Jenniffer & Co. Salon Employees work behind the scenes at New York City’s fashion week, and get the inside scoop

Jenniffer and Company’s own Chelsea Sloan, Julie Kandalec and Heather Nicholson got an inside view of the ins and outs of New York City’s fashion week. Being backstage gave the girls a front row view on upcoming trends in hair styles, fashion, and nails. The ladies were able to work the prestigious event by their vast amount of knowledge and expertise and using their connections throughout the higher styling society.

The ladies worked with Melissa Bozant, celebrity manicurist from L.A., as well as the talented stylists from Milani, Redken, Maybelline, Avon and M.A.C .cosmetics. They worked heavily on several designers runway shows including creative, Ohio native Nary Manivong, futuristic Cesar Galindo, celeb favorite Charlotte Ronson, wild and colorful Gerlan Jeans and formal coutourier Tadashi Shoji.

Their focus was the model’s hands’ and feet which needed to be perfect to tie each designer’s look together. At the show two to three hours is given to prep 25—50 models for a show which includes hair, makeup, fingernails and toes. Kandalec stated, “Sometimes the models are at another show and we literally are waiting at the backstage entrance for them to come in so we can all attack them and get them into hair/makeup!”

It isn’t all glamour backstage at runway shows. Nails are thought of last in a fashion show and models are never worked on at a nail table. Nails are the icing on the cake, though and are done during hair and makeup. The models are always on their phones immediately after you polish them. The technicians must be quick, but flexible and patient at the same time. The model’s feet can be particularly difficult to work on because of the shoes they often wear.

Kandalec remembers two particular events during fashion week that required quick thinking in order for the show to go on:

“At Cesar Galindo, the polishes we had agreed upon had not arrived in time. Time was running out and the key manicurist for the show (Melissa) was stuck in a cab uptown with the polish! So, push came to shove and I quickly showed the creative director another nail idea that would work with the clothes. She loved it! We did all the models hands and feet with time to spare. At Gerlan Jeans, there were only about 10 female models, but they were to all have their nails done differently (usually at a show all the models wear the same hair, makeup and nail colors so people focus on the clothes). Again we were on a time crunch. I spotted one model arriving late from another show, but she wanted to go outside to smoke first. I asked her if it was ok if I polished her outside while she smoked, on Park Avenue! So that’s what we did, even as guests arrived! She was so sweet. We did 2 colors: neon orange and teal. She loved them!”

A highlight of their experience was doing a “color test” with the designer and/or creative director before the show. The ladies did a color test with Tadashi at his studio. Kandelac stated, “It was like being in a movie, with models walking for him, last minute-tweaks and wardrobe changes and having Tadashi himself choose the color we used. I brought 4 sheer China Glaze colors I did one nail each color on his model and he decided which he liked the best. That was so cool, plus we saw the collection before anyone else.”

A few backstage secrets were learned at the show including the fact that many models are photographed in their street clothes for inspiration in future fashion shows, and are used as muses for the designers.

Being backstage gave the girls a front row seat in the trends for next spring. Orange will be the color of the season for next spring and summer. Many models were wearing scarves which were called “Pashmina's” in New York City. Flats were seen all over in a wide variety of colors that stood out from the outfits and were not super “matchy, matchy.”Skinny Jeans are replacing the look of leggings and boots were worn in brights to complete the ensemble.

Hair was worn several different ways. If the hair was worn short it was sleek and smooth. Longer hair was worn with a “windblown” look to it and the colors were natural looking with slight dimension to it. Several brand new nail trends were started backstage. One of the main trends was semi-opaque or opaque flesh-toned nail polish which elongates the hand. For more outgoing trendsetters, nails were worn a different color on each nail, or sometimes all the same color with one different. A more elegant way of doing all different colors that was seen was a reverse French manicure with each nail a different color. A color wheel effect was also introduced, which involved going one shade lighter on every nail with the same polish finish.

When asked how the experience made her a better technician Kandalec responded, “I think it is pertinent to be well-rounded. It is really interesting to see how trends are set, and months and months in advance. People love knowing what goes on backstage, before anyone else. It’s cool to see those things firsthand and bring them back into the salon and incorporate them into your work. It makes you appreciate beauty and fashion more!”