We caught up with world-class hairstylist and Wella global creative director Eugene Souleiman in Paris Fashion Week, where he was fresh off the plane from Milan. While creating slicked-back ponytail looks (we saw him at work at Issey Miyake and Tsumori Chisato), he was buzzing about the beauty of Paris and feeling great about the season. Find out how he keeps his creative mojo during the last leg of Fashion Week in our interview below.
theFashionSpot: How do you stay inspired during Fashion Week?
Eugene Souleiman: Paris is a great way to end the season—it’s such an inspiring city and it really brings out the best in my work. There’s just something about the women here and the way they embrace their sexuality. Paris especially is a city that is really special, there’s lots of multiculturalism—there are French people here from Northern Africa and parts of the Middle East and so many other places—people come in and out from all over the globe. That culture really translates into the beauty of each woman here. The sensuality and confidence is infectious and of course, truly inspiring.
The hair look at Issey Miyake Fall 2015; image: Imaxtree
tFS: How is the beauty of Paris influencing your work right now?
ES: It’s totally inspiring me—this season I’m creating looks that are just like that, sexy but structured. The looks have a juxtaposition-like quality to them that makes them interesting. That’s what is very intriguing to me right now. I either like it very simple or full-on but always with a nod to the past and classic beauty.
tFS: Things you would never leave home without?
ES: Honestly, it’s my music. Right now I’m listening to lots of blues. I’m not even listening to the new stuff, I’m going back in time to the 50s. I’m listening to guys like Lead Belly and old rock bands like Nirvana.
