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Nicola Coughlan is Talk of the ’Ton

Nicola Coughlan is Talk of the ’Ton

Nicola Coughlan is Talk of the ’Ton

Session stylist Halley Brisker lifts the lid on working with the Bridgerton star as its third series hits Netflix.

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Custom lace front wig for the Met Gala 2022, with colour by Jason Hogan

Dearest readers… Whether you are a Bridgerton fanatic, a member of the Polin fandom or have never watched an episode at all, you’ve most probably come across Nicola Coughlan at some point in the past few years. From Derry Girls to Big Mood, she has a knack of creating ‘wow’ moments that love to go viral. That’s in part due to her role as Penelope Featheringtonin the Netflix hit Bridgerton, and also because she enjoys an exploratory sense of style that captures attention online and on social media.

One of the more misunderstood parts of my job is the ‘style journey’ as I like to call it, which myself and other glam team members craft through the unique partnership we create with our clients. Almost everybody has a personal sense of style but when one also has a public-facing life, there often isn’t time to take care of hair, make-up and wardrobe choices when carrying out duties that come with the role. That’s where professionals come in…

Going red for the Barbie premiere in London

Met Gala 2022

However, where it gets particularly exciting is when my clients want to go a step beyond the expected and craft a style iconography. I’ve worked with a breadth of talent over the years; many like to execute minimal changes to their personal style and have us perform only that, as best we know how for them. Then others want to push the boundaries of style, which for any creative is a form of pure joy. Nicola has always been someone with a love of style and the courage to be dynamic. We met – along with make-up artist Neil Young, stylist Aimee Croysdill and nail technician Michelle Class – on a photoshoot for Refinery29 in 2020. Nicola was already established thanks to her role in the hit show Derry Girls, and was due to appear in the debut season of Bridgerton. We had no idea how big that show would become nor the importance of the role of Penelope Featherington within the Bridgerton universe!

 

 

 

 

 

“Nicola has always been someone with a love of style and the courage to be dynamic”

Halley Brisker

Halley Brisker

It often takes time to discover what our clients’ goals are when working with glam teams. In the nearly four years we’ve worked together as a team of creatives alongside Nicola, we’ve created looks that have incorporated extensive product knowledge – from the oily, sleek locks for the SAG Awards to textured, A-line bobs at The Baftas. Hair piece sourcing for faux bangs at front row shows for Miu Miu in Paris and braided hair bows for the Stylist magazine awards in London. We’ve experimented with colour too; Nicola went red for the Barbie premiere in London and with the custom-coloured lace front wig I created for Nicola at the 2022 Met Gala, Jason Hogan at Josh Wood Atelier painstakingly coloured it to complement a bespoke Richard Quinn dress.

 

Halley and the glam team at work behind the scenes

Stylist Magazine Awards, 2022

Throughout this incredible style journey we’ve gone on together, the thread that has been a relative constant has been Bridgerton, which has just launched its third season. That instalment sees Nicola’s character take centre stage in the plot, to become…  nope, I’m not giving anything away!

It’s no coincidence that as looks go, the hair finish in New York was one of our most straightforward; sometimes we ‘grow as we go’. Of course, I have no idea what the future looks like for Bridgerton or Penelope, but to see hundreds of fans turn out for Nicola was a special moment and a perfect opportunity to create simple, elegant looks for this milestone moment.

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How can you capture hair transformations in a way which feels fresh? James Parr has the solution

How can you capture hair transformations in a way which feels fresh? James Parr has the solution

How can you capture hair transformations in a way which feels fresh? James Parr has the solution

Nashwhite’s James Parr is capturing hair makeovers through a fresh lens.

“The whole concept of ‘The Switch Up’ grew from a personal need to scratch a creative itch – not just from a hair perspective but on a visual level as well. I grew tired of seeing the same stuff on social media and felt like I wanted to bring a fresh approach to the table.
 
Working with my friend and fellow creative and videographer, Paddy Walker, we came up with a concept that ripped up the rule book with how we shot it. This allowed me to get hands on with the direction of the filming and the project.
 
Working with the Wahl styling range was great for this as the tools were perfect for creating more movement and texture in the hair, while ensuring I could still deliver my signature hairdressing style. 
 
This is the first in a new concept where we will be having free reign and bringing a whole new meaning to the term ‘makeover’.” 
 
 
 
Hair: James Parr, using Wahl
Visuals: Paddy walker
Colour technician: Siobhan Fagan
Make-up: Sacha Jones
Model: Ana Maria
 

“The Alchemists” By Charles Rose, Wez Jones, Luke Hartley And Wesley Luiz

“The Alchemists” By Charles Rose, Wez Jones, Luke Hartley And Wesley Luiz

"The Alchemists" By Charles Rose, Wez Jones, Luke Hartley And Wesley Luiz

In a collaborative project under the creative direction of 2023 It List Business Builder Charles Rose from Crate Cheshire, Wez Jones, Luke Hartley and Wesley Luiz showcase fresh fades and amplified texture with organic finishes.

Photography: Michael Young
Hair: Wez Jones, The Heartbreak Club; Luke Hartley, Club Thirteen; Wesley Luiz, Innovation Barbers for STMNT
Assisted by: Willk Taylor, Taylors Co; Luke Nancollis, Crate Cheshire; Kasey Lee-Carmichael, Club Thirteen; Juan Pablo, Innovation Barbers
Creative direction: Charles Rose, Crate Cheshire
Make-up: Claire Evans

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The Revolutionary Rick-Rack Curl

The Revolutionary Rick-Rack Curl

The Revolutionary Rick-Rack Curl

Home-made jumbo setting pins, smooth moves, and a watchful eye – respect the technique, as Lauren Bell aces rick-rack texture for The Coterie: In Session crowd back in 2021.  

A Creative HEAD event in partnership with BaByliss PRO, hosted by journalist and broadcaster, Ateh Jewel.

Hair: Lauren Bell
Make-up: Tricia Woolston
Fashion: Issie Gibbons
Model: Nirvana Proag @ First Management 
Video and production: Sledge
Photography: Harvey Williams-Fairley 
Venue: Jet Studios 

Lauren Bell the Coterie: In Session
Lauren Bell The Coterie: In Session
Lauren Bell The Coterie: In Session

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“Every You, Every Me” by Mia Mozely And Millie Braham

“Every You, Every Me” by Mia Mozely And Millie Braham

"Every You, Every Me" by Mia Mozely And Millie Braham

Back in the Autumn, Most Wanted Business Thinker victors, Lee Nash-Jones and Rob White from Nashwhite, were mingling with their fellow victors at the Most Wanted and It List Award winners’ lunch. They got chatting to the It List Rising Star, Mia Mozely, and The Big Question was asked: “what next?”.

Mia was keen to drive forward her creative quest and shoot more. In a ‘hold my beer’ moment, and after just two minutes of talking, they had a plan! “We have a photography studio at The Heist House, a photographer in Lee Nash-Jones, a make-up artist, a mentor in James Parr and an incredible young stylist called Millie who would love to be involved,” says Rob. “The perfect recipe for a fun-packed day, helping Mia and Millie on what would be their first solo shoot.”

After months of bouncing around ideas and sharing mood boards, shoot day arrived, with Mia on colour and Millie styling in a true collaboration. This has been just as rewarding for the Nashwhite founders, too. “It reaffirms why we do what we do. Just to see their reactions to the finished work makes it all worth it,” grins Rob. “You never know where you might end up, who you might meet or what opportunities might come up if you just put yourself out there…”

Photography: Lee Nash-Jones
Hair: Mia Mozely (colour) and Millie Braham (styling)
Mentor: James Parr, Nashwhite.
Make up: Lauren Wheeler.
Shot at Nashwhite The Heist House

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