Behind the scenes of the Fashion Week with Karl Klattig

“I put together a dossier because Bumble & Bumble wanted to establish itself in France. Our salon was approved. During a Bumble & Bumble’s training, I got along with Philippe Mensah, Odile Gilbert’s assistant, also trainer for Bumble & Bumble. One day, he called me for Guy Laroche. I was really excited! I had the impression to learn a new profession and that was great!

Laure Delvigo : How is a classic backstage day?

Karl Klattig: We arrive four hours before the fashion show. We prepare our materials while the pictures of the hairstyles we have to recreate are being hung. Then, a model arrives, the chief hairdresser recreates the hairstyle and explains each detail. It lasts about thirty minutes. He/she does her/his fittting. Then, once the models arrive, we start. During every show, there are models styled by about eight hairdressers. It depends of each hair brand.
For Zuhair Murad, there were sixteen hairdressers. There can be even more sometimes: For example for Odile Gilbert, there were forty-five hairdressers for a Jean-Paul Gaultier’s fashion show! Then we stay with the models for about three hours until the rehearsal which lasts about twenty minutes.
This enables us to see the style, the coherence of the hairstyles, the ones to recreate or not. We often have about one hour to modify the rest. Everybody is rushing: There are even models who have not arrived yet! Then, the fashion show lasts twenty minutes and it is over.

Laure Delvigo : From your experience, what are the required qualities to work during the Fashion Week?

Karl Klattig : It is better to avoid to be a “star hairdresser” even if you are a chief hairdresser. There are not many positions during during the shows. The involvement, the presence, the regularity are necessary . Also you need to be prepared to work without being paid. You need to take that into account.. I did that for four years. Somehow, you are tested to see how you resist to pressure, if you are always rigorous. It’s a bit like the army.
During a fashion show or a shooting, you meet many people of the fashion world but you remain an artisan. You must be rigorous and assiduous. If you are told to redo a middle parting 25 times so it is perfect, you just do it again. You must respect what is asked. If the hairstyle created is too personal, it may be not well interpreted. You will not be hire a gain. It makes you think.

Laure Delvigo : A model's caprice?!

Karl Klattig : During the last JOUR/NÉ fashion show during which I was a chief hairdresser, a girl was supposed to parade only once: Her dress was torn while fitting, they couldn't do anything about it. So she didn’t parade. The poor girl cried, this is a classic “Fashion Week” situation! Another one also made a scene during the Maxime Simoens fashion show:  We had to dye roots on a middle parting. This model had platinum blond hair:  I had to apply orange gouache which was supposed to go during the shampoo. However, we were given MAC body painting since Blumble & Bumble and MAC often work together during the fashion shows. After the show, I shampoo the model but after 5 shampoos, the hair color wouldn't go! She started to scream: “How am I gonna do? My agent, my agent! “. The agent arrives: “You can’t do anything? “”After five shampoos, I unfortunately can't do anything else…”. And at that moment the model, like a princess, says: “You don’t understand, my hair color is my profession!”

Laure Delvigo : The last trends during the fashion shows?

Karl Klattig : The blow-dry is coming back. Nowadays, the models also have short hair. Big news: The heated rollers are back! With Laurent Philippon, we also created straight and curly Rockabilly hairstyles revisited with aluminum curl paper. We’ve been more playing with extreme hairstyles for a few years. 

Laure Delvigo : Do you have favorite models?

Karl Klattig : Kate Moss and Linda Evangelista. I also love Mariacarla Boscono.

Laure Delvigo : Your favorite city?

Karl Klattig : NYC and also Montréal.

Laure Delvigo : Your tricks to keep up with the backstage rhythm?

Karl Klattig : Have a breakfast the morning to avoid an episode of exhaustion. You will be more focus and better prepared to do a good job. Drink Yogi tea, it’s better! [laughter] No party the night before! Why? To keep being focused, to have a clear mind and to be operational.

Laure Delvigo : You morning habit?

Karl Klattig : I turn my alarm off at 7 every morning!