New York Fashion Week SS 2011. Aveda lead stylist Odile Gilbert created an elegant, spontaneous updo at the SUNO Spring/Summer 2011 Fashion Week presentation in New York.

“The SUNO hair look for this season is elegant and sophisticated. The unstructured back is a touch of naivety against the glamorous style in front. The sides are slicked back and the top is voluminous — both are almost wet with shine — creating gorgeous variety of textures. I was inspired by the idea of a young girl who slept in her elegant updo and kept it in the next morning.”—Odile Gilbert for Aveda

HOW TO GET THE HAIRSTYLE:

1. Prep hair with Aveda Air Control™ Hair Spray for light, workable hold and divide hair into four sections: top (from the crown forward), sides, and back.

2. Use a medium-barrel curling iron to curl the front section, working with approximately two inches of hair at a time. Prep each section with Aveda Control Force™ Firm Hold Hair Spray for ultra-strong hold and pin each curl atop the head with a large hair clip.

3. Repeat with side and back sections. Allow hair to cool.

4. Remove clips from the back section of hair. Take one of the curls and twist into a small bun at the nape of the neck, securing with hair pins.

5. Take the remaining free curls and twist in “S”-shaped patterns against the head, using pins to secure each end into the bun. Sections will overlap and begin to create a beautiful blend of waves. Add additional pins where necessary to secure the style. Spray with Aveda Control Force™ Firm Hold Hair Spray

6. Unclip side sections of hair and pull them back tightly. Apply Aveda Brilliant™ Retexturing Gel to create a clean, slicked-back look and pin just above the ears. Take remaining loose hair and entwine into the updo, as in step 5, and secure with pins.

7. Remove clips from the front section of hair and brush with a Mason Pearson brush. Spray liberally with Aveda Air Control™ Hair Spray for workability. To create volume at the top, pull hair very loosely to the crown and pin at the crown. Twist the remaining hair into the updo, pinning to secure.

8. Apply Aveda Brilliant™ Spray-On Shine to the top and side sections for a super-wet look.

9. Tame loose pieces by adding extra pins as needed and set the look with Aveda Control Force™ Firm Hold Hair Spray. Use fingers to tousle the updo for a bit of texture and messiness.

10. Allow hair to dry before attaching three or four simple black barrettes to one side of the head. The hair will look polished and styled in front but rougher and lived-in in the back.

Odile Gilbert for Aveda with Model SUNU Spring/Summer 2011

Q: What was your inspiration for this look? How did you collaborate with the designer to create the look?

“The designers and I wanted to create a look that would complement the SUNO collection this season, which is ladylike and sophisticated but also breezy and full of elegant imperfections. Like the clothes themselves, the hair look is constructed through layering different pieces together—creating a spontaneous yet beautiful end result. The updo in back is at once detailed and disheveled, and we added simple black barrettes to pull the style together with a touch of chicness.” —Odile Gilbert for Aveda

Q: How could a woman achieve this look on her own?

“This look is easy to recreate and especially beautiful for evening. Prep dry hair with Aveda Air Control™ Hair Spray and curl with a medium-barrel curling iron. Pin each curl atop the head. Allow curls to cool and spray liberally with Aveda Control Force™ Firm Hold Hair Spray. Remove clips from the back section and create a bun, securing at the nape of the neck. Working from the bottom up and removing hair clips as needed, wrap sections of curled hair around the bun in an “S”-shaped pattern and secure with hair pins. Slick sides of hair back with Aveda Brilliant™ Retexturing Gel and pin hair in front into a voluminous “pouf.” Spray front and sides with Aveda Brilliant™ Spray-On Shine and finish the entire look with Aveda Control Force™ Firm Hold Hair Spray. Add simple black barrettes to one side and you’re finished!” —Odile Gilbert for Aveda

Q: What is the inspiration for your collection? What is the look you are capturing?

“Our collection this season was inspired by Georges Lepape’s colorful illustrations for the Ballet Russes, and the textural details of vintage French Biological Fish prints. We sought to make the collection feel ethereal and floating, gentle and breezy as if suspended in water or air. The silhouettes reflect a return to ladylike sophistication and shape: contained, but billowing, fraying at the edges, embracing perfect imperfections. As always, the SUNO Spring/Summer 2011 collection remains worldly, with Hmong embroideries, vintage French ikats, Indian shadow embroideries, and animal beading—all slightly twisted with a modern bend. Printed deco circles, watery plaids, transparent zebra prints, yarn dyed stripes and laser cut leather mix together with watery colors, all bleeding and blending, layering atop one another creating an unexpected harmony.” —Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty of SUNO

Q: You have made a real effort to “green” your show this season. How do you feel about this accomplishment?

“SUNO is committed to ethical fashion. Aveda taught us that producing a ‘Green’ show is easy. It is imperative that we as a company, and as individuals, start thinking globally, whether it be training tailors in Kenya or protecting the environment. Thinking this way shouldn’t be considered an accomplishment, rather a necessary way of life.” —Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty of SUNO