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 The P-P-Puff – 1981
Photos: Lorriane Sylvestre
VIDAL SASSOON THE P-P-PUFF – 1981
Big, soft, sexy, all-over volume injected with a healthy dose of fresh … air. By Avram, Art Director, Vidal Sassoon, 1981.
First, a superb precision cut and healthy hair, said Avram, who took precision cutting a step further, with the formality gone and hair freed of its solid form, with no hard edges. This was a new silhouette at the time and worked well with long curly hair. More cut/styling info on HairThen, Vidal Sassoon, P-U-F-F on www.helenoppenheim.com
Hair: Avram Vidal Sassoon, NY, 1981 … Makeup: Mariella Smith-Masters, Beauty Bookings … Bustier: Perry Ellis … Model: Meggan… Photos: Lorraine Sylvestre … Produced by Helen Oppenheim
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Gold Lamé Rags – 1981
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
From rags to riches in glam gold lamé rags, hand-made by Avram and the Vidal Sassoon NY staff in 1981.
They were pretty enough to wear out for a party. We also made rags in animal, camouflage and other prints. The idea to set hair was practical and pretty, a big success with the media at the time. For full story and finished looks, go to Vidal Sassoon The P-P-P-Puff.
Hair: Avram, Vidal Sassoon, NY 1981 …Makeup: Ted Nadel …Model: Kay Romero … Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre … Produced by Helen Oppenheim
1 P-P-Puff 1981
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
THE P-P-PUFF – Danielle
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.
For more on The P-P-Puff see interesting different stories and anecdotes under most of the
following photos.
Hair: Graham Wren, Vidal Sassoon, NY, 1981
Makeup: Ted Nadel
HairCare/SkinCare: Vidal Sassoon Treatment Products
Dress: Ellen Gleason
Earrings: Ken Begun
Model: Danielle, Filor Agency
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
Produced by Helen Oppenheim
ANECDOTE: Most of the Vidal Sassoon die-hards didn’t want to go in a new direction or
cut any hair but the precision geometrics they had done since the 60s and still do to this day.
They gave me a hard time and didn’t really get what I was doing…
Note: there is different text under each photo.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © HELEN OPPENHEIM 2012
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2 P-P-Puff 1981
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
THE P-P-PUFF – Danielle
“The formality is gone,” said Graham Wren, Vidal Sassoon’s International Art Director in 1981.
The hair is freed of its solid form, and layered throughout, with all ends wisped. Everything is
very natural, casual, soft.” He added: “To make puffier and fluffier, puff-dry hair upside down with
your fingers.”
Hair: Graham Wren, Vidal Sassoon, NY, 1981
Makeup: Ted Nadel
HairCare/SkinCare: Vidal Sassoon Treatment Products
Dress: Ellen Gleason
Earrings: Ken Begun
Model: Danielle, Filor Agency
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
Produced by Helen Oppenheim
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © HELEN OPPENHEIM 2012
Comment3 P-P-Puff 1981
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
THE P-P-PUFF – Danielle
Another version of Vidal Sassoon’s P-P-Puff in 1981. With a Chinese theme.
We have taken our superb precision cutitng a step further, said Graham Wren in 1981.
“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.”
Hair: Graham Wren, Vidal Sassoon, NY, 1981
Makeup: Ted Nadel
HairCare/SkinCare: Vidal Sassoon Treatment Products
Dress: Ellen Gleason
Jewelry: Margaret Bailey, Vidal Sassoon
Model: Danielle, Filor Agency
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
Produced by Helen Oppenheim
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © HELEN OPPENHEIM 2012
Comment4 P-P-Puff 1981
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
THE P-P-PUFF/Ragtime – Danielle
“Miracles can be worked in 20 minutes,” enthused Graham Wren, who rag-wrapped
the entire head when the hair was dry for a voluminous, soft airy effect which
would work for short as well as for long hair.
Graham used five-and-dime-store rags in this photo and one could, of course,
sleep in the soft rags overnight, but see under the next photos about the “rags” we made, glamorous enough to party in. In the original press release, we gave a whole page of details about doing a rag set. If anyone wants more information, let us know!
Hair: Graham Wren, Vidal Sassoon, NY, 1981
Makeup: Ted Nadel
HairCare/SkinCare: Vidal Sassoon Treatment Products
Nails: Teresa, Vidal Sassoon
Robe: Ellen Gleason
Model: Danielle, Filor Agency
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
Produced by Helen Oppenheim
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © HELEN OPPENHEIM 2012
Comment5 P-P-Puff 1981
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
THE P-P-PUFF/ Rags to Riches – Kay
These glamorous rags were hand-made by Avram and Vidal Sassoon staff, of
Gold Lamé, pretty enough to walk around the home in and even to party in.
We also made a collection – in animal and camouflage prints – and we were published in
a lot of major magazines like Bazaar (a full page), Vogue, New York, even Playbill Magazine, as well
as The New York Sunday Times, the Daily Mail in the UK, major newspapers across the
US and all the hair magazines world-wide, including a cover in Peluquerias Magazine of
Spain (see Photo No. 10 below this one.)
The “rags” had wire and foam inside for an easier set. I had wanted Sassoon to manufacture
the idea and sell the rags since we got such massive publicity for them in all the best magazines
but that didn’t happen.
Hair: Graham Wren, Vidal Sassoon, NY, 1981
Makeup: Mariella Smith-Masters, Beauty Bookings
SkinCare: Vidal Sassoon Treatment Products
Robe: Ellen Gleason
Model: Kay Romero
Photo: Lorraine Sylvestre
Produced by Helen Oppenheim
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © HELEN OPPENHEIM 2012
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