Adrianne Weber SS24 Beauty

A revisited ‘pas-de-deux’ unfolded at Adrianne Weber SS24 presentation during London Fashion Week— not between danseur and danseuse, but rather a dreamy interplay between the sculptural silhouettes and models’ sleek ballerina buns, as romantically reimagined by backstage hairstylist Emma Vickery.

A team of stylists pulled lengths back into tight, center-parted buns, then wrapped pieces of dead-stock leather between hair. Unused fabric was repurposed to create matching minimal headbands. After completing the delicate webbing, the hair was coiled into a tight bun at the base of the neck, and the look was completed with a smokey eye to contrast the otherwise bare faces.

The bold black of the leather boldly mimicked the shades in the clothes, adding a ‘fil rouge’ between the hairstyle and the pieces. The tight, secured bun echoed the sculptural elements of the collection, lending a feminine touch to the jackets and coats' sometimes boxy, masculine silhouettes. The figure-flattering dresses complemented the strong yet delicate ballerina touch. This season's backstage beauty was sophisticated with a touch of playfulness, from what appeared to be random positioning of the bun twists to the perfect pulled-back hair shape with a centre part, against the neutral palette of the collection.

While spring is often associated with bright shades, Adrianne Weber’s SS24 runway featured varying hues of rust and cinnamon. The brushstrokes of the surrounding canvases were seamlessly transferred to the terra-cotta lids, with warm dusty clay-colour shadow.

The aim of the makeup director was to add a painterly, ethereal layer to the otherwise classic staple, capitalising on the naturally seductive nature of smoky eyes. Each model became a walking embodiment of art, as if they had stepped right out of the canvas. Rich browns and deep ochres merged in harmony, creating a mesmerising effect reminiscent of the intricate details found in Pélagie Gbaguidi’s paintings.

Echoing Adrianne Weber’s vision of the woman - the body as a blank canvas with the possibility of endless identities through self-expression – the closing model flaunted a body paint on her décolleté, gracefully covering her bare skin. The body paint transformed the model into a living canvas, echoing the vibrant, fiery hues of the surrounding artworks. Blurring the boundaries between canvas and couture, the show interpreted the human form as a canvas, awaiting the brushstrokes of creativity to disclose an infinite number of identities.