What do Icons like Twiggy, Kate Moss, Alexander Mcqueen, Mary Quant, Vivienne Westwood all have in common? The answer: Salon city, aka London! Each and everyone one of the names previously listed have completely reshaped the fashion and hairstyle industry in their own way, and therefore, completely reshaped the human experience to be as we know it today. But what sets London apart from the rest of the world?
London’s impact throughout history
Since, well forever, London has played a crucial role in the fashion and hairstylist world. Dating all the way back to medieval times, fashion innovation and London have gone hand in hand. Due to London’s important role as a prominent port city for ships coming from places like Florence, Paris and Rome, the production and display of fashionable goods has virtually always existed.
From then on, London’s fashion footprint appears throughout history. The Victorian era was an immensely influential period for people across the globe. And in the 20th century, names like Mary Quant, Audrey Hepburn, Alexander Mcqueen and Vivienne Westwood begin to appear.
In the 50s and 60s and 70s in London, the rebellious “punk” style emerges thanks in part to Vivienne Westwood, bringing leather, eyeliner and hair gel to the scene. And in sharp contrast, the “swinging London” style took hold thanks to Mary Quant. Pixie haircuts, thick mascara and round sunglasses to cover big doll-like eyes became famous not only in London but around the world.
Hairstylists change the game
Let’s take a closer look at the role that hairstyles throughout history, because they played a crucial part in the development in style around the world. You couldn’t claim you were “punk” if you kept your hair neatly curled and brushed. And you wouldn’t be able to call yourself a “Teddy boy” if your hair was jet black and spiked like Sid Vicious. That just wouldn’t work! Hairstyle is an absolutely crucial aspect to one’s style. A good hairstylist has the power to completely transform a person’s look.
An Part of the reason that London has had such great success in running the fashion and hairstyle game is that, throughout history, it has been full of great stylists with that grea power to transform styles! London is home to Iconic hair stylists like Vidal Sassoon for example, who gave stars like Mia Farrow, Mary Quant and Goldie Hawn their classic looks. And huge names like John Frieda have offered op of the line hair care products to not only London, but the entire world.
Charles Worthington is another example of one of the many cornerstone hairstylists throughout London’s rich history. Charles Worthington’s prestigious yet still family-owned salon has styled some of the world’s most iconic models on both catwalk hair and at London and New York fashion weeks. He has collaborated with top names like Erdem, Roksanda Ilincic, Christopher Raeburn, Matthew Williamson, Peter Som, Anthony Symonds, Pringle, Julian Macdonald and J Maskrey. During their 30s years of business, Charles Worthington has accepted numerous awards including but no limited to the “Fellowship for British Hairdressing Lifetime Achievement Award” (2015), the “MBE for Services to Hairdressing” (2006) and the “Men’s Hairdresser of the Year” (1998)
London is quite literally brimming with top notch hair salons! It’s no wonder the city is sometimes called “salon city”, as the city boasts nearly 100 different hair salons!
Fashion Today
And in the realm of fashion and design, one big London name that anyone could recognize is Stella Mcartney. Her revolutionary approach to sustainable yet sext and chic fashion, instantly placed her on the world’s fashion radar.
The influence of hairstyles today
Today, it can be difficult to stay on top of the ever-changing hair and fashion trends. Thanks to social media and technology, trends can literally change over night! London has thrived through at embracing all the different trends that have passed by throughout the years.
Due to great hair stylists and fashion designers, London always seems to stay one step ahead of the game. The recent trend of leaving body hair to grow naturally can sometimes be a controversial topic. But one of London’s biggest stars at the moment, Emma Corrin who plays Princess Diana in the Netflix series “The Crown” doesn’t find body hair so controversial. She says she’s growing out her body hair because she’s tired of “trying to fit in”.
And that’s something Londoners are great at: not trying to fit in, and instead, blazing the trail!