Inspiration from a magazine...

I was flicking through the pages of Vogues December issue when i found a shoot that so obviously screamed contemporary Elizabethan that i would have been foolish not to have documented it.
This shoot was title still life and the caption quoted "Fall for a season well versed in dark beauty. The new masters brim with opulent fabrics, pearl drops and exquisite hand crafted detail" This quote alone is enough to send the imagination wild. When i read this i imagined velvet, rain drops, rick coloured stones, elizabethan fabrics of flowers and leaves.

I really like these images and i like the dark theme he has kept through out, although some of the models are styled in white garments there is still a glumness about the photo which could be seen to reflect the darker ways in which they lived.

Source: Vogue UK Decmeber issue

Photographer: Josh Olins

Stylist: Lucinda Chambers

Inspiration from a book...

When i was sat in Sharon's office she handed me a book to browse through. When i was flicking through i found some images that might act as inspiration and so i thought I would just document those here.

This is the book i was looking through

This is a mixture of Elizabethan inspired patterns and make-up, i could see the historical references straight away and this is something i wish to achieve in my own final design. A look that when you see it you can automatically think Elizabethan but with a modern twist.

Hair studio- Practical- week 10- Timed assessment group B...

During week 10 it was Becky’s turn to create my hair design on me during my final assessment here are a few images of how it turned out:

I feel as though Becky managed to really grasp the concept of the texture and volume i wanted to reflect, the shape was perfect and exactly how i envisioned it. I think it could have been improved by being higher up on the head and sitting more on top rather than at the back, however i think that in the pictures it comes across really well.

Hair studio- Practical- week 9- Timed assessment group A...

This week we had our first part of the final assessment. I had to create my partners hair design (see week 8). Here are the images of the final outcome:

I felt really comfortable creating Becky’s design because i feel she provided me with enough information and time to practise the style several times before the timed assessment, therefore when i went into the assessment and created her final look i felt at ease doing so.

Then in the practical session a few days after this my partner then had to create my hair style on me as her practise for the second part of the times assessment. Here are some images of that:

I feel as though Becky managed to grasp the concept of my idea, however this time when she practised the style it fell much more on the side of the head and we decided that it looked better much more upright and on top of the head and i made sure she felt comfortable enough with the design before i made it final.

Hair studio- Practical- week 8- Practising my partners design...

Equipment:

Hair rat

Hair grips

Small barell curling wand

Hair mousse

Sectioning clips

Hair rat (made from tights and wadding)

Headjog 204 metal pinned comb

During week 8 i practised my partner Becky’s Elizabethan inspired hair design and timed myself doing so. Using pre-curled hair i managed to completed her desired style in 8 mins. Therefore i decided that alongside the pressure of the timed assessment and leaving room for error i should save myself a minimum of 20 mins to complete the hair during my times assessment. However if i was to curl the hair during the timed assessment it would be best that i used the full 45 mins.

To complete Becky’s desired hair style i began by curling her hair (see week 5)

I then went on to scrape all her hair to one side of her head. ensuring one side was completed slicked back. I then used a hair rat and rolled it into the hair ensuring i rolled towards her face, and then secured.( See week 7)

Hair studio- Practical- week 7- Contemporary Elizabethan style...

During this week we began to create Elizabethan hair shapes using hair rats and rolling them into the hair. Using either curling or crimping to add a texture. We were also given a contemporary Elizabethan image to create. 

Firstly i decided to crimp my models hair (see week 6). From here i went on to roll in the hair rat

Equipment used:

Pin tail comb

Sectioning clips

Hair grips

Hair rat (made from tights and wadding)

Headjog 204 metal pinned comb

Large crimpers

Step 1: After crimping the hair i gathered it all into a ponytail on top of the head. I didn't secure this i just held it loosely as i wanted the hair to be relaxed and have a loose contemporary feel. I then used the hair rat and began to roll the hair from the ends around the rat and down until it sat on the head.

Step 2: Holding the rat in place a began to grip it to secure it to the head. To do this you pierce through the tight pull away from the rat and then go under and secure to the head creating a side ways U shape.

Step 3: Continue to pin until all is secure and finally you just manipulate and move the hair to cover all areas of the rat and to ensure you have created your desired shape.

Hair studio- Practical- week 6- crimping...

During this practical we learnt how to crimp hair to add texture and to help us in our Elizabethan design process.

Equipment used:

Large crimper

Pin tail comb

Sectioning clips 

Headjog 204 metal pinned comb

Step 1: Firstly you need to create neat sections of hair in which you are going to crimp and clip back all those bits that arn’t being used.

Step 2: Once the crimpers have been heated to the correct temperature (see week 1)  you take a section and start at the root getting as close to the scalp as you can without burning the model, you can always put a comb between the scalp and the tool your using. You hold for around 10 seconds and then release and continue this process down the section of hair to the bottom until complete.

Only if you want to make the hair bigger and more manipulable:

Step 3: Once you have crimped all the sections of hair you have desired you get the 3 pronged metal comb and begin to comb out the crimp, some bits you can do more than others and you can also back comb sections of the hair also, this creates lots of volume and makes the hair big, the more you comb the bigger it gets