair of jeans and this photo made not only the NY Post but also the NY Daily News and the United Press International Wire Service for world wide coverage, but also many papers in Canada as well as the US.
As PR director for the Vidal Sassoon Salons USA and Canada, I had spent two weeks of sleepless nights trying to come up with a newsworthy idea to launch yet another pair of jeans and one night a brainwave came. Why not have the Vidal Sassoon logo made of real diamonds and have a Pinkerton security guard standing by to protect what I called the Million $ Dollar Jeans. I had a contact with the Canadian PR for de Beers Diamonds, at Ayer Barker ABH International in Toronto, and I approached Heather. She liked the idea for De Beers, too, and had the signature made of De Beers diamonds, albeit not a Million $ worth, but I think we paid some $15,000 for the signature, which in 1981 was worth a lot more than it would be now. Yes, it was a gimmick, but a good one. I was surprised how many of the press thought they really were worth a million dollars but most knew and played along with the fun!
Jeans manufactured in Montreal by Skirt Togs for Vidal Sassoon Canada Ltd. There were hairstyle photos in the press release, but repeats of others in the Vidal Sassoon Archives so I show just some of the photos and sketches from the Canadian Launch.
Hair: Helen Chudoba, Vidal Sassoon, Toronto, 1980 …Model: Paula Turnbull, International Top Models … Photo: Unknown … Produced by Helen Oppenheim
(Photo was either United Press International or Canadian Press, but I am not 100% sure which or who took it. Will credit.)
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © COPYRIGHT HELEN OPPENHEIM 2012
Comment2 Canadian Launch 1980
Photo: Unknown
Million $ Jeans and Security Guard
Here’s the Million $ Jeans with a real Pinkerton security guard, complete with gun. We hired one in Toronto, shown here, and another in Montreal for the jeans fashion show and event we held there the previous day at Régine’s, which was followed the next day by the jeans at the Montreal Grand Prix where 50 hostesses and pit girls flashed and dashed about in Vidal Sassoon jeans and tops.
This was a major PR effort on my part, which I handled from my NY office with Norma Meneguzzi of Ayer Barker in Toronto and RPM Promotions in Montreal working with Lawrence Taylor of Vidal Sassoon in Century City in California.
The jeans were manufactured in Canada by Skirt Togs in Montreal for Vidal Sassoon of Canada Ltd.
Hair: Helen Chudoba, Vidal Sassoon, Toronto, 1980 … Model : Paula Turnbull, International Top Models … Photographer: Unknown.
REQUESTED ANECDOTE FROM PETER NIEDAN, THE SECURITY GUARD, 33 YEARS LATER AFTER HE MADE A COMMENT UNDER THIS PHOTO, SEE BELOW:
“it was long ago and I happened to keep a security newspaper called The Eye which was a Pinkerton issue..vol 28, no 4 december 1980. What I recall from that evening was that Mr. Vidal Sassoon was very welcoming to me when I arrived for my escort duty. Told me to stick to Paula’s side no matter what, even if pictures were being taken. When the picture was taken we were on stage in front of the crowd and when Paula put her hands on me she was shaking and hence the distortion of my mouth on the right side as I was talking to her to calm her down. If I remember correctly this was her first show where she was the prime model. A gentleman(?) made some comment about how hard my job was having to watch her butt all evening. At the end of the evening she and I went back to her hotel room and I waited outside for her to change and give me the pair of jeans which I then brought to the client and then since my duties were finished. Do not really remember to much else of the evening except that Paula behaved in a professional way and to my mind did a good job. Mr Peter Niedan”
Produced by Helen Oppenheim
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © COPYRIGHT HELEN OPPENHEIM 2012
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