Alice + Olivia’s Fall 2023 NYFW presentation served as a giant love letter to America. Titled, “American Icon: Fashion through the decades”, the collection celebrated the innovation, glamour, and coolness of American fashion throughout modern history.
For the presentation, designer Stacy Bendet created thematic installations inspired by iconic moments, movements, and memories in American pop culture—from rock-n-roll and skateboarding, to Andy Warhol’s pop art, to supermarkets and classic American snacks, to road trips and even American sportswear—all with coordinating wardrobe. As far as fashion, there was a great mix of tailored boucle jackets paired with baggy jeans, striped athleticwear, and heavily embellished partywear.
Serving as lead hairstylist, Ulta Beauty’s Senior Vice President of Store and Services Operation, Nick Stenson, worked in collaboration with Bendet to come up with an array of dreamy hair looks that epitomized the American icon. Under Stenson’s direction, the Ulta Beauty Design Team used his recently launched haircare line, Nick Stenson Beauty, to style different variations of chic chignon buns—some of which were adorned with beautiful pearl embellishments.
Pre-show, The Tease was able to chat with Stenson about his inspiration for the hair looks, how it felt to be using his namesake haircare line backstage, and his favorite thing about styling for fashion week. Keep on reading for more!
The Tease: What can you tell us about the hair looks for the Alice + Olivia presentation? What served as inspiration?
Nick Stenson: The inspiration was all about Stacy’s vision for whimsical, beautiful, girly, lots of texture, and lots of colors. What you’re going to see in the show, within the hair, it’s celebrating all different types of texture. It’s really bringing romanticism back into hair, so you’re going to see some adornment. You’re going to see some really beautiful chignons. You’re going to see a lot of movement in the hair as it’s pulled and swept back.
Can you give us a quick breakdown of how you created one of the main hair looks?
Stenson: So, one of the main looks is a really beautiful, girly, messy, tight chignon bun in the back. Everything’s pulled back into the back of the head—really soft and romantic and not really severe. And then, it’s adorned with a lot of different pearls and jewels that you’re going to see in there to really accentuate and support that amazing wardrobe.
How exciting was it to be using your own line of products, Nick Stenson Beauty, backstage?
Stenson: It’s kind of surreal. It’s amazing—seven years in the making. So, it’s cool that we launched just two months ago. And, now we’re here at fashion week with some of the best from Too Faced to Sunday Riley to Tweezerman—all these different great sponsors. And, I have my Ulta Beauty Design Team here with me, so it’s a wonderful day.
As far as key products, what did you use to prep and style the hair?
Stenson: Well, I would say we’re really using a little bit of all the products in the portfolio. But, what I can say is every single person has used the Nick Stenson Beauty Hydrating Oil ($44.00) in their hair. We’re using the Nick Stenson Beauty Smoothing Creme ($36.00) in most of the models’ hair, which is interesting because a lot of people think smoothing is straight. That’s not it at all. It’s about refining and refinement to texture—no matter what the texture is or how thick or fine the hair is. So, that’s in use in a lot of it. And, of course, the Nick Stenson Beauty Texture Spray ($34.00) to build a little grit and you always need a good hairspray!
And lastly, what has been your favorite thing about styling for New York Fashion Week?
Stenson: I think my favorite thing is probably the energy—the excitement. I’m with a bunch of creative people all day long who just live and breathe fashion and beauty and they’re my people. So, I love it!
Get the Look
Look 1: Chignon Bun With Adornments
Inspiration: “The inspiration for this look was whimsicalness. Combining girly, beautiful, and effortless, with lots of texture.” —Nick Stenson
- On wet hair, apply the Nick Stenson Beauty Smoothing Creme ($36.00). For heat protection, add the Nick Stenson Beauty Hydrating Oil ($44.00) before blowdrying.
- Part hair in the center of the head.
- Next, use a hair waver to create beach waves on the entirety of hair.
- Then, apply the Nick Stenson Beauty Texture Spray ($34.00) to the hair and gently brush into a middle back ponytail, leaving out the bangs.
- Create a textured bun by twisting small sections of hair and pinning into place.
- Pull bang pieces backwards and add with pins into the bun.
- Add Nick Stenson Beauty Texture Spray to the wavy bun and loosen with a brush.
- Finish with Nick Stenson Beauty Light-Hold Hairspray ($34.00) to fasten in any loose hairs and set the look.
- Add Alice + Olivia hair accessories for an extra sparkle.
Look 2: Textured Chignon Bun
Inspiration: “These looks are a celebration of bringing romanticism back into the hair scene.”—Nick Stenson
- On wet hair, apply Nick Stenson Beauty Smoothing Creme ($36.00). For heat protection, add the Nick Stenson Beauty Hydrating Oil ($44.00) before blowdrying.
- Part hair in the center of the head.
- Next, use a hair waver to create beach waves on the entirety of hair.
- Then, apply the Nick Stenson Beauty Texture Spray ($34.00) to the hair and gently brush into a middle back ponytail, leaving out the bangs.
- Create a textured bun by twisting small sections of hair and pinning into place.
- Pull bang pieces backwards and add with pins into the bun.
- Add Nick Stenson Beauty Texture Spray ($34.00) to the wavy bun and loosen with brush.
- Finish with Nick Stenson Beauty Light-Hold Hairspray ($34.00) to fasten in any loose hairs and set the look.
If you recreate these looks for your next client, or for yourself at home, tag @readthetease on Instagram or TikTok!
