womensnet: What distinguishes a professional stylist for hair and makeup? His trend and insider knowledge, or, rather, his ability to style and make up people according to their types?

Armin Morbach: It depends first of all upon the assignment of the stylist. Because I often prepare models for spreads in fashion magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Gala, and Allegra, current trends are the focus of my creative work. Hair and makeup must reflect the current trend and support its effect in photos. On the other hand, I cannot do hair and makeup without also taking into account a woman’s type. For the most part, working according to type and according to trend go hand-in-hand; when giving models a glamorous look, I must always pay attention to their facial contours, eye color, hair color, and other characteristics. (Photo: supermodel Eva Padberg styled by Armin Morbach)

womensnet: In photo shoots, the models, fashion, and styling seem aloof—almost arrogant. Is this effect intentional?

Armin Morbach: A great deal of emphasis is placed upon achieving this effect. Models almost always exude glamour in fashion spreads and advertisement campaigns. An artificial world should be created—one that awakens desire. After all, Joe Average consumer does not want to see his or her neighbor in an advertisement for Dior couture. He expects the beautiful, ideal fashion world that triggers a “must-have” effect. (Photo: Models exude glamour and aloofness)

womensnet: How do you keep abreast of the latest trends in lifestyle, fashion, and makeup?

Armin Morbach: I meet with many fashion designers and other creative people in our industry—there I continually find inspiration for my own work. For work I often travel to many fashion shows in Paris, Milan, and London, where I get to view the next season’s collections. Often the suitable look for hair and makeup comes directly out of the upcoming fashion trend. In addition, I work the big shows for fashion houses like Wunderkind, Missoni, and Escada. A peek behind the scenes helps me to come up with new ideas. Soon, I will be holding a fashion show with the theme: Streetstyle. There we will present the new got2b styling line from Schwarzkopf & Henkel. For this show, I can bring in my insider knowledge and translate street styles into makeup and hairstyling.

womensnet: What constitutes the streetstyle look?

Armin Morbach: Streetstyle is for me a reflection of the particular city from which the look comes. Every city has its own particular streetstyle; while in Berlin the punk look is still celebrated, with its mohawks and torn jeans, in Rome it means Prada sandals and the thin legs of women. In Paris, on the other hand, straight bangs are the streetstyle at the moment, whereas in New York it refers to freshly washed, natural looking, and slightly wavy hair.

womensnet: Is there a city that in your opinion most celebrates streetstyle?

Armin Morbach: At the moment, Tokyo is for me the streetstyle metropolis par excellence. In no other city are styles experimented with so boldly and daringly as in this Japanese metropolis. It is said that the Japanese often imitate European trends. But this does not simply mean copying the European trends. They are carried further and accentuated with an individual Japanese flair. In Tokyo there exists a breathtaking mix of Manga, Berlin streetstyle, and teddy bear looks. It is hard to imagine such a shrill mix of styles on European streets. (Photo: Japanese streetstyle is more extraverted than in Europe.)

womensnet: What does streetstyle mean in terms of hairstyling?

Armin Morbach: Streetstyle should be seen as a unified look. The sum of the hairstyle, fashion, accessories, and makeup all create the look. Therefore, it is impossible to speak about a streetstyle haircut independently from the outfit. The cut and styling blend seamlessly into the overall look.

womensnet: Which famous person most embodies streetstyle?

Armin Morbach: Internationally speaking, the singer Pink is to me the personification of streetstyle. Also Paris Hilton embodies to me the glamorous side of streetstyle—whereas Madonna is already too old for this look. In Germany this is more difficult. I think that Mitze, the singer of the Berlin band Mia, represents a great streetstyle.

womensnet: How is this trend going to further develop?

Armin Morbach: There are two possibilities as to how streetstyle will develop. The first is affected by globalization and the success of worldwide fashion chains such as H & M, Zara, Diesel, etc. This could cause streetstyle to look the same in every city and thus lose its individuality. The second possibility—which, incidentally, I am hoping for—is the increasing individualization of this style. With small accessories and homemade style elements, department store fashion can be “refined” and made to represent one’s personal style. This could progress, such that one could recognize the cultural group and metropolis from which a person comes based upon his or her look—an idea I find very exciting.

womensnet: Mr. Morbach, thank you for talking with us.

More about the work of Armin Morbach

On his homepage, trend expert Armin Morbach presents examples of his hairstyling and makeup work. The hairstylist and makeup artist works predominately for international fashion shoots and fashion shows.

www.arminmorbach.de

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