Golden Globes 2016

There was no lack of glitz and glamour on the red carpet at this year's Golden Globes. Elegant gowns and sparkling jewels made their usual appearances, but celebrities seemed to be working a more casual angle with loose, beachy waves and subtle, natural balayage.

I absolutely loved Laverne Cox's gorgeous caramel balayage and Olivia Wilde's honey peekaboo face-framing color. Balayage is a great way to achieve natural-looking highlights that grow out well, even in the dead of winter when we're all questioning if we will ever see the sun again...

The main thing that brings all of my favorite red carpet looks together this year though is the middle part. Regardless of your face shape, hair color or texture, the middle part can look effortlessly chic, glamorous, casual and unassuming all at the same time. It's incredibly versatile in achieving a Bridget Bardot inspired bouffant like Katy Perry's incredible vintage 'do or Kate Hudson and Zendaya's soft, effortless waves. And damn, Kirsten Dunst slays the middle part in her jaw-dropping goth/nouveau gown!

I hope to see more middle parts at VAIN BeautyWorld in the near future. The middle part, aka my favorite hair part of all time, has been around since ancient Greece, making its most famous appearances (at least in our memory) in the 1970s and 1990s. And it isn't just for ladies y'all- check out this incredible collection of 90s teen heartthrobs like Aaron Carter and Hansen -- all sporting perfect middle parts. *le sigh.* 

VAIN Loves David Bowie

As we bid farewell to the unforgettable legend that is David Bowie, VAIN reflects on all of the iconic personas he embodied throughout his career, as well as the incredible hair styles he gifted us lucky Earthlings. Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, Thin White Duke and the Goblin King are just a few of his musical and aesthetic contributions that inspired countless weirdos and outcasts to be and love themselves for who they are. David Bowie taught us that reinventing yourself is never impossible.

Just remember, VAIN Beauty World: "If you're ever sad, just remember the world is 4.543 billion years old and you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie."

Rest in peace somewhere strange, friend.

Listen to Black Star here.

Last Minute Gift Cards @ VAIN

ATTENTION HOLIDAY SHOPPERS! If you're searching for that last minute present for family or friends, why not give them the gift of great hair?

VAIN is making your holiday season much, much easier by offering gift cards at all three of our locations. VAIN gift cards never expire and can be redeemed at all three locations for any color, cut, style, boutique item or product purchase. You can purchase a card for any amount and the card can be reloaded later -- a gift that keeps on giving! 

Stop by your preferred VAIN location to pick up a gift card from our front desk. Feel free to give us a call downtown (206) 441-3441, Ballard (206) 706-2707 or West Seattle (206) 535-2595 with any questions.* Happy holidays, everyone! 

*Please note that gift cards can only be purchased in person at one of our three locations; we do not process any telephone credit card transactions.

Gift Cards @ VAIN Beautyworld!

Having trouble finding the perfect gift for your favorite person this holiday season? Why not give the gift of incredible hair with a VAIN gift card! VAIN gift cards never expire and can be redeemed at all three of our lovely locations for any color, cut, style, boutique item or product purchase. Our gift cards can purchased for any amount and can also be reloaded later. So, stop by your preferred VAIN location today and pick up a gift card for someone special at our front desk. Happy holidays, everyone!*

*Please note that gift cards can only be purchased in person at one of our three locations; we do not process any telephone credit card transactions.

polarity by Sandra M. Farmer

Our incredibly talented stylist, Siddal (Sandra M. Farmer) will be debuting her brand new mixed media collection, Polarity at our West Seattle VAIN location on Thursday, December 10th from from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m for West Seattle's December Art Walk. Check out our exclusive interview with Siddal below for more information about her work, and make sure to stop by the opening reception!

Sandra M. Farmer earned her BFA in Crafts with a focus in Ceramics and a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Pre-Art Therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002. Farmer focuses on figurative ceramics and mixed media and has been teaching ceramics and art for the past 10 years at various studios and institutions including the Children’s Museum of Richmond in Virginia, and The Seattle Art Museum, The Children’s Museum in Seattle, Pottery Northwest, Kirkland Arts Center, Moisher Arts Center, North Seattle Community College and Redmond Clay Studio in Washington. She's been a licensed stylist and with us at VAIN Beauty World since 2012.

You've been working with mixed media and sculpture for a long while; is that your preferred medium? Will polarity include mostly sculpture and clay works, or are you exploring other mediums?

"Yes, I've been working with clay for almost 20 years! Clay is my chosen medium because of its dimensional honesty and tactile immediacy. I use mainly a coil/slab technique creating strength while allowing the figure to emerge accordingly. This show is all ceramic sculpture with some mixed media elements. Clay is definitely my favorite medium, but I have often added other materials like found objects, metal, glass, etc. depending on the piece. Sometimes I find something that speaks to me and build a piece around that, other times I need to search for that special something that will complete the piece."

What inspired this collection? Any themes we should be aware of? Do you have a general artist statement?

"I've been thinking of the word polarity and what it means; how you can feel more than one way at a time, seeing both sides of an issue, and opposites and the threads that connect them. My work for polarity questions and explores the role of nurturer and investigates themes like fear, identity, and choice. Figures reveal their uncomfortable introspection, mostly unsure of their roles while reluctantly accepting associated burdens. I use the figure for immediate recognition and to allow the viewer easier access. My goal is always to connect to the viewer and get a response."

Tell us a little bit about your pieces. Which ones were your favorite to create? How many pieces are you including in the show?

"I made nine hand-sized pieces I've just been calling "the girls;" those were fun and much smaller in size than I normally work with. Parts of those were made with a mold but each piece is very distinctive. There are also three almost life sized heads- "contradiction ," "separation," and "antithesis," a conversation piece called "antagonism," a larger piece called "the gift" and a piece that includes three smaller busts called "The Moirai."

To read more about Siddal at VAIN, check out her profile here and RSVP to polarity on Facebook! 

Books at VAIN: California Four O'Clock

Photo by: Alessandra Gordon

Author, designer, and Seattle Review of Books co-founder Martin McClellan just published his first novel California Four O'Clock and you can pick up a copy at VAIN downtown! 

Martin is a longtime friend of VAIN (he rents one of our artist studios and sees Dylan for his haircuts) so we were delighted to be the first to feature his brand new book.

Martin describes California Four O'Clock as "a stylish, gripping family drama set in mid-century Los Angeles. It’s about painting vs. photography, queer identity in a time of great repression, California’s car obsession, and that big bang moment of culture being forged by a shutter click. It’s about daughters and fathers, daughters and mothers, lovers and partners, and what it’s like to fight the ghost of a self you haven’t yet outgrown." 

Martin is throwing a book release party Wednesday, October 7th at 8:30 p.m. at Mercer Street Books in Lower Queen Anne, where he'll do a short reading as well as an interview by Seattle Review of Books co-founder Paul Constant (RSVP).

Copies of California Four O’Clock will be available for purchase at the party, at the Elliott Bay Book Company on Capitol Hill, and through Martin's Kickstarter website. Please send media inquiries and other questions to Martin at martin@martinmcclellan.com.