London Fashion Week SS 2011

Monday 20th September- Giles Deacon

After nearly having a panic attack in Superdrug because I went to John Street, instead of St John Street, I realised the correct address wasn't far away at all, thank God! And as I ran out of the shop in a fluster, there was a black cab with it's light shining, hallelujah! It quickly whisked me the relatively short distance, and I made it just on time. The last thing I want is to be late!!! First off I see Kelly Brook standing right in front of me waiting to sign in, (she looks younger in the flesh, and totally gorgeous with no make-up on)! And then Abbey Clancy gets out of a car, second time I've seen her in about as many weeks.

So, I make my way inside The Farmiloe Building to get set up, and wait for the make-up demonstration. Miranda Joyce is the key, and she has designed a look which is 'sexy, rock & roll, glam, bohemian, arty.' Its not meant to look too well done or hard. Lots of glitter was used around the eyes and through the brows (the girls had their eyebrows bleached first, apart from Kelly Brook who wasn't too willing), and the lip was also bold with Lady Danger red and clear gloss.

My first model was Coco Rocha, and I also made up Kasia Struss. The show was full of big models, such as Agyness Deyn, Jessica Stam, Cameron Russell, Alessandra Ambrosio, Karolina Kurkova, Jessica Hart, Noemie Lenoir, Chanel Iman, Anne Vyalitsyna, Ana Beatriz, Stella Tennant, and Verushka, who was a huge model in the 60s. It was great to see Giles using a variety of different models.

I really hope Giles shows in London again next season, and I get to do his show again! Definitely one of my favourites!!

Great British Hairdresser

Friday 3rd September

In Spring next year (bloody miles away I know), there is going to be a new show on E4, as titled above. Think Britain's Next Top Model but for hairdressers. The challenge for the hairdressers today was to create a hair style around a make-up look. They had one hour in which to do this. Celebrity hairdresser James Brown, and Jo Elvin, Editor of Glamour magazine are on the judging panel. Liz Martins is the key make-up artist. Also involved in the show is Abbey Clancy. It was nice to see her again, as it's been 5 years since working with her on Top Model. It's great to see her doing so well!

V Festival

Friday 20th August 2010

Trundled across London in my Hunters, complete with kit in a suitcase, a heavy shoulder bag, a rucksack, and a bum bag, to assemble at Mac head office for our coach trip to V Festival, Chelmsford. That was me exhausted already! What a nightmare! But once calmed down on the coach, I was really looking forward to the experience, if also feeling slightly apprehensive about the whole camping thing, (and I was lucky enough to be treated to a pod, rather than a tent thank God, and Mac had their own toilets and showers for us to use).

In the exclusive Louder Lounge was where I would be working for the weekend, making up VIPs and talent in the Mac tent. Dean Rudd had designed four festival looks, which a lot of the guests wanted to sport themselves, or we could do a make-up of their choice. Our shifts were in two hour stints, so we had a good amount of time to enjoy the festival outside of the Louder Lounge if we wanted. But it was so cool in there I spent most of my time in there. Except to see Florence of course.

I felt really lucky to have been asked to participate. We got treated like VIPs also, we could eat and drink for free all day, and we had beds with duvets and electricity in our little houses! I was ready to come home by the end of it though, and have a nice long hot soak in the bath!

Tatler 'BANDS' shoot

Wednesday 4th August

Another Tatler magazine shoot! I was assisting Tanya Chianale for the second time, she is really laid back, easy to get along with, and a pleasure to work with. Hannah Shaw from IMG was the only model, we have a mutual friend, and I've met her a few times before. She's lovely, and it's always nice when there's a familiar face. And a beautiful one at that!

There were five bands participating in the shoot- Widower, O Children (how tall is that guy!!!), Oe Est Le Swimming Pool, Soho Dolls, and The Coolness (debatable, but pure comedy!). I had never actually heard of any of these, so I must be a bit out of touch! Hannah was shot with each band, modelling uber nice clothes, I was very jealous! Wasn't too jealous about the grey Granny wig they put her in though, lol!

To top of an already great day, the photographer, Iain Mckell, has asked me to model for him for a book project he is doing, so looking forward to that!

Tatler Magazine

Wednesday 28th July

Second job for DW Management, assisting on a main fashion shoot for Tatler. Not only was I assisting Tanya Chianale with make-up, I was also helping out with the hair (eek!), assisting Robin Pawloski. The agency hadn't been able to get hold of anyone to assist him, so it was down to me. I have finally got the hang of curling hair for pin curls, despite burning my fingers several times along the way- ouch!!! Ha ha, I'll be a pro before you know it!

It was a very long shoot (over 12 hours), but with it being shot on location (by Luis Monteiro), there was a lot of things to be taken in to consideration. We were on a boat travelling up and down the Thames to various locations. We had to keep going round in circles to wait for the sun to come out, and it was windy so the hair kept blowing about and not looking right. But the models were troopers, giving it 110% all day. They were like Duracell bunnies, lol!

And I was very proud of myself for not being sick overboard, so a great day was had by all!

Glamour Magazine Shoot

Thursday 15th July

I have started assisting at DW Management, and today was my first job on a shoot for Glamour magazine. Sarah Reygate was the key make-up artist. She looks so demure in pictures I've seen of her, but is actually quite a bolshy character! She was great fun and I loved every minute of it!

The title of the shoot was 'dress your shape', and was shot by David Gubert at Big Sky studios. The models were Sai @ Models 1, Maili @ Elite London, Anna H @ FM, and Amy Lemons @ Ford, who I remembered seeing in magazines when I was growing up. That girl is soooooo photogenic! Well, they all are! It was refreshing to see that not all models are 6ft and a size 0, but they were still absolutely gorgeous! The shoot should be in the October issue, so I'm looking forward to seeing it in print!

Wella Trend Vision 2010

Tuesday 25th May

The plush Sofitel hotel in Heathrow was the venue for the London, Wella Trend Vision Awards. I was working with the lovely Megan Zarrabi from HOB Salons, Northwood, Middlesex, who went on to become one of the winners for Young Talent category. And boy did she deserve it! The colour of the models hair was absolutely beautiful, and she doesn't even normally colour hair! She did both colour, as well as cut the models hair for this event! I'm looking forward to working along side her again at the final, on the 27th September in Camden. Go Megan!