Romantic Dancing Hair Chic to Cheek – 1935/1986
Top Photo: Geoffrey Hargrave Thomas. Fred & Ginger RKO
Dancing Hair in 1986 was inspired by Ginger Rogers in the 1935 RKO movie classic “Top Hat” as she danced “Cheek to Cheek” with Fred Astaire. A 36″ long switch was twisted and twirled then wrapped around the head giving flattering height and width – plus it worked with any hair, long or short, for a romantic, chic look. To see many more versions of Dancing Hair, some in color, a how-to, a few minutes of the most famous and romantic Fred & Ginger duets, music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, click HERE scroll down, and know it is heaven.
Hair Top Photo: Antonio da Costa Rocha, La Coupe, NY/Montreal, 1986 … Makeup: Honey Twigg … Fashion Stylist: Alete Gentile Wolfe … Model: Marilyn Coe … Geoffrey Hargrave Thomas. Concept/ Produced by Helen Oppenheim
CommentRomantic Dreamy Hair – 2013
Photos: © Helen Oppenheim. Collage by helenoppenheim.com
Romantic hair inspired by fairies, woodland nymphs and the haunting beauty of Max Reinhardt’s 1935 film “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” was the theme for Peter Gray’s hair for the Badgley Mischka Spring 2013 New York Fashion Week show.
The ribbon-like hair floated angelically, some accented with a tiny flower or two nestling here and there. Small random crimps gave an airy effect and added to the magic. A braided shelf acted as a base for the complicated carefully conceived dreamy hair, lovely for beautiful brides. For more romance and how-to’s, click HERE:
Hair: Peter Gray for Moroccanoil … Makeup: Tom Pecheux, Mac Cosmetics …
Photos/Collage: © Helen Oppenheim
Dancing Hair, Elegant, Romantic – 1986
Photo: © Geoffrey Hargrave Thomas
Dancing hair by the great Antonio da Costa Rocha of La Coupe has never dated, although it was created, with huge success, in 1986. False hair was braided, twisted and twirled to wrap around the head for a romantic, elegant evening, giving flattering height and width to the head. Some of the braids had colors entwined. So many great photos in the album, a how-to, and the video that inspired the iconic style. More Dancing Hair, click here:
Hair: Antonio da Costa Rocha, La Coupe, New York/Montreal … Makeup: Honey Twigg … Fashion Stylist: Aleta Wolfe … Dress: Oscar de la Renta … Model: Carol Dlugos/Ford … Photo: Geoffrey Hargrave-Thomas … Produced by Helen Oppenheim
CommentRomantic Wavy Bob – 1988
Photo: © Geoffrey Hargrave Thomas
Bobs have never looked more romantic than here. “30s bobbed hair is making waves and is tomorrow’s nouvelle vague,” predicted Kim Lepine of La Coupe in 1988 of this romantic look inspired by a Marlene Dietrich ’30s style, still in fashion today, if you have the right cut with the right hair. Or it can be set in. The hair was controlled, with less layers less wisps, all angles curved, rounded, soft, a signature theme for Kim Lepine’s hairstyles. “Bobs,” she said ” are the most flattering, chic shape ever – which is why they keep making a comeback.” For a child-like, natural color, Daniel Galvin of London and color consultant to La Coupe in New York at the time, lightened the hair with gentle no-bleach Color LIghts, which took 4 hours but lasted 3 months. For more, click here:
Hair: Kim Lepine, La Coupe, New York/Montreal … Hair Color Lights: Daniel Galvin of London, Color Consultant to La Coupe … Makeup: Daniel Coss … Fashion Styling: Irene Bilo … Blouse: Giorgio Armani … Earrings: Dinny Hall/Showroom Seven … Model: Trudi Dochertermann/Click … Background: Helene Leclerc … Photo: Geoffrey Hargrave Thomas … Produced by Helen Oppenheim for her article in The Gazette, Montreal
CommentRomantic Wisps Whisper – 1977
Photo: © Lorraine Sylvestre
For pure romance, long wisps whispered on the cheek, tickled the temple, kissed the nose, caressed the neck on this lovely look, just one innovative idea from La Coupe’s 1977 Wisp Cut Collection. This one was so new-looking then, who knew it would be the beginning of wisps falling all over the place because perfect hair was what everyone wore at the time.
Fine wisps were pulled out from the hairline here and there, and precision-cut into a shape, using the natural growth patterns to romantically frame the face and neck. Elmer Olsen, who created this style, advised “for long wisps to be left out for this look,the hair has to be a good length before one can start.” More, technical details, click here:
Hair: Elmer Olsen, La Coupe, Montreal … Perm: Tanya Pawley/Wella Firm and Gentle … Makeup: Electra & Corrado … Corselet Top: Pat MacDonagh … Soft Body Jewelry: Doris May … Model: Josée St-Jacques … Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre. Produced by Helen Oppenheim
CommentBeautiful, Nostalgic, Romantic Hair – 2011
Photo: © Helen Oppenheim
Kind of Belle Epoque, the beautiful, nostalgic vintage-like hair and fashions in this photo were created by Jon Reyman, Aveda, and Argentine designer, Laura Valenzuela for the Argentine Designers NY Fashion Week Show, Spring 2011. The hair was micro-crimped into a romantic chignon with twining vine-like hair accessories. For more romantic updos, crimped and braided hair, click then scroll
Hair: Jon Reyman, Aveda … Photo: Helen Oppenheim
CommentThe Queue, Vidal Sassoon – 1980
Photo (from a laser copy): Lorraine Sylvestre
There was a fencing and romantic theme to Vidal Sassoon’s 1980 Queue Collection. The hair was romantic, the shirts had frills and ruffles, very new that season. The Queue made short hair long, in a flash. For both him and her. The all-in-one hair ornament, invented by Avram of Vidal Sassoon, NY, included a brushed gold bow to cover the ponytail, clipped onto the hair in one simple movement.
For more on The Queue, and a great anecdote, click
Her Hair: Avram, His Hair: Barbara Melser, Vidal Sassoon, NY, 1980 … Makeup: Ted Nadel … Models: Lynn Snowden and Avram … Photo (scan from a laser copy here, original lost) : Lorraine Sylvestre
CommentVidal Sassoon Adds A Queue – 1980
Photos: Lorraine Sylvestre … Collage: helenoppenheim.com
In 1980, short hair went long and romantic in a flash. With The Queue. Invented by Avram for Vidal Sassoon NY, the all-in-one-hair ornament, which included a brushed gold bow covering a ponytail, was clipped on to short hair with a flirty kiss curl on the forehead in one simple movement. For more info and more for her and him, click
Hair/Queue: Avram, Perm: Edward Moore, Vidal Sassoon, NY, 1980 … Model:Lynn Snowden (Freelance Journalist/Author) … Photos: Lorraine Sylvestre … Produced/Collage by Helen Oppenheim
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