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There’s an elegance to the way Vivienne Mackinder approaches hair. She is part sculptor, part storyteller, and devoted to ensuring that every decision made on the hair strengthens its emotional connection to the story she is portraying. Mackinder is one of those creatives in beauty who bridges technical precision with a strong emotional narrative, and she is more than willing to share her wisdom with others who aspire to reach her level of expertise.
I was lucky enough to witness her latest creative piece, Couture Geometrics, which captures the duality of striking shapes and lines and elegant couture. Not only was this collection beautiful to see come to life, but it also embodies a deeper story. A story of education, collaboration, and the drive to elevate one’s craft.
For Mackinder, education and artistry are inseparable. Couture Geometrics represents the culmination of hard work that emerged from her high-intensity workshops with a group of stylists eager to gain experience in editorial hairstyling. Her workshops allow stylists to transcend the boundaries of salon work and step confidently into the editorial world. These sessions aren’t about formulas; they are about unlocking creative vision and providing the guidance needed to bring that vision to life.
Over six transformative weeks, this group of stylists, some traveling from across the country and others from abroad, trusted Mackinder’s direction as they developed their own editorial stories. They built mood boards, fine-tuned their looks to enhance the narrative, and learned to translate emotion into hair. It is a skill Mackinder has mastered, and one that these stylists are now beginning to experience for themselves.
In collaboration with photographer Joseph Cartright, Mackinder guided each participant through the delicate process of concept and execution. There were critiques, revisions, and moments of uncertainty. For many, it was their first time seeing how hair behaves under the scrutiny of a camera. How a slight shift in color, proportion, or texture can alter an entire mood. Mackinder’s gift lies in her ability to empower stylists to see the invisible, to move with intention, and to elevate technique into art. The training in New York City, where the team gathered to bring two distinctive collections to life. The energy inside the studio was contagious. There was a mix of nerves, excitement, and pure creative drive. For some, it was their first time in New York, making the experience even more surreal. But for all involved, it was a moment of stepping beyond their comfort zones and into the careers they had been dreaming of in the world of editorial styling.
Couture Geometrics stands as a defining statement. Inspired by fashion designer Malan Breton’s New York runway, where Mackinder served as Key Hairdresser, the collection explores what happens when geometry and glamour merge. We have bold, architectural cuts rendered with couture looks and sculptural silhouettes that express strength yet remain softened. It is a modern homage to the Vidal Sassoon Geometry revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, an era that shaped Mackinder’s creative heritage as Sassoon’s former Artistic Director, reimagined through a contemporary lens of emotion and individuality.
The foundation of the work begins with wigs from Alexander Turnbull’s Couture Collection, each one a blank blonde shag waiting to be transformed. Under Mackinder’s supportive eye, stylists cut, colored, and styled these wigs to represent strong emotions. While there were important techniques to learn when using these wigs, wigs are not a limitation; if anything, they allow for full creative exploration.
Color also played a starring role. Deep, saturated tones added weight and attitude to the geometry of each cut. The process was collaborative, stylists assisting one another, adjusting cuts and formulas, and recoloring until every strand harmonized with the vision.
The pursuit of perfection was evident and there was a whole team to support one another throughout. “Editorial work is not about getting it right the first time,” Mackinder reminded them. “It’s about refining until the story tells itself.”
On shoot day, the atmosphere and energy were even greater than on prep day. Models moved through each look with effortless grace, every gesture caught by Cartright’s camera in precise detail. Here, Mackinder’s coaching and support provided stylists with nuances only someone with years in editorial styling would catch. She and Cartright taught her stylists that in the world of editorial work, the true client isn’t the model, it’s the camera. Every movement, every tilt of the head must serve the image, she explained. Even the smallest expression could transform a shot; a clenched jaw can shift the energy entirely.
The collection was completed by a dream team. Fashion styling by Yachi G and makeup by David Maderich. Together, they curated a cohesive world where nothing competed and everything flowed. The clothes supported the geometry of the hair. It was sculptural yet soft. The makeup was eye-catching but complementary, allowing the hair to take its place as the story’s protagonist. When every element aligns with purpose, that’s when the real magic of these shoots happens.
Couture Geometrics is an ode to individuality. Designed for a new generation unafraid of boldness, it rejects the repetition of the same trends and embraces a language of self-expression through structure and color. Each look feels fearless, fashion-forward, and deeply personal.
Ultimately, this collection and the workshop behind it reflect Mackinder’s larger mission to elevate hairdressing into an art form. What unfolded in the New York Studio was more than a photo shoot. It was a dialogue between tradition and innovation, between pro and student. Because in Vivienne Mackinder’s world, hair is never just hair. It is a story waiting to be told.
