The History of Flower Crowns and the Women Who Wore Them: From Frida Kahlo to Kate Moss

Few accessories have aroused such commentary, for and against, than the flower crown, so trendy of late among the neo-hippie festival crowd. Despite detractors, these decorative headpieces, whose history in mythology and art can be traced back to ancient civilizations, show no signs of fading from favor. Not only was actress Fan Bingbing a flower-crowned vision on the red carpet at Cannes this week, but, thanks to a new exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden, Fridamania (appreciation of the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, who often wore flowers in her hair) is raging.

It’s a look that has roots. In agrarian societies, tied to the land and the seasons, flower crowns had great symbolic meaning. Worn for practical and ceremonial reasons, they could illustrate status and accomplishment (Olympic olive wreaths). The language of flowers and herbs was well-known, with each carrying its own meaning (“There’s rosemary, that’s for remembering. Please remember, love. And there are pansies, they’re for thoughts,” says Ophelia in Hamlet.) Full of significance, floral headdresses were woven into the social and dress traditions of places as distant as Russia and Hawaii.

With increasing industrialization the flower crown became a romantic sign of the simple “country” life (longed for, in a stylized version, by Marie Antoinette) and increasingly appreciated for its decorative value. While brides continued the ceremonial traditions of flower-wearing, it was the earth-mother hippies who have most influenced the accessory’s current incarnation. Finding themselves partying rather than plowing, these flower children would truss their slept-in hair with wildflowers to signify their connection to nature.

View image slideshow here.

Choose Beautiful

As part of its "Choose Beautiful" campaign, Dove visited five cities around the world (San Francisco, Shanghai, Delhi, London, São Paolo) and presented two entrance options for women based on how they view themselves. People could walk through the door labeled "Beautiful" or enter through the "Average" door.

At first, most of the women choose the average pathway, but as the video progresses, more and more women work up the courage to take the beautiful route.

One woman who chose the "Beautiful" door describes the experience as "quite a triumphant feeling. It was like telling the world, 'I think I'm beautiful.'"

Who knew the simple task of choosing an entrance could be so empowering? Watch the video for yourself below.

Vogue Paris: Ellis Faas’ Beauty Exhibition

Cult make-up artist Ellis Faas has a secret passion: photography. As a teenager, she accumulated self-portraits, which sharpened her passion for make-up and the art of transformation. This spring, her vintage photos are being sold at the Makeup Show exhibition in Los Angeles. We meet Ellis, in an exclusive interview for Vogue.fr.

                           Lipdrip by Ellis Faas

What is your relationship with make-up and photography?

I always wanted to be a photographer, but when I started, my love for color took over. I was 18 when I decided to be a make-up artist and at 19 years old I left to study with Christian Chauveau in Paris. Today, my two passions are intertwining even if now I only take the odd inspiration shot. In this photo, I concocted a glycerin-based texture in my kitchen to enhance gloss finish. We could never sell this texture, I used it at theSonia Rykiel show in Paris and we couldn't allow the models to eat or even smile while they were wearing it. Not ideal!

                 The retro black and white by Ellis Faas

What is the story behind this self-portrait?

This image and the following one will be part of a college made for my Makeup Show exhibition in Los Angles, entitled "Selfies from the Seventies". At the time, self-portraits took a lot more effort than they do today, we had to press the timer, run into place, pose and then wait days for the result. These selfies ignited my passion for make-up. But, sorry, they are not for sale...

                         Chinese Opera by Ellis Faas

Do you continue to practice the art of the selfie?

I still sometimes take self-portraits, but only for press or to illustrate articles, I'm bored of my face. Selfies are all over the place and I find it very narcissistic. If I take one, then it is with the people I love and for my own memories, not to be shared with the world.

               Eclipse (Makeup 5 years)  by Ellis Faas

Do you still illustrate your own products yourself?

Yes, it interests me. I took this picture at the launch of my Hot Lips lipstick line in 2013 (which has since become an international hit NDLR) Here, I have usedBright Fuchsia L403, the image is a visual to illustrate my brand, obviously not to be replicated at home, but just as an inspiration that I hope reflects a notion of boldness and creativity.

                   La rose dans la bouche by Ellis Faas

What is your favorite product for photo-ready radiance?

Recently, I launched Glow Up, a line of three powders. The particles are so fine, they look more like porcelain than glitter. They help create a natural halo for photos, apply to the parts of the face where the light hits: the cheekbones, the curvature of the nose, Cupid's bow and collarbones, to emphasize the bone structure for a radiant and natural glow. In this image, I wanted to translate the idea of the mask in a beauty shot. The pink lips are just for fun!

 

Do you have a particular beauty routine?

My beauty routine is simple. I have a love-hate relationship with sport, I only do it because I have to and it's important, yoga suits me best and I am conscious to eat healthy food and drink gallons of water. But I must admit that I only recently stopped smoking and I also love vodka! So, as a moisturizer, I use coconut oil, I wash with bi-carbonate of soda and I use Eve Lom products on my face.

 

I only use my own make-up products. Seriously, they are honestly quick and easy to use! This face chart is my personal look, a new selfie designed just for Vogue.fr.

Ellis Faas Icon Gallery, Makeup Show, March 28 and 29, California Market Center, 110 E 9th St, Los Angeles. Ellis Faas will give a talk on her style, Saturday March 28 from 1:30pm to 2:30pm www.themakeupshow.com

Article by By Carole Sabas translated by Lowri Evans the 20 March 2015, Vogue Paris

Behind the Hair: NYFW F/W 2015

Oribe Hair Care was backstage at more than two dozen shows during the most recent New York Fashion Week, and our hairstylists created a variety of looks to complement the designers’ Fall/Winter 2015 collections. The styles that make their way down the runway are regularly a precursor to what we’ll be seeing in magazines, on red carpets and in salons in the months to come, so we broke down the top hair trends you should be on the lookout for. Our lead hairstylists updated the ponytail, played with texture, kept it natural and slicked hair down, offering a variety of options for you to experiment with.

Sally LaPointe: Hair by Yannick d’Is

Designer Sally LaPointe found inspiration in German ballet dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch for her new collection, so lead hairstylist Yannick d’Is created a cool, simple, wearable dancer look for the show.

Photo Courtesy of Sally LaPointe

Get the Look

1. Create a strong middle part in dry hair, then apply Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse and blow-dry it into the hair.
2. Spray Volumista Mist for Volume into the lengths of the hair for some texture, and lightly tease the hair. Run a flat-iron over the lightly teased hair to enhance the texture and create flyaways.
3. Pull hair back into a low ponytail and secure with a band, leaving some hair soft and loose in the front. Wrap a section of hair around the band and tie it in a knot with another section of hair to create the illusion of a second ponytail coming out of the first.
4. Spray Thick Dry Finishing Spray into the ponytails to add depth.

Chromat: Hair by Amy Farid

For Chromat’s Fall 2015 runway show, key hairstylist Amy Farid wanted something graphic to complement Becca McCharen’s designs, which were made of synthetic materials like latex and TPU (a synthetic plastic). The main look, a high and tight ponytail, was achieved with generous amounts of Superfine Hair Spray and Shine Light Reflecting Spray . “I wanted to add height and drama to the collection with the hair, making it look wet, slick and shiny,” explained Farid. “I also incorporated latex from the collection into the look by wrapping it around the high ponytails.”

Photo Courtesy of Chromat

Get the Look

1. Prep dry hair with Foundation Mist and Maximista Thickening Spray.
2. Blow-dry the hair straight with a Mason Pearson brush, directing the hair backwards.
3. Use generous amount ofSuperfine Hair Spray and brush hair back into a very high ponytail. It’s helpful to tilt the head all the way back to get the necessary height. Secure with a bungee. Use a fine-tooth comb and more Superfine Hair Sprayto get rid of any bumps and achieve a slick and smooth look.
4. Apply Supershine Light Moisturizing Cream on the ponytail and create a thick rope braid. Mist the braid withSuperfine Hair Spray and secure the end with an elastic, leaving about an inch of hair left at the end.

Veronica Beard: Hair by Kien Hoang

For Fall 2015, the designers behind Veronica Beard created tailored separates, dresses and outerwear inspired by the outdoors and the great camps of the Adirondacks. To complement their collection, hairstylist Kien Hoang created the perfect look for those who look forward to campfires and hikes in the fall. “We wanted to make a certain texture that was as if you were river rafting and your hair is in a low ponytail,” explained Hoang. “You would be left with a lived-in style that was soft and natural.”

Get the Look

1. Prep the hair with Foundation Mist and apply Dry Texturizing Spray all throughout the hair.
2. Create a deep side part, then fold sections of the hair like an accordion and secure with an elastic, leaving the ends out. This will create a loosely crimped texture. Let the hair set with moreDry Texturizing Spray.
3. Use a flatiron and Après Beach Wave and Shine Spray on the ends of the hair. You’ll be left with matte finish on the lengths of the hair and shiny ends.
4. Take out the elastics and tie the hair back into a low ponytail. Let pieces of the hair frame the face. Use Rough Luxury Soft Molding Paste to polish the hairline.

2015 Academy Awards Trends: Simple Updos, Smooth Styles & Red Lips

Low-key upstyles: Julianne Moore

Even if Moore hadn't taken home the Oscars for best Actress, she'd still be a winner in our eyes. Her low, side- part chignon and berry lips were the perfect amount of glam for her, and she looked stunning.  

Low-key upstyles: Jenna Dewan-Tatum

Jenna Dewan- Tatum updo stunned the redcarpet.  The actress, dancer, wife and mother stunned in a plunging white gown and kept her hair simple with a low lop and center part with just a bit of volume in the back.

Smoothed, shorter styles: Margot Robbie

Does Margot Robbie have bad beauty days? We aren't convinced that she does. The Australian stunner sported her still-trending lob smoothed and with a dramatic side-part.

Red lips: Emma Stone

Birdman actress and red carpet darling Emma Stone is certainly not afraid of color, and it pays off! Her red lips (and hair!) were perfectly complemented her green-hued, embellished dress (which, admittedly, is not something we would normally think of as working out well, but Stone proves us wrong).

Smoothed, shorter styles: Nicole Kidman

Take or leave her dress choice, but Kidman's smoothed lob was on-trend for the awards evening and had just the right amount of volume.

Color comeback: Chunky highlights on Reese Witherspoon

We've heard whisperings of chunky highlights coming back into favor, and Wild star Reese Witherspoon looks like she's on board. Her smoothed hair and center part accentuate the high-contrast color.

There was a lot of beautiful hair, makeup and fashion at the 2015 Academy Awards! Embellished dresses were not to be missed, and as a consequence of perhaps the super-glammed gowns and the less-than-ideal rainy weather, there were a lot of no-fuss hairstyles trending—but we didn't mind.

So much of being a stylist is knowing when you need to let something shine, such as a gorgeous dress or bold makeup, and it seems like a lot of behind-the-scenes stylists were doing just that. 

Take a look at the trends we noticed:

• Updos: Sleek, low-key upstyles
• Down styles: Smoothed, side-parted shorter styles
• Makeup: Red lips
• Color comeback: chunky highlights