Styling Haute Couture Shows in Paris – A dream come true for me!

One thing is sure: we've achieved the impossible! My Neville team of salon and session stylists, headed by Stephen Low, has conquered the Paris Haute Couture Week like no other London salon before. The capital of fashion is the toughest scene in the world but once you are there, your hair-team belongs to that elusive and exclusive part of the Haute Couture history that only a few artists have had the privilege to create.

For the Julien Fournié 'First Impulse' couture collection that was shown at the splendid church Oratorie du Louvre, creatively we were involved from the beginning. When it comes to couture hair, the collaboration between the head creative director and the designer is paramount. Stephen Low and Julien Fournié work amazingly well together as Stephen took Julien's vision to another level.

When it comes to Stephen Low's work, it's safe to say that we can already recognise his signature style as highly polished, immaculately constructed work that makes any model (even a few crying ones as the hair sometimes has to be really pulled back together and sleeked into the perfection) looking stunningly beautiful. Neither Stephen or myself appreciate catwalk looks where the models’ beauty doesn't shine through or is masked by inexperienced session stylists. Julien Fournié's last (hair) look was nothing short of spectacular and required the work of my entire team in Paris.

This Autumn/Winter 14/15 Haute Couture Week also marked Neville's second collaboration with Ralph and Russo, our fellow Londoners and the first British brand to show 'high fashion' in Paris for more than hundred years. As fellow Brits, we were so proud not only to witness and create but also to share that accolade and show the rest of the world that infamous team spirit as well as skill that my salon is renowned for.

The hair styles that Stephen Low created and executed with our superb team for the Ralph and Russo show was as timeless as their breathtaking gowns. This time we also had the honour of collaborating backstage with an iconic milliner, Stephen Jones, and fit his exquisite hats to our equally divine hair styles.

This fashion week has been truly a dream come true for me and my talented team. Until the next time, Paris… J'taime from all of us.

How client service will make your salon the number one choice

'I was recently asked by HJi what makes a successful salon – and shared my advice on how to ensure that you offer the style of client service that always makes your salon the number one choice…'

Clients sometimes see a hairdressing salon as a ‘back-up’ option – not their first choice, but a reluctant fall back option if they’re desperate. If you’re an owner striving for a more consistent income, you need the majority of your clients to view you as their number one option, which means offering the best possible client service.

Perception of a lack of broad expertise, high staff turnover and bad customer service (including long wait time, poor parking, bad service from staff) are all factors that could put a salon in the back-up zone. The problem that salon owners have is that often they don’t pick up on the clues that they are part of that “maybe” mentality.

The signs to look for are that the clients tend to not rebook right away and have long lapses in between visits.  You have to continue to review your key client metrics to discover that you have a problem early enough to take action.

What you should do:

1. Hire staff that match or can mold to your approach to service.
Clients view your hiring decisions as a reflection of you. Make repeat bookings a key target for staff and flag up to anyone failing to do this how much money they’re losing out of their own pocket. Think twice about giving new clients to stylists who aren’t rebooking existing ones.

2. Follow up with your existing clients regularly.
You should devote some of your marketing budget to communicating with your existing clients.

3. Make time management a priority.
I know that many of our colleagues attract professional and influential people to their businesses. Well, high- profile clients are busy people. These men and women want to look good but have limited time. If you can’t consistently cater to this need, you will be viewed as a back-up, so make sure all staff know that wait times and slow service are not acceptable.

The beauty business is competitive. Clients know that they have options. Your financial success depends on your ability to produce the best service experience for not only your new guests but also your regulars. The better you can deliver on your service promise, the more likely you will be their number one!

How I juggle Fashion Week shows with running successful salons

Working at International Fashion Weeks is hugely beneficial for stylists – teaching them essential skills, allowing them to network with peers and giving them a hugely desirable USP for clients. But having members of the team out of the salon can also cause headaches for salon managers as they struggle to balance life away from the runways.

I have plenty of experience of juggling a fashion week team and a successful salon group and recently shared my advice on keeping things running smoothly while also reaping the benefits of a fashion week association in a recent blog post for HJi…

Fashion Week is here again, dominating the news and the media like never before. With fashion such an integral part of our industry, how can salon owners get involved? And if you have a stylist who’s keen to work on the shows, how do you balance that with your columns?

I’ve been very fortunate to have a great team of stylists at the Neville salon who regularly work on top fashion editorials, campaigns and look books. In fact I actively encourage this kind of work and re-organize their schedule at the salon in order to give them the opportunity to collaborate with premium brands, designers and photographers. So when the invitation to sponsor the Singapore Fashion Week came late last year this was no-brainer to do as it reflected the combined efforts, skill and expertise to date of our team.

The key is not just to have one ‘celebrity’ hairdresser in your salon, but a team that works as an efficient unit. Neville salon has traditionally invested in nourishing all of their individual talents, so we now have a strong pool of resources to work worldwide. Since our success in Singapore, the Neville team has headed hair at Paris Haute Couture shows and New York Fashion Week while some of our former pupils who now have their own salons in those cities either came along to the shows or helped us backstage. If you want your salon to be seen as an independent brand, you need to have a strong and capable team as well as a manager who is not afraid of taking risks or exploring new fashion frontiers.

What is also very important for a salon wanting to break into the fashion week scene is having a good relationship with the hair product sponsors. We have looked outside of the ‘traditional’ fashion weeks to other countries around the world to build up our experience and skillset at running the hair team and concepts for fashion shows and I think it shows the strength of the Neville team that we actually invited L’Oreal Professionnel to support us in Singapore and New York, not the other way around.

I am always open to collaborating with new brands too, such as Fudge at the London Collections:Men. It all depends on how supportive they are to my team and how effectively they can follow us around the world. L’Oreal Professionnel was very supportive at Madrid Fashion Week and now we are looking to partner with someone in Korea as we have the knowledge that wherever the Neville team goes, huge exposure for the product sponsor is almost guaranteed.

We run a Session Masterclass at L’Oreal Professionnel to teach salons how to make fashion and session work for them both in terms of exposure and commercially, because it’s such a stimulating environment for stylists and it can be balanced with a responsibility to a salon.

Our final day – styling every show at Singapore Fashion Week!

Elena and her team at Neville have made it to the final day of Singapore Fashion Week 2013, presented by The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and organised by FIDé Fashion Weeks.

The first show of the evening was Moiselle, a label known for its stylish designs, high-quality European fabric and exquisite craftsmanship since its debut in 1997. Showcasing its Fall/Winter 2014 “Lost in Russia” collection, the covetable 44 ensembles were modern and classic with a hint of femininity through the floral references on almost every style. Key pieces include the elongated overcoats and swishy flare skirts – as well as the must-have gowns that are classy and stylish.

The second show was Germain, a Parisian womenswear brand, that did an about turn from feminine and girly looks with its “Monoplay” collection skewed towards the young and stylish girl-about-town. Contemporary styles with a slight edge, the 36-ensemble collection was mostly in black and white, either colour blockings or printed and punctuated with a dash of neon pink, cobalt blue, lime and chartreuse. Luxury materials including tweed, wool, leather and fur ensured the pieces stood the test of time. Definitely for the girl who wants to make a statement and appreciate the brand’s vision of “Translating the love of woman’s body and three dimensional form” to its designs.

Closing Day 10 was Ari Dein, a luxury sleepwear brand, whose designer Arielle Shapiro was part of the CFDA Incubator Programme based in New York. Making its Singapore debut with a 15-ensemble collection of luxury sleepwear, the show was held at the Crystal Ballroom that was transformed into an intimate lounge with plush sofas and poufs, where waiters served champagne and sweet bites. Ari Dein’s distinctive and nostalgic designs are made in lace, charmeuse, crepe de chine, and mixed with cotton and light chambray. The inspiration and prints for the Spring/Summer 2014 collection are once again by the Art Deco era, with Imperial Russian influences that enamoured the designer during her recent travels to St. Petersburg and Moscow. Key items are definitely the lightweight chambray pieces trimmed with lace, which you can definitely wear for anytime of the day.

In addition to creating an exclusive VIP pajama set for the W Hotel South Beach’s celebrity guests this summer, designer Arielle Shapiro has collaborated with none other than Carolina Herrera for the house’s first ever sleepwear collaboration, Ari Dein for Carolina Herrera.

For encore, American-Vietnamese TV host and stylist, Jeannie Mai, came on to present a short fashion and beauty segment where she invited guests, including Neville's Elena Lavagni and Jack Merrick-Thirlway to share some tricks of their trade with the audience.

For this evening’s shows, the team from Neville Hair and Beauty, London, led by Elena Lavagni created the hair styles, while Romero Jennings and his team from M.A.C. Cosmetics created the makeup looks.

Catch more amazing images that tell the unique story of the Neville team styling each and every show at Singapore Fashion Week – join us on Twittter and Instagram @nevillesalon

More from Neville at Singapore Fashion Week…

Never pass up a good thing, and that is what fashionistas worth their style kicks did at Fashion Week 2013!

Day 8 of Fashion Week 2013 revealed Michael Cinco, a Philippines couturier based in Dubai for the last 15 years, on the top of his game with a near-perfect collection inspired by the Spanish dress. Cinco’s interpretations of the sexy flamenco gown were manifested in sheer silk tulles, French laces and heavily beaded, crystallised and embroidered in three key colours – skin nude, lipstick red and gothic black. The collection was so fresh, some of his pieces only arrived that morning! His models were sexy as they slinked down the runway. One key black and maroon gown with a cascading multi-tiered train used as much as 200-metres of tulle embroidered at the hems, and took five helpers to carry it from the changing room to the back of the stage. Upon up-close inspection, Cinco’s workmanship and finishing is second to none. No loose threads, no unfinished seams, just gorgeous and heavenly! Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera, Sofia Vergara, Brandy, Britney Spears, Fergie, J Lo, Ciara, and Chris Brown too, are fans and have been photographed wearing his creations.

Next to take centrestage was the Thai duo Vatit Virashpanth and Itthi Metanee, better known as Vatit Itthi. They started the line in 2002 in Chicago, before relocating back to Bangkok to carry on their line of red-carpet gowns. For this show in Singapore, fresh from Bangkok’s Elle Fashion Week, it was about an “old school, new world” attitude. Adapting ‘old’ silhouettes from around and after WW2, the duo used draping, sheer overlays and embellishments of handmade delicate silk flowers and strategic beadwork to highlight the 29 ensembles of simple and classic lines. When they head home after Fashion Week 2013, they have been booked till early next year for their gowns and dresses – and we now know why.

Closing Day 8 with a resounding bang was the respected Chinese couturier Guo Pei. Known for her fantastical proportions and even more extravagant embroidery and beadwork that knows no boundaries, the collection showcased was named “The Arabian 1002 Nights”. She showed 18 stunning ensembles, all accompanied with embellished platforms, with a few male models. Fantasy reigned supreme as she sent one model after another with so much to take in – embroidery, beadwork, crystals, prints, textures all juxtaposed and yet not jarring. This show, like all of her shows, is not about wearability, but a showcase of what Guo can achieve in terms of fabrications, embellishments and ideas. As guests left the Fashion Hall close to midnight, they were talking and buzzing about collection – all feeling amazed, delighted and appreciative.

As always our incredibly creative Neville team worked tirelessly to deliver three sets of vastly different hair styles for the three shows.

"The talents we have had the pleasure to work with here in Singapore have shown such tremendous finesse in terms of their craftsmanship and finish that we're thrilled to be a part of. We hope to be invited back to the next instalment of Fashion Week," said Elena.

More soon from our time at Fashion Week!

Neville at Singapore Fashion Week – the adventure continues…

Day 7 of Fashion Week 2013was amazing, breath-taking and left everyone wanting more! Continuing the high from the shows presented over the last six days, nearly 1,800 people turned up to watch the three spectacular shows by Lie Sang Bong (Korea), Sebastian Gunawan (Indonesia) and Yumi Katsura (Japan) at The Sands Expo & Convention Centre Hall F.

Lie Sang Bong, arguably one of South Korean’s most prolific designers, sent down his Spring/Summer 2014 collection of very covetable pieces. The proportions, cut, fit and finishing were impeccable. Although in mostly black and white graphics, punctuating with the occasional pop of colour, the collection still felt fresh and feminine. Key details include laser floral cut-outs and the illusion of prints was actually of cut-and-sew strips of fabrics. One of the highlights that set pulse racing were a pair of twin gowns - one in black and the other in white - with shaped stripes that form graphic floral bodices. Simply beautiful!

Indonesian couturier, Sebastian Gunawan, most known for his elaborate beadwork and embroidery presented his “Mod Muse” Spring/Summer 2014 of scintillating cocktail frocks and gowns, complete with matching embroidered and beaded heels. One after another, the gowns got more elaborately beaded and embroidered than the one before, to the delight and squeals of many women in the audience. Key metallic golds and silvers were accented with various cool blues and the pop of turquoise stones for a fluid symphony of delicious must-haves in any glamourous woman’s wardrobe. Absolutely stunning!

Slowly kicking up the crescendo of excitement, the Japanese doyenne of wedding gowns, Yumi Katsura, sent out 35 exits to a rapturous standing ovation at the end. The show started off on a light turn as she sent out several wearable, summery gowns and cocktail dresses that were modern and on-trend with a single crane motif. But what the audience expected of Yumi, she gave to them! They wanted fantasy ballgowns and fairytale princess wedding gowns, gowns and frocks that defy reality and reasoning. And they were rewarded in the start of the second quarter of the show – elaborate maxi-gowns with ruffles, layers and heaps of bling, glided down the runway in quick succession, each more complicated, each with more details than the eye can absorb, each with a dramatic headpiece more stunning than the earlier one. At one point, the audience cheered and clapped with amazement and approval at Yumi’s frocks that transformed from a sexy frock into a stunning gown! And before the audience can catch their breath, she sent out several traditional Japanese kimono styles and then immediately switched gear with a bevy of white floaty and diaphanous wedding gowns that were nothing short of spectacular. Her finale gown is a work of art with a cape that lit up with the Singapore mascot, “Merlion” and the Marina Bay Sands hotel building image projected onto it, while models came out to the Singapore national anthem, “Majulah Singapura”, waving miniature Singapore flags! Yumi Katsura then emerged and walked down the runway with one miniature Singapore flag on each hand, waving to the audience as they gave her a standing ovation. When she re-appeared, she walked down the entire length of the runway and shook hands with everyone on the front row! Totally inspiring!

Our Neville team worked the magic on the clean hair style for Lie’s show – our amazingly talented team, above, have done Neville proud. Look out for more backstage news coming soon…!

From MCM's Flower Boys to Stephane Rolland, the Master of Couture

MCM… It's only the 6th Day of this mega Singapore Fashion Week 2013 and my Neville team has done it all – Sporty-cool looks for superbrand MCM (renowned for their luxury travel accessories and their London shop that I frequent as it is in short proximity to my salon in London's Belgravia) to super-sleek partings for the Korean menswear brand Songzio, below.

Or as Daniel Boey our new Singapore friend and the most renowned fashion figure in South East Asia remarked, 'I have never seen the parting so perfect and when it comes to catwalk looks, I've seen it all.'

Then it was time for the Master of Couture, Stephane Rolland, that was preceded by the frantic search for L'Oreal's Tecni Mousse (finally kindly offered to us by the owner of the Salon 360 at MBS but NOT our official hair product partner) and the 'slight' change in plans. Instead of 15 models we were generously given 25, which was only a minor challenge for us. 'Why there are no salons like yours in Paris?' observed the Master himself. What can I tell you – the final looks were just perfect, both backstage and on the catwalk. It's what happens when the bespoke in hairdressing meets the Master of Couture...
Here are the Stephane Rolland backstage looks ...and the magnificent catwalk... 

Love, Elena xxx