Kimberly Ovitz on the Catwalk


Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week kicked off February 7 at various destinations around New York City. Fashion designer Kimberly Ovitz was among the first to parade her collection down the catwalks of Manhattan.

Ovitz debuted her Fall/Winter 2013 collection at an industrial-style space located just off of New York City's iconic Fashion Avenue. The look-a bit rugged with a downtown aesthetic- featured a palette of black and gray with a splash of cranberry.

"Kimberly's collection explores the human psyche and innate defenses found in animals and insects," says Aveda Global Creative Director Antoinette Beenders. "I wanted to create a look that complemented the clothes-like a shield of armor or an armadillo's shell. The texture is smooth and the finish is shiny, but there's a veil of protection. Think of a 1920's wave in a futuristic interpretation-just touched with danger."

Beenders led the hair team in creating the hot hair looks that complemented the edgy collection. A range of symmetric corseted ponytails were the focus of beauty.

Beenders and her team used a trio of Aveda products, including Aveda Phomollient™ Styling Foam for shine and hold, and Aveda Control Force™ Firm Hold Hair Spray to lock in the style. When working with thin hair, Beenders suggests adding some va va voom volume and texture before styling with Aveda Pure Abundance Style-Prep™.

 
 
Photography by Jon Gurinsky for Aveda

 

STYLING HOW-TO


STEP 1. Make a center part, creating two sections on each side of the head.

STEP 2. Drench the hair with Aveda Phomollient™ Styling Foam from roots to mid-length and with a Mason Pearson comb each side up into a high ponytail with one pony nearer to the forehead, and the other behind the ear.

STEP 3. Use about an arm's length of millinery elastic to anchor each of the ponytails in place. This elastic grabs the hair so you don't have to worry about slippage.

STEP 4. Once tied taut, wrap the loose ends of the elastic in a criss-cross fashion around the ponytail, working from the base to the ends, effectively "corseting" the hair.

STEP 5. Pull the hair gently from in between the elastic cord to create S-shaped waves. Then, smooth out flyaways with Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray.

STEP 6. Overlay the ponytails on top of the head, directing the ponytail that sits nearer to the face down the side of the head so that it snakes along the hairline. Then secure with bobby pins and U-pins. If the hair is long enough, loop undeeath the ear.

STEP 7. Direct the other ponytail that sits further back on the head forward along the parietal ridge, which is about an inch above the ear, securing with pins. Again, allow the hair to snake along the hairline above the forehead, tucking the ends under the first ponytail.

Together the ponytails should converge to create a wavy S-shaped form.

STEP 8. Finish with Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray.