The Presidential Wave – 1980
Vidal Sassoon’s Presidential Wave, 1980
For Election Year, 1980, Vidal Sassoon elected The Presidential Wave by Barbara Melser of the Vidal Barber Shop in NY. My tongue in cheek press release stated that The VS Poll interviewed its prestige Barber Shops in NY, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Chicago and Toronto and predicted victory in November for its Fall 1980 Men’s Campaign.
When this was photographed, in my office one Sunday, it was hoped Edward Kennedy would be nominated with his similar hairstyle! However, The Presidential Wave was an interesting movement, with new proportions and mood, democratically romantic as well as classically conservative, and was influenced by the women’s Soft Cubism Collection which had enjoyed such success in Vidal Sassoon’s Summer 1980 Campaign. For more, click HERE
Hair: Barbara Melser, Vidal Sassoon Barber Shop. NY, 1980 … Model: Burt Kyle …Jacket and Shirt: Thierry Mugler …Photo: Gregory Kitchen …Concept/Produced by Helen Oppenheim.
CommentWhy?
Why does anyone let anyone wear a wig that looks like a wig? Unless it is a blue or colored wig for fun. Seriously, I see so many wigs on the street that are painful to look at. Many are for religious reasons, some for medical ones. Men who wear wigs just must find the right wig, Not one obviously a wig. For one thing, stay away from a style with a part, guys. Who is selling these people these dreadful wigs? There is no excuse, even less expensive wigs can look natural, especially with a good hair shape or cut. No one need look like they are wearing a wig, not now. Not unless they want to. For more Why’s on this website, click:
Scene NY Fashion Week Day 1 – Fall 2014
Photos: Helen Oppenheim … Collage: helenoppenheim.com
Day 1 at New York Fashion Week was cold with lots of snow not yet fully cleared when I was there very early in the day! Not much time but here’s a few fashionables Seen on the Scene. The man on the left was interesting from top to toe, and in between. He ran off into a taxi before I could get his name and details of all the fun stuff he was wearing. The lilac hair with furs and different-colored glitter nails is Andy Crosten. Bottom, shoes photographed in the very long, windy/cold line up for press credentials! Bottom right is Charis in blue feather fur jacket with hand jewelry. Backstage photos to come later. Stay tuned …
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Slick-Backs, Scarves, Fashion, Men – Spring 2014
Photo: © Helen Oppenheim
The Didvik Kuang men line up with slicked-back glossy hair by Jon Reyman. This collection was by a graduating student of San Francisco’s famous School of Fashion at the Academy of Art University – one of 7 who got to show their fashions in the prestigious Big Tent during NY Fashion Week Spring 2014.
Didvik Kuang was inspired by Giorgio Armani’s wardrobe for the 1980s movie “American Gigolo” starring Richard Gere. He channeled the look with a lounge wear influence, a pajama like aesthetic and some great scarves tied just so.
Hair: Jon Reyman for Aveda … Photo: © Helen Oppenheim
Comment20 HighHair For Men 1980
Photo: © Deborah Samuel
HighHair for the romantic hero of the ’80s was by Helen Chudoba of Vidal Sassoon, Toronto. Waves, curls, height and volume rose above it all. Very new in 1980. And influenced by the HighHair styles for women. For different textures and effects, the hair could be finger-dried naturally, under lamps or blown dry. The hair could be worn with a side part one day, without one the next, a good cut being essential.
Anecdotes:
This photo was lost over 30 years. Helen Chudoba and I recently Friended on Facebook, I asked if she had a copy of this photo because I hadn’t got one. She finally found this photo from the collection and sent it to me. After a long search taking months.
Helen C to Helen O: “You brought the ruffles around my hand in the photo and the doves in the background from your bag of tricks.” I had fogotten …
Helen Chudoba, Vidal Sassoon Toronto, 1980
Perm: Feary Bina
Model: Ross Marks
Photo: © Deborah Samuel
HighHair Concept/Produced by Helen Oppenheim
All rights reserved © Helen Oppenheim
Comment4 Adding His Queue
The Queue, invented by Avram, Vidal Sassoon, New York 1980
The Queue, invented by Avram, Vidal Sassoon, New York 1980
4. His Short hair made long and romantic, in a flash.
Here Avram is adding the queue he invented to his own hair, in one easy movement.
Hair: Barbara Melser, Vidal Sassoon Barber Shop, 1980
Model: Avram
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
Produced by Helen Oppenheim
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © HELEN OPPENHEIM 2012
Comment5 His Long Romantic
The Queue invented by Avram, Vidal Sassoon, New York
5. Love his queue, the beard, the ruffles, so romantic.
He ponders…what? Don’t fence me in perhaps!
Hair: Barbara Melser, Vidal Sassoon Barber Shop, 1980
Model: Avram
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
Produced by Helen Oppenheim
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © HELEN OPPENHEIM 2012
6 Romantic Duel
Romantic Duel, hair by Barbara Melzer, Vidal Sassoon NY, 1980
6. There was a fencing and romantic theme to this campaign… went with the hair… the shirts had frills and ruffles, very new that season.
Her Hair: Avram, his hair: Barbara Melser, Vidal Sassoon, 1980
Makeup: Ted Nadel
Photo (scan from a laser copy here) : Lorraine Sylvestre
Produced by Helen Oppenheim
Anecdote: Avram later wore his ruffle shirt with a flowing black cape when we went to Venice and
Rome after a hair show for Llongueras in Barcelona, Spain. I remember he was a big sensation
everywhere and when we went to a trendy restaurant in Rome, the other customers actually put
down their knives and forks when we walked into the restaurant.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © HELEN OPPENHEIM 2012
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