Happy New Year – 2026
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Happy New Year to all my Followers – with Love.
~Helen
CommentHappy Holidays
Illustration by George Karkoulas.
Happy Happy to all my Followers. Wishing you all the best for the holiday season and The New Year with this 1991 illustration by George Karkoulas (1954-1993).
I have, with the help of Instagram, played with his original sketch. Which I have in my Archives along with many others he sent me exclusively. He trusted me as much as I admired his amazing talents, and I know he would love what I have done.
I honor him every Christmas using another of his sketches. The original sketches are at the beginning of the archived album, and my Christmas versions are towards the end. To see some of the best hair illustrations ever created, CLICK HERE
“I love you mad,”George wrote with every series of sketches he sent me. I will always love you, too. You will be in my heart forever.
CommentPadina Bondar Exhibit @ National Arts Club
Photos Helen Oppenheim. Collage helenoppenheim.com
Padina Bondar, an eco-conscious, hybrid designer, artist and activist known for transforming plastic waste into extraordinary couture fashion, textiles and designs, is currently featured in an exhibition at The National Arts Club in New York City, running from December 3 to January 2, 2026
The must-see exhibition, made possible by DTR Modern Gallery, showcases her sustainable art, designs and embellishments. Her work like the bobbin lace from plastic bags found on the streets of Manhattan, highlights environmental responsibility and reimagines luxury through ethical craftsmanship, challenging norms and inviting dialogue about our planet’s future. “The Fashion industry,”she says “is a leading environmental pollutant” and she aims to shed light on the mountain of waste and injustice beneath the glamourous facade of the industry.
“Changing The World One Plastic Bag at a Time” also showcases sustainable jewelry, like everything in the exhibition combining design with social consciousness. The idea of design as a revolutionary activity reminds one of Bauhaus, the early 20th century German art school.
Padina Bondar was born in Tehran, raised in Toronto, and now lives in NYC. Her passion and perspective are the results of cultural juxtapositions. She is a CFDA Scholar (2021) and has an MFA from Parsons (2022)
To see the Padina Bondar album with more photos and more information (latter to come) archived on my website, CLICK HERE
Photos: Helen Oppenheim
CommenthiTechMODA Shows @ NY Fashion Week SS2026
Photos Fred J.DeVito. Collage helenoppenheim.com
hiTechMODA showcased 39 designers from around the world at a two day New York Fashion Week event, which took place at the Edison Ballroom.
Founder and Executive Producer Pamela Privette’s mission with her award-winning production company is to provide a world-class platform for designers at all stages of their career, to democratize the runway and make it accessible to both visionary newcomers and globally established names.
The weekend lineup for Season 14 in New York represented multiple countries and cultures, and highlighted innovative couture, pageant wear, evening gowns, ready-to-wear collections. Spotlighted here, also Asian-fusion looks and comic-book inspirations on the younger set. The designers included Monerias by Marisol Miranda, Marjorie Kobayashi, Paaie, Tehzeeb, Ashes of Roses.
Paris, Milan, Tokyo and New York shows are scheduled in 2026. For more info, click hiTechMODA Registration is open for New York February 13 and 14, Milan is March 1, Paris is March 6, Tokyo is June 20 and New York September 11 and 12, 2026. The opportunities are there for all creatives to show their talents.
Top Row L-R: Monerias by Marisol Miranda … Marjorie Kobayashi … PaaieBottom Row: Tehzeeb … Ashes of Roses
Key Hair and Key Makeup: Adrian Ruilova
Photos: Fred J. DeVito
@hiTechmoda #hiTechMODA … #AdrianRuilova @tobaarten @edisonballroom #EdisonBallroom … @fredj.d #FredJDeVito@lawlormedia #LawlorMedia
CommentDogs Rescued @ NY Fashion Week Show
Collage helenoppenheim.com
Rachel Antonoff and Susan Alexandra’s New York Fashion Week Show for Spring 2026 presented a “Best in Show” dog and fashion event featuring human models walking the runway with adoptable dogs from the Animal Haven Rescue, showcasing the designers’ playful, dog-inspired pieces.
Rachel Antonoff’s collection featured flamboyant prints and motifs, such as postcard patchworks, stripes, and houndstooth.
Susan Alexandra’s accessories featured colorful, beaded accessories, heavily themed around dogs. Included were beaded leashes, collars, and dog-shaped bags.
The hair by Linh Nguyen for Cutler Salon was full and bouncy. The faces by Brianna Chin for Glamsquad had a ‘60s and ‘90s influence, with lips a wash of glossy colors, reds and berries.
The witty, whimsical, fun show for a good cause took place at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn, with celebs including Christina Hendricks of “Mad Men” fame and Edie Falco of “The Sopranos” walking the runway with the cute adoptable dogs. Galadriel, a 7 year old rat terrier mix, won the top prize and was adopted after winning by his handler, Edie Falco.
To see more fashions, dog accessries, hair how-to, CLICK HERE for 26 photos.
Key Hair: Linh Nguyen for Cutler SalonProducts: Redken Dry Shampoo, Volume Mousse, Root Tease, Shine Flash, 11 Thermal Spray, 12 Brushable Hairspray
Key Makeup: Brianna Chin for Glamsquad
Products: Mac Cosmetics and RMCA
Nails: Kesang Gurung.
Product: Chillhouse Press on Nails and Sticker Art.
Shoes: Nomasei Paris x Montopoli and G.H.Bass
Florals: James Weir Florist and Bosland’s Flower Shop
Photos: Fred J. DeVito
Photos Helen’s Blog May 21 to Oct. 20, 2025
Full Credits on Website. Collage by helenoppenheim.com
Collage of photos, hair history, info and inspo on Helen’s Blog from May 21 to October 20, 2025. Full credits are on Website Like No Other – helenoppenheim.com
Top Row L-R : Man Ray “When Objects Dream” @ The Met Museum September 14 to February 1, 2026. Photos: © Man Ray Trust, Metropolitan Museum of Art … Chantilly Lace @ Miss Sohee Paris Couture Week. Hair: Shingo Shibata for Kevin Murphy. Photos: Marco Bahler … Brigitte Macron Hair Yes and No, with respect.
2nd Row: Wenny Han Debut Collection @ NY Fashion Week SS2026. Odete Da Silva Hair Team/Goldwell, Makeup: Cristina Cuellar, Instituto Cristina Cuellar. Photos: Helen Oppenheim … Anahita Khailian, Beauty With Disability, Passion for Fashion @ Pandina Bondar NY Fashion Week SS2026. Photos: Helen Oppenheim … Fashion Art @ Pandina Bondar’s NY Fashion Week Presentation SS2026. Hair: Peter Gray using Back of Bottle, Makeup: Deney Adam, Christian Mitchell/Mac Cosmetics. Photos: Helen Oppenheim.
3rd Row : Bobs on every model @ Malan Breton NY Fashion Week Show SS2026. Hair: Vivienne Mackinder, Wigs: Wigs.com, Makeup: Odilis Trinidad. Photos: Fred J. DeVito … The Golden Swan heads on PBS/Masterpiece Theatre. Czech TV Series (aka Zlata Labut) on Amazon Prime. Photos: Helen Oppenheim … Remembering John Sahag, 20 years (1952-2005) Hair: John Sahag. Makeup: Jun Funahashi, Fashions: Gaelyn & Cianfarani @ The IBS Fuse Show, 2003. Photos: 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
CommentThe Golden Swan Heads Czech TV Series
Photos Helen Oppenheim. Collage helenoppenheim.com
A Czech historical drama, The Golden Swan is a PBS Masterpiece TV Series by Water Presents with two seasons currently on Amazon Prime.
Most of the action takes place in a luxury department store in Praque as the Nazis occupy the country. There’s danger, secrets, sibling rivalry, romance, forbidden love, blackmail. With a third season not available on Prime yet.
And there’s inspo with hair and heads of the era – 1939, early ‘40s. Many are wigs. There’s lots of rolls, some great headwraps, a lovely low on the nape chignon, some curly curls.
The actresses shown in this collage, with photos taken by me from the tv, are Kristyna Podzimkova (aka Krystyna Ryska), as Irena,. Simona Lewandowska as Alena. Kamila Trnkova as Marta. Barbara Bockova as Marketa. Marta Matova as Sophie. The lead actors are Marta Dancingerova as Bara and Adam Vacular as Petr, the man and woman seen in the ads here.
The story can be a bit wobbly at times, and one has to wonder how someone with tb, coughing up blood, can be allowed to put everyone at risk for so long, and no one is scared, but it is something different, interesting and addictive. Also known as Zlata Labut, the series is produced by Dramedy Productions and has English subtitles.
CommentMalan Breton Bobs On Every Model NYFW SS2026
Photos Fred J. DeVito. Collage helenoppenheim.com
Bobs are back on the fashion runway. Vivienne Mackinder, who trained in London with Vidal Sassoon way back when, cut bob wigs, some asymmetric, inspired by the famous shapes of the ‘60s and ‘70s, – for every model at the Malan Breton NYFW Show for Spring 2026 held at the Léman Ballroom in New York City. A refreshing change from the same-looking long hair and ponytails seen everywhere for years, easy to handle as a style, the bob, which originated in the ’20s and was re-introduced in the ’60s, looked fresh again.
Both futuristic and deeply poetic, the show was presented in four Acts – The Heart, Time, Transformation and Legacy. And featured silks, brocades, master tailoring, a knock out tie, lapel jewelry for him and more. Opulent Gilded Age designs reimagining the excess and elegance of the era for a modern world and futuristic structures were stunning.
The show was held in support of charity, CaringKind (The Heart/Alzheimer’s Caregiving) and show sponsors included King Seiko (Time) Sohomuse and wigs.com.
To view the album with 22 photos archived on helenoppenheim.com CLICK HERE
Lead Hair: Vivienne Mackinder … Wigs: Wigs.com … Hair Products: Back of Bottle …
Lead Makeup: Odilis Trinidad, Odilis Lashes … Fashion Stylist: Montgomery Frazier
Photos: Fred J. DeVito