“Made in Italy” was the theme for Karl Lagerfeld’s Fendi show in Milan this season. Why? Because it’s the best place in the world for artisan detail, said his show notes. So it was more than fitting that Sam created these ‘basket weave’ wraps around the head that ended in a straight and low ponytail, in keeping with the “Lines of Purity” prompt that Karl gave to Sam when he presented him with a sketch of how he wanted the beauty to look (as he does with each of his shows).

See Sam’s guest blog and pictures from the show on Vogue.co.uk
See the runway review and full collection pictures on Style.com here

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What would be London Fashion Week without a little bit of fun, fashion spectacle. Step forward Anya Hindmarch, whose catwalk (yes, even accessories need a catwalk) was one giant barcode, which she sent her models down carrying Tony the Tiger (from the Frosties packet) and the Kellog’s cockerel emblazoned bags, as well as other accessories that looked like Digestive biscuit packets and Ariel washing-up liquid. Sam and Val Garland teamed up again to create a strong beauty look to complement. “It was modern day Stepford Wives”, said Sam. “These women were all perfect clones of each other shopping in the supermarket”. Hair was scraped back off the face, before ends were given a once-over with the GHD Eclipse styler for a perfectly straight and blunt look.

Watch the video of the show here
Read the write-up on Vogue.co.uk here

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Paul Smith: the purveyor of British cool. Step forward an effortlessly chic aesthetic for a true ‘London Girl’, best explained through the messy ponytails created by Sam. Texture was key to the look with Sam working Bumble & bumble’s Dryspun Spray (already a season favourite) into mid-lengths and ends, with a slight bend put in with his trusty GHD Eclipse styler or some large barrel tongs. “This texture creates the character of a real woman”, he said backstage. And to that end, he pulled out wisps from the hairline to give the added effect of a woman on the go. All that is left is to throw on a gilet, pop on some sunglasses and this girl is ready to hit London town. Rule Britannia.

See the Paul Smith show look by look on Vogue.co.uk here
Read Tatler’s Backstage Badger blog about Paul Smith at London Fashion Week here
Watch the video on Paul Smith’s World here

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Marios Schwab’s hallmark is a minimalist, clean, uncomplicated but impossibly chic approach to dressing. So too, for the beauty look that goes with the collecton, with Sam on hair, coiffing half the models with hair distressed and down, the other half with mussed-up ponytails, and ‘raw’ make-up by the wonderful Val Garland. Speaking backstage Sam explained, “the most important thing is to have the same texture running through the girls’ hair, whether its up or down”. This girl is real, she is herself and that’s what makes the fashion and beauty at this show so alluring: its accessibility. Next season has never been so now.

See the collection on Vogue.co.uk here
Read the beauty write-up on Harper’s Bazaar here

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Chanel’s Metiers d’Art collection showcased in Dallas wasn’t just the unveiling of the new collection. It was also the big reveal for Karl Lagerfeld’s first film, ‘The Return’, which details Coco Chanel’s comeback to fashion after not being so well received in Paris, but being well received in the Americas in the 50s. The film stars Geraldine Chaplain as Coco herself and Amanda Harlech as US Vogue editor Bettina Ballard. But one of the surprise roles was Sam, who played the British majordome (butler) that Coco wanted to marry for companionship. Speaking of the role, Sam said, “it was incredibly fun… But let’s just say I am not giving up the day job”.

See Sam’s on screen debut and the full film of ‘The Return’ here

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The Chanel Metiers d’Arts show is always a fashion ‘moment’ and last year’s show in Scotland’s Linlithgow Palace is certainly a tough act to follow – but Dallas, Texas, did not disappoint. Chosen by Karl for the reason that Coco Chanel had a long affiliation with the state after she was awarded the Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion Award by Neiman Marcus in 1957, it was perfectly fitting that he should be presented the same award – for the second time – the day after the show. The collection, set in a reconstruction of a traditional rodeo, was a celebration of the deep South: tassels, feathers, cowboy hats, boots and shirts, Navajo prints with references to Native American Indians and, of course, the Wild West. For hair, Sam was inspired by spaghetti Western movies and created a “modern cowgirl” look, which involved a bow made out of extensions tied low and loose onto a thick ponytail. “Karl sent a sketch before the show saying he wanted a bow to feature in the hair”, said Sam backstage. “It’s Western-inspired but to make it modern, we made the bows out of hair”. Texture was distinctly lived in. In the fitting the day before the show, Sam prepped models’ hair and then instructed them to sleep, and not wash it out.The next day, the day of the show, he then created an extra dusty texture with a misting of Oribe Dry Texturising Spray, also putting haphazard bends into lengths with GHD’s Eclipse iron, for and extra bit of dishevelling. Ornate extras included hand painted feathers and bejewelled clips attached to some girls’ ponytails, but artisanal touches also featured as part of make-up artist Peter Philips’s look, as he brushed gold and silver wet-look eyeshadows onto the temples to create a warrior-like effect that also resonated nuances of the fashion house’s signature tweed. They say that everything is bigger in Texas… It doesn’t quite get bigger – or better – than Metiers d’Art.

Read more about the show here

Read Lisa Armstrong’s review in the Telegraph

Read American Vogue’s review of the show

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The December issue of Vogue sees another collaboration between Sam McKnight, Kate Moss and the British fashion bible. “I think I have done around 80 covers for British Vogue, around 20 of these are with Kate”, said Sam. “I’ve worked with Kate more than any other model or celebrity over the years and she has become a good friend. As well as being a great beauty and model with unparalleled versatility, Kate’s a great person to hang out with, so a shoot with her is always going to be memorable one”. See here his hand-picked absolute favourites.

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