Just like New York, the wet hair trend continued to dominant the runways of London. Richard Malone, House of Holland, VIctoria Beckham, and Ashish were some of the designers who loved the watery vibes. The Victoria Beckham girls walked down the runway with slicked-back, wet hair with comb marks clearly front and center. At Ashish, models were made to look like they were out dancing all night. Famed stylist, Sam McKnight, sprayed their hair with water so that the models looked damp, sweaty maybe, but not soaked. He finished with mouse and L’Oreal Art Glue to complete the drenched look. Richard Malone’s models had unfinished wet tousled hair as if they were running around all day, or even just coming out of the gym. This unfinished look was carefully and meticulously created by dampening the hair, then adding mouse and then some shine spray and shine drops. While the Americans were more beachy wet, it seems like the Brits were a little more eccentric but realistic with their sweaty, wet hair.

Streetwear versions of lady-like hair was also beautifully represented. We saw fun versions of your mom’s hair at Simone Rocha, Molly Goddard, and Mary Katrantzou to name a few. At Simone Rocha, the designer described the models “being like an angsty teen dressed in her Sunday best, but in her mother’s clothes.” Hairstylist James Pecis backcombed the hair for extra height, and then curled into a single or double roll. Bangs were pristinely disheveled, and the hair was finished with elaborate headbands of florals, pearls, and rhinestones. Mary Katrantzou’s stylist stated “We’re channeling ‘Little House on the Prairie’ but with contrasting textures.” Low ponytails were pulled over the ears, and finished with a hazy mohawk and loose stray wisps of hair.

Of course, it wouldn’t be London without a strong punk sensibility. Hair color dominated the runways with varying shades of the rainbow. We saw soft pastels, bold electrics, glittery confections, and metallic tinsel wigs.  Ashley Williams had a strong punk inspiration with tangled rose-tinted updos, acid yellow bobs, and red ponytail mohawks. London’s resident bad boy, Gareth Pugh, also contributed to the Punk scene this fashion week.  Pugh created modern, edgy, hair that looked like it came right out of sci-fi classic, Mad Max. The most prominent of the looks was a an updo which looked like it was created with newspaper, garbage bags and strips of metal. The designer states he will always be inspired by his late friend and muse, Judy Blame.  “Judy was uncompromising and fiercely anti-establishment. He Came up in the Eighties and Nineties, where much of culture was moving toward the shallow and acquisitive- he was a counterpoint to that.”

London represents self expression. It’s counterculture. It’s the birth place of punk rebellion. They say inspiration and the best art comes from the worst of times. If that’s truly the case, we should be on our way to a new renaissance.

In that spirit, as we look forward to Milan and Paris, let’s offer a hopeful, new mantra when it comes to fashion: Don’t get stuck in a rut, let your self expression free.

Photos: vogue.com