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: 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 Usual Suspects: Public School S/S 2016

The Public School NYC Spring/Summer 2016 collection was everything but usual. Their presentation as a Police line up with models and some special guests made for a unique experience. I thought to myself why didn't anyone do this before. I was invited backstage and spoke with Aveda's Global Artist Director Allen Ruiz about the hair styling for this show. He said, " This is my fourth season with designer Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne. each time their designs get more innovative which allows me to have much more fun with styling the hair." One of the focuses was to accentuate each models individuality and uniqueness, be it the texture, color, or length of their hair.

photo via Aveda

Just a sample of the Aveda products used to achieve all the looks.

photo via Aveda

Love the variety of hair styles and textures.

Curly or straight, bleached or natural- it's all good at Public School.

One of the special guests was none other than Nick Wooster.

A closer look at the Spring/Summer 2016 looks.

Photographer by Phil Van Norstrand unless otherwise stated.