Backstage with Aveda- Public School FW16

In the midst of New York Fashion Week: Men's the Public School crew along with the Aveda team were getting the models ready for the Fall/Winter 2016 show. This go around the show was presented at Milk studios and it overflowed in to the streets of the Meatpacking District in New York City. I went backstage to see how it all came together and spoke with Allen Ruiz, Aveda Global Creative Director, Hair Styling. Ruiz explained the overall hair inspiration for this show was the David Bowie 1970's film Man Who Fell To Earth. "We wanted each model to have a cool look, no matter their length of hair. The hair was a defined style, full of volume and attitude. The fullness was effortlessly slicked back with pieces artfully falling loose.

Allen Ruiz- Creative Director, Hair Styling

Backstage photos by Nick Urteaga 

Finished look photography by Aveda

Backstage with Aveda: Loris Diran

Backstage at the Loris Diran show during NYFWM I met up with Jon Reyman from Aveda. He explained what the inspiration for this year's Fall/Winter 2016 show. Jon described their hair as Old-school-Greaser-Fifties but a little more modern. In order to achieve this look they used Men's Firm Hold Gel and then Men's Pomade to give some shine, texture and make it look a little more greasy.

Jon Reyman with Walter Derrig

and Brian Altemus

Photography- Phillip Van Nostrand

Backstage: Public Schools With Aveda

NYFW week was filled with great moments. For me it was awesome to be invited backstage by Aveda to the Public School NYC Spring/Summer 2016 fashion show. This was a very different experience from past backstage experiences. Due to the fact that this was the women's show I had no idea at the magnitud of the show. It felt like there were twice as many...everything! The show space was huge and I felt like I walked a block once inside the actual building to get to hair and makeup. The Aveda team was on point like chic little worker bees. I was told that they added male models the day before the show. Which is fair because there were female models at the men's show...just saying. Aveda's Global Artistic Director created for the show a strong rope braid. "The nomadic sensibility of the Public School Spring/Summer 2016 collection allowed for a beautiful yet resilient style. This is the girl everyone wants to be," said Ruiz. The show was a hit in every way.

Ruiz demonstrating the first steps to the rope braid.

It seriously takes a small army to get everyone ready.

There was a frenzy backstage documenting each look.

And yes, there were some male models in the show like Yuri from Re:Quest Models.

Male model Erin Mommsen with Re:Quest

The New Suburbia: Richard Chai S/S2016

At Skylight Clarckson Sq. in NYC Richard Chai showed his 2016 Spring/Summer collection during New York Fashion Week Men's. I was able to go backstage and have a quick word with Aveda Guest Artist Frank Rizzieri about the inspiration behind the hair styling. Rizzieri said "I used the thickening tonic to bring about a spirited and youthful fulness to the hair, and then the grooming cream and control paste gave the look an edge with the cool tousled style." As he spoke about the products he was using to achieve this look I was surprised to hear that he also added grooming cream and just layering in spots. I never thought about putting hair product in just a couple of spots instead of evenly distributing all over the hair. You learn something new every day!

Frank Rizzieri (on right) giving instructions

Just a couple of the Aveda Products used to achieve the cool suburbia looks.

A closer look at the S/S16 collection. Love the green!

The finishing touches. Photo via Aveda

Suburbian cool indeed. Photo via Aveda

photo via Aveda

Photos by Phil Van Norstrand unless otherwise stated.