During these difficult times, some search for inspiration is vital, and when we see a collection that travels us back to the 1960s Vogue covers and glory, then we feel that we need to share. Pauline McCabe‘s collection Homage is a true homage to the work of famous hairstylist Ara Gallant and his collaboration with photographers Richard Avedon and Irving Penn.
60s icons
Ara Gallant, a real icon of his time, has been a huge inspiration for so many hairdressers and colourists for years. He was the first paid session hairdresser for a magazine, for Vogue specifically, where his work was eventually featured on twenty-six covers.
His legendary structure, form and techniques made iconic fashion portraits, like the notable 1968 portrait of Twiggy with “flying hair”( his mastered visual gimmick)- captured by Avedon, that gave him fame in the 60s. Galland, Avedon and Penn worked across an era that gave rise to black and white portraits and fashion photography, a timeless style that we still draw inspiration from today.
Shapes and purity
”I wanted this to be about clean lines, to show the skill in classic techniques made relevant and modern”says Pauline. ”Structure, strong shape, volume, curves, restraint. There’s almost an abstract quality to the shapes, dressing, finger waves, pin curls, and a paring back in this collection. I chose to shoot this collection in black and white, in a classic portrait, notable for their deep contrast, giving them a clean, crisp look, the play of line and volume. It’s about simplicity, classic shapes, purity, and skill through discipline. The make-up reflects the structure and lines of the hairstyles. It is classic featuring bold lips and winged eyeliner. But it’s the contouring that allows the faces to be sculpted by the lighting, giving depth to the b&w images. The styling is focused on minimalism. Each image provides a link between the styling and the hair, the shine of the leather reflecting the hair shine, the fringed jacket and the loose strands of hair, the strong lines in both outfit and hairstyle” she explains.
We love this modern take of a classic, and the time travel these pictures are taking us through.
CREDITS
Hairstylist: Pauline McCabe • Photographer: Patrick Schuttler • Stylist: Zoe Van Zanten • Make-up Artist: Hendra Widjaja
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