Jonathan Saunders

An incredible show venue is a double-edged sword. On one side, it gives your collection a sense of drama and occasion, but sometimes, it can overwhelm the pieces you’re showing. I feel this happened at Jonathan Saunders’ Spring/Summer 2015 show. There were some exciting pieces; a cobalt blue ruffled dress and a slinky, shiny gold number, but on balance, I felt that the muddy neutrals and blues faded against the breathtaking backdrop of the British Museum in Russell Square. The overall range didn’t catch my attention as much as his previous collections. I wonder if my perception would change at a more intimate showcase.

Queuing outside

In the grand venue

A star-studded FROW

The blue and gold dresses were the best in my opinion. 

David Koma at London Fashion Week

I’ve admired Georgian designer David Koma’s work since he first graduated from Central Saint Martins. I was excited to attend his London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 collection at Somerset House. Brightly coloured neoprene dresses fitted like a glove with stand-out pieces including a heavily Swarovski-embellished pencil skirt and crop top. I loved the approach but felt like the collection could use some more variety – there are only so many neoprene body-con pieces a girl can wear. The bright colours were great thought, and the styling was typically slick.

To Bob or not to Bob?

I love the idea of long, mermaid-like locks, but for some reason, whenever my hair reaches a certain length, I possess an all-encompassing desire to chop the whole lot off. I have no idea why. This fashion week, I explained my issue to the team at the TONI&GUY team. Every season, Toni and Guy set up camp in Somerset house, to attend to the tresses of journalists and bloggers. We learn about new products and try out some of the styles that the TONI&GUY team have been creating backstage for the London Fashion Week shows. It turns out that the ‘fake bob’ is a big trend and, they offered to show me how it was done.

After washing my hair with delicious-smelling shampoo and conditioner from the Label.m ‘Hair Therapy’ range, my stylist cut me a style with lots of layers – the perfect way to keep the length of my hair but giving it a new lease of life. She then added some protein cream and rough dried my hair. She paid more attention to the front, blow-drying it forwards before pushing it to the side, creating a fashionable low side parting.

When it was dry, she sprayed some Label.m Texturising Volume Spray into the roots and backcombed. Then came the creation of the fake bob. My stylist rolled the back of my hair under, securing it tightly with an array of kirby grips and wider pins. When she was sure it wasn’t going anywhere (the backcombing seriously helped) she started to pin the remaining sections under too. When the desired shape had been created, she started pulling a few sections out to make it look more natural.

The end result was so realistic, then when I texted my boyfriend to show him a photo, he thought I’d gone for the chop. He was relieved to find it was all a trick (it’s true, all the men I know prefer long locks!). TONI&GUY came through again, creating a look which made me feel great, even when running the gauntlet of ubiquitous street-snappers and hot young things outside the London Fashion Week tent.

www.labelm.com
www.toniandguy.com 

Preparing for the chop

The desired effect

Cut complete

I do still love it long!

The roll at the back formed the structure of the fake bob

The end result!

Realistic, no?

Still a bit tempted to do it for real...