Hair Olympiad – 1976
As I watch the Olympic swimming events for 2021, I am reminded of the Olympic Collection I art directed and produced for La Coupe to celebrate the 1976 Olympics in 1976. The model in this photo, Elmer Olsen, wearing 8 gold medals, was channeling Mark Spitz, who won seven gold medals for swimming in the 1972 Berlin Olympics. To see more of the collection and hair, which got massive PR coverage, including in US Vogue with one of the photos, click HERE.
Hair: Kim Lepine, La Coupe, Montreal/NY … Medals: Olympic Coin Jewelry …
Model: Elmer Olsen … Graphics: Georgine Strathy … Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre …
Concept/Fashion Styling/Produced by Helen Oppenheim
Kim’s Kiss Curls – 1975
Photo: Marc Daniels
Now that Kendall Jenner wore a kiss curl on her forehead for the Met Gala in 2019, maybe more hairdressers will kiss curl to make a simple chignon that little bit more exciting … Reposted. Kiss Curls from 1975: Kiss curls can make almost any classic hairstyle more stylish and flirty. Anyone can make kiss curls themselves, according to Kim Leplne, but she admitted the unforgivable makes for a better kiss curl -cutting a few tiny hairs! “They really look chic-er shorter and it is important to remember less is best,” advised Kim, who suggested bringing a few hairs forward on the forehead, on the cheek, wherever. Photo left was published in UK Vogue, March 1975. More Kiss curls and how to do them on HairThen, La Coupe, 70s, MishMash.
Hair: Kim Lepine, La Coupe, Montreal … Makeup: Electa, Electa & Corrado … Model: Sylvie Desbois … Photo: Marc Daniels … Produced/Fashion Styling by Helen Oppenheim
(Sylvie Desbois, the model above, is a friend on my Facebook. Yes, we are still in touch from way back then. And she’s as lovely today as she was then.)
CommentKiss Curls – 1975
Photos: Marc Daniels
One kiss curl to one side of a mid-parted chignon, the other on the cheek or two on one side of the forehead, here with a side-braided chignon. What a good idea for a NY Fashion Week show. Something simple and better than a chignon with a bare forehead, as seen over and over. The photo on the right made UK Vogue, March 1975. For more versions, CLICK HERE
Hair: Kim Lepine, La Coupe, Montreal/New York, 1975 … Makeup: Electa, Electa & Corrado … Model: Sylvie Desbois … Photos: Marc Daniels
Produced/Fashion Styling by Helen Oppenheim
Ritz Wrapz, Hair Inspo From The Past – 1979
Photos: Lorraine Sylvestre
As we start New York Fashion Week for Fall 2019, here is some hair inspo from 1979. I do hope a hairdresser for a Fashion Show will be allowed to create something as lovely. And interesting. The look was called Ritz Wrapz and it was by Antonio Da Costa Rocha for La Coupe. Versions of this made a WWD cover and Vogue way back then, but the look and the idea is as modern today as it was then. Long hair was wrapped with ritzy wired fabrics which La Coupe offered in gold, silver, black, white, red, pink, blue, green, yellow or to match an outfit. The long hair was lifted and looped with the glittering or colored fabrics, wired for control. For the long version, just a few strands at the front were used, the back left long. For the updo, the hair was lifted and looped to frame and flatter the face. The possibilities are endless. For details how to make your own, CLICK HERE
Hair: Antonio da Costa Rocha, La Coupe,NY … Makeup: Ted Nadel … Model: Michele Scarabelli … Photos: Lorraine Sylvestre … Creative Art Direction/Produced by Helen Oppenheim
CommentLa Coupe’s Great Gamine – 1977
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
Hair History. “This great gamine will survive all weathers,” said Kim Lepine, La Coupe’s International Design Director in 1977. Not only would it survive all weathers, it has survived for all of time, and is not dated at all decades after it was created. “The hair was cut using :”modern seventies’ cutting techniques to achieve the chewed effect of the fifties’ gamines but the difference was that La Coupe’s gamine wisps were precision cut and shaped to stay, cut into the shape by cutting on an angle to suit the face and working with the natural growth patterns of the hair.” The background is from a 1921 Harper’s Bazaar cover from Charles Spencer book by Erté For more on this gamine and other styles from this Collection, CLICK HERE
Hair: Kim Lepine, La Coupe, Montreal/New York, 1997 … Makeup: Electra & Corrado … Model: Guylaine… Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
Concept/Produced/Fashion Styling: Helen Oppenheim
Angel Hair Inspired by Religious Paintings -1987
Photo: Geoffrey Hargrave Thomas
Inspired by religious paintings and the French Napoleonic Empire period of the early 19th Century, Kim Lepine created this heavenly hair in 1987 for La Coupe’s Innocence Collection. There was a heady mix of textures with straight hair and tiny wave movements, strategically placed, irregularly. This is just one of the innovative, wearable looks from way back then by La Coupe that has not dated and could be worn today. This Collection was styled by Arianne Phillips, early in her career, and she went on to style for Madonna during her most famous time. For more versions, CLICK HERE
Hair: Kim Lepine, La Coupe, New York, 1987 … Fashion Stylng: Arianne Phillips/Creeative Workforce … Empire Dress: Melissa Chatain … Model: Krista, Montreal … … Photo: Geoffrey Hargrave Thomas.
Produced by Helen Oppenheim
Art Deco Hair Inspiration – 1974
Photos: Serge Beauchemin
Hair History, In 1974, the Art Deco Collection put La Coupe Salons on the map all over the world. Almost overnight. The most successful collection La Coupe probably ever did included not just the Deco Cuts and Styles but also a colorific “Shine-On” highlighting color idea which made almost every major magazine in New York, including a full page in Harper’s Bazaar. The Deco Cut here, by Charles Booth, featured cut- in waves with many angles, very accentuated, all fitting in, with the front the same length on one side, 1/4″ on the other and a very square back. For 23 photos with more versions and more Deco styles CLICK HERE
Hair: Charles Booth, La Coupe Montreal/NY … Makeup : Electa, Electa & Corrado … Long Black Leather Gloves: Iona Monohan Collection … Dress: Anne Klein … Deco T: Tania Vartan for Ruby-T … Model: Danielle … Mirror Graphic: Eric Neil Weiss … Photos: Serge Beauchemin.
CommentTrend Alert. Hair Orbits Again- 1969
Photos: Bob Fisher. Collage by helenoppenheim.com
Do you know your hair history? ’60s hairstyle orbits in 2018. Again. This look was very popular in the late ’60s. Similar looks were done by many, first popularized by Vidal Sassoon, but I prefer this one by Charles Booth owner of La Coupe Salons from 1967 to early 90s and introduced as The Orbit in 1969, the year the US first landed on the moon. Now, Redken’s Guido has designed his version for Marc Jacobs F/W New York Fashion Week Show, colorized for the 21st century by Josh Woods, so there is another trend alert for the look, which could catch on this time. It’s not flattering to all, but is for some, as it was here for Keitha McLean, at the time the Fashion and Beauty Editor of The Montreal Star, later a reporter at WWD, and still later the first Editor in Chief of Miss Chatelaine now known as Flare in Toronto. Face on, it was just a cap of hair, with a heavy round smooth fringe rising up to a soft point in the middle of the forehead. It was cut right from the crown and the hair orbited all around. The back was short and the cap graduated to a “V” on both sides. For more details and a longer version CLICK HERE
Hair: Charles Booth, La Coupe Montreal, 1969 … Model: Keitha McLean … Photos: Bob Fisher, ARB
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