Fashion Week Fall Winter 2012 FULL RECAP!

MODERN SALON Media has just returned from a week-long, fashion-fueled binge while reporting backstage and front row at New York’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Designers debuted their Fall/Winter 2012 collections under the tents while fashion enthusiasts, beauty editors, celebrities, VIPs, socialites and aspiring designers flocked New York City to get a preview of the fabrics, prints, styles, and fashions that will be big come Fall.

MODERN was given tremendous amounts of access backstage, covering all the action with some of the industry's greatest hairdressing leads and their teams. And, we were also sitting front row, rubbing elbows with some of Hollywood’s leading actors and fashion icons—it was so exciting!

click image to zoomMODERN SALON editors Alison Shipley and Maggie Mulhern reported LIVE from Fashion Week—watch for additional MODERN SALON TV coverage!

Here are some of our favorite moments:

Eugene Souleiman for Wella at Peter Som: Eugene Souleiman for Wella Professionals created "handsome" finishes for the Peter Som fall/winter 2012 collection. Souleiman created a deep, low side part, swopped into a chic pony. "It's about making these girls look handsome rather than pretty," he told MODERN's Maggie Mulhern in an exclusive interview. Click the link above to watch the full interview live backstage!

OPI at Herve Leger: OPI was used on nails for the Herve Leger by Max Azria 2012 autumnl/winter show at Lincoln Center on Saturday. Passion was painted on models’ nails for a clean, barely-there nude look that complimented the show’s black and neutral-colored dresses with leather strap detailing.

Frank Rizzieri Interviews Sasha Quarles: In a fun way to mix up the editorial interviews, we asked Frank Rizzieri to gran the MODERN SALON TV mic and interview Sacha Quarles about some of the behind the scene factors of the movie business. We were all backstage at Milly and Kevin Ryan threw in some of his own questions and comments.

Nyree for Phyto at Erickson Beamon: At Erickson Beamon  show at Milk Studios, it was "old world" beauty and fashion from head to toe with 1920s-inspired hair, make-up, nails and wardrobe... even the music. It was incredibly entertaining watching the models pose and dance as if at an old school nightclub. We met with hair lead Nyree from Salon AKS for Phyto who used Phyto products and Scunci hair accessories to bring her bobs to life, and also with Faatemah Thomas of MAC, who chatted up her power eye as she put the finishing touches on one of the models.

Guido for Redken at Rag + Bone: Guido used Redken products to bulk up the hair into what he calls sexy, feminine and soft dreadlocks at Rag + Bone. "It's about using the products to create sexy, young hair that resembles gentle dreadlocks," he says.

Peter Gray for Moroccanoil at Badgley Mischka: It was a wild scene backstage in the hair room as Peter Gray created his exciting finishes for the Badgley Mischka Fall/Winter 2012 Collection shown at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. "These are fluffy cloud bombs," he told me as he pulled out the tight curls he created earlier with small curling irons. Click the link above to head backstage AND get the step-by-steps on recreating the look.

Nick Irwin for TIGI at Mara Hoffman: While backstage at Mara Hoffman, lead hair Nick Irwin revealed his inspirations for the hair were drawn from South American cowboy culture. "it's very windswept, sort of cowboys in the desert," he says. The hair was set by wrapping sections around the fingers and heating the spiral with flatirons, creating hold by spraying with TIGI's Your Highness Firm Hold hairspray. Then the hair was brushed and fingers seperated the curls. Strategic pinning creates a triangular effect in the hair for an al around "lightweight, soft feel," Irwin says. "The hats worn in the show can sit on top of the shapes of the hair, and the scarves can easily fit under the chin," he says. Click the link to watch the finale at the show!

Philip Pelusi at Venexiana: The Venexiana show was absolutely fantastic. Seventy looks were debuted in a show that had music pumping from Ben Brunnemer, make-up by Lisa Aharon for Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, and hair by Jeffrey Reitz for Tela Design Studio by Philip Pelusi. The Fall 2012 looks were a combination of luxe fabrics, bright prints, one-shouldered gowns and crystal-strapped cocktail dresses. Spots of fur were also seen on the runway, alongside sage, rose and metallic  reptile-scaled evening looks.

Texture on the Runway: MODERN SALON Media was so proud to have been the media sponsor for TextureMedia's first Fashion Week event, Texture on the Runway, which featured fab runway shows from sponsors Matrix (showing off talent from its dynamic duo of Nick Stenson and Daniel Roldan), who used  inspirations from the Victorian era; Minardi Luxury Color Care, featuring the talents of Mark Mileti and Stephen Wang; Arrojo, with lead hair Amanda Jenkins, who showed off the American Wave texturizing service; Hair Rules, which  brought out its team lead by Dickey; and Curls Unleashed, which had the crowd cheering in excitement for its texture-infused show.

Brian C. Hawkins for Paul Mitchell and Mirabella at Ivana Helsinki: Brian C. Hawkins was both hair lead, for Paul Mitchell, and make-up lead, for Mirabella, at Ivana Helsinki's show. Wow! Those are two major roles to have in creating the overall look. Click on the link above to get the full story and a how-to!

Wendy Ruiz for CND at Struts Fashion Show: Wendy Ruiz of CND fills us in on the importance of the Shellac manicure at the Struts fashion show during Mercedes Benz Fashion Show.

Ted Gibson for Carmen Marc Valvo: Ted Gibson and his team styled the hair for the Carmen Marc Valvo show, and we were given a fantastic opportunity to interview him backstage. “It's couture meets masculinity,” Ted told us shortly before the show began. “I wanted the hair to be very masculine and strong with a deep side part and slicked back look, keeping the hair close to the head." Get the how-to, and watch Ted in action by clicking on the link above.

Orlando Pita for Moroccanoil at Carolina Herrera: Orlando Pita used just one product to create this amazing do for Carolina Herrera's show: Moroccanoil hairspray. In a show that featured an incredible finale, the event's largest, most backcombed hair, attendees were repeatedly wow'd over and over again. Click the link above to watch Orlando in action.

Rodney Cutler for Ulta Beauty at Carlos Miele: The hair was smooth and shiny for the 2012 fall/winter collection by Carlos Miele. MODERN met with Rodney Cutler for the Salon at Ulta Beauty who was finishing up his last model before she hit the catwalk. "The look is quite feminine and effortless," Cutler told us as he put the finishing touches on his last model after getting the word he had just a few minutes left. Click the link for a how-to, finished photos, AND our exclusive interview with the man himself.