Rare Vidal Sassoon Mystery Solved – 1979
Photo: Unknown
This rare Vidal Sassoon photo was part of the 1979 Soft Cubism Collection. The hairstyle was inspired by Marlene Dietrich in the 1931 movie “Dishonored” and it was a Modern Marlene version which is a mystery. It was created for a magazine in Los Angeles but the name of the hairdresser, the makeup artist, the model, the photographer and the magazine are unknown. It is the same dress, and accessories as we used in the collection, so I must have sent them to LA. The mystery deepens the more I think of it. If anyone knows who did the hair or any other people involved, please tell. The hair, the model, the photo, everything is lovely. To see more of the Soft Cubism/Modern Marlene photos, and the original Marlene Dietrich photo, CLICK HERE
UPDATE. The hairdresser was Graham Wren, International Art Director of Vidal Sassoon, NY at the time. The model from this 1979 photo just contacted me after seeing this blog archived on my website – in March 2020. Her name was Samantha Jones. And here is what she said: “Hello. I have such wonderful memories about my time with you all. Thank you for my 15 minutes of fame. I was so thrilled when I saw that picture. The name I used then was Samantha Jones.
Sincerely Samantha Severance
Vidal Sassoon Gold Lamé RagSet – 1981
Photos: Lorraine Sylvestre
Hair History. This is the short version of Vidal Sassoon’s P-P-Puff, by Graham Wren in 1981. The silhouette was injected with a healthy dose of fresh … air. The natural-looking, casual silhouette was very new at the time, not just for Vidal Sassoon but for the world. One could go from rags to riches to get this look if the hair was not naturally curly. Our model, Kay Romero, wife of the then-President of Vidal Sassoon Salons, USA, Fernando Romero, had her hair set in gold lamé rags, which looked more glam than rollers, and she could have gone out on the town wearing them as her hair set! The gold lamé rags made a Peluquerias Magazine Cover and captured a lot of press all over the world at the time! For more, longer versions and how-to’s, CLICK HERE
Hair: Graham Wren, Vidal Sassoon, NY, 1981 …Makeup: Mariella Smith-Masters … Dress: Ellen Gleason … Earrings: Ken Begun … Model: Kay Romero … Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
Produced by Helen Oppenheim
Vidal Sassoon’s Soft Cubism – 1979
Photo: © Lorraine Sylvestre
The Soft Cubism Collection was influenced by the art movement of Cubism. This is Susie by Graham Wren, Vidal Sassoon, New York, in 1979.
The collection was based on the square, the circle and the triangle but softened, with no hard edges, all corners and points were rounded. It was was influenced by a WWD cover for Yves Saint Laurent’s cubist fashion collection that year. For more versions of Soft Cubism, how-to’s and interesting info, click:
Hair: Graham Wren, Vidal Sassoon, NY, 1979 … Makeup: Ted Nadel … Model: Suzie Kozak … Photos: © Lorraine Sylvestre … Concept/Produced by Helen Oppenheim
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
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
CommentMagritte-Inspiired Vidal Sassoon HighHair – 1980
Photos: Lorraine Sylvestre
The Museum of Modern Art will be inspiring the fashion and hair worlds with Magritte: The Mystery Of The Ordinary, 1926 -1938, the first exhibition to focus exclusively on René Magritte’s breakthrough surrealist years. The exhibition opens in New York on September 28, 2013, before traveling to Houston and Chicago in 2014.
Magritte inspired Vidal Sassoon New York In 1980 – with these versions of romantic, dreamy HighHair, by Graham Wren, photographed with some Magritte-like clouds and curtains, designed by Avram. Apologies to René Magritte’s “Le Beau Monde” (“High Society”) created in 1960 (not the exhibition’s time frame) but we thought any Magritte is motivational. For more surreal hair, go to HairThen, Vidal Sassoon, HighHair, on www.helenoppenheim.com
Hair: Graham Wren, Vidal Sassoon, 1980 … Makeup: Ted Nadel … Dress: Patrick Wise … Model: Vyctoria … Photos: Lorraine Sylvestre … Art Director: Avram … Concept/Produced by Helen Oppenheim
CommentVidal Sassoon’s HighHair – 1980
Photos: Lorraine Sylvestre
A selection of 6 from a total of 19 photos from Vidal Sassoon’s world-famous HighHair Collection from 1980 with hair by Graham Wren, A. Vernon Keach, Tom Principe, Damien Miano, and Avram who also created the art, background, clouds, Dali watch. This was the first time hair had been high on top for years, and these photos had high impact at the time. No teasing! Concept/Produced by Helen Oppenheim. Photos: Lorraine Sylvestre. For more photos and full credits see Hair/Then, Vidal Sassoon.
Comment4 HighHair 1980
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
HighHair – Margo
Romantic, dreamy, soft HighHair was inspired by the romantic fashions of and a soft watch by Salvador Dali.
Here is Graham Wren’s version. To achieve the new, irregular waves, he used Vidal Sassoon Blow Styling Lotion before waving and clipping hair up around hairline and the hair was left to lamp naturally.
Hair: Graham Wren, Vidal Sassoon, NY, 1980
Perm: Allie Galizie (La Mauer Heat Wave Perm)
Makeup: Ted Nadel
Dress: Patrick Wise
Soft Clock and Necklace: Avram (Inspired by Salvador Dali)
Model: Margo Fletcher, ITM
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
Concept/Produced by Helen Oppenheim
Anecdote: Avram, who had a degree in Fine Arts from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in made this amazing clock and the necklace for this and another photo, not shown.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © HELEN OPPENHEIM 2012
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