Sandy Brown Cow scoops best in show

For the second year running I've had the pleasure of helping out a good friend with costumes for her catwalk show for the end of year BcC Hairshow. ( Brighton and Hove City College )

As ever I had a mixture of excitement and fear when Sandy approached me. Her ideas are always radical and ott, and push me right out of my confort zone, but that's half the fun of working with her!

This year the theme was 'Circus of Glamour', and this provided Sandy with more than enough ammo for her creative vision. For the third year running Sandy's model was Nick Carter, and this year he had the dubious pleasure of being transformed into a circus show pony.

Sandy's idea consisted of black catsuit underneath a brown leather harness, saddle and bridal. We had to drop the bit idea as it interfered with the magnificent hairdo Sandy had created. I must admit that when Sandy first rolled out her idea I couldn't visualise it, but my trust in her vision bore wonderful fruit.

Photograph courtesy: Julie Sutton
Hairdresser: Sandy Brown Cow
Model: Nick Carter
Costume: Chrissie Nicholson-Wild

Hilde Cannoodt: Truely Tribal

When one of Brighton's belly dance stars Hilde Cannoodt asked me to make her a costume I was very excited.

We took as inspiration Hilde's favourite colour wine, flamenco ruffles and Russian folk filigree jewellery. The costume was to include bra, belt, trousers, skirt and hair accessories and has to be striking, co-ordinated and unconventional.

The belt and bra were made of a thick brocade strong enought to support the heavy coins and beads that would complete the costume.
Taffeta was used for the skirt and ruffles and made a gorgeous sound as it moved.
The embroidery I designed from some Russian filigree jewellery, that I greatly simplified to make it as bold as possible and was done using a hoop, an ordinary satin stitch and a lot of patience. The final touches were coins and jewellery recycled from some of Hilde's old costumes and some bone and metal beads appropriate to the design.


Hilde wearing her finished costume ( photo by Russell Wood)

For information on Hilde's classes and performances

'Peripheries' Hair Competition, Brighton Collge 2009

The City College theatre was rammed for the 2009 hair competition, with good reason. The art of hair design and styling is very much alive and kicking. Months of planning and two intensive days for the competitors came to fruition in a show that really kicked arse, hair - wise.
The show opened with a short film displaying the college's success stories and close ties with the salons of the competition judges and although a little twee for my liking was never the less very inspiring.
I admit that I'm a kinda wash and go girl myself...but occasionally when I have to think about hairstyling that fits in with a particluar theme of my work I have to rely on the people that know best to do that for me. On this particular night I knew two of the entrants, and they both blew me away with their artistic vision. I never thought of hair as art before...and I stand corrected!

The standard across the board was impressive, very creative. And although I confess I know absolutely nothing about what makes a hair style technically good or bad I think every one who worked on the show should be very proud of themselves.
I'm sure tht in the future my path will cross with a few of the stylists from this show. I hope so anyway.