Madison beauty - beauty news: 02.03.10

It seems Mad Men has taken over not only on our television screens but also on the runway. The Prada A/W 2010-2011 collection – inspired by the ’60s era – featured curvier models and, taking the theme to extremes, served scotch and water as well as ‘Rusty Nail’ cocktails at the after party. However, it was the beehive hair-do that managed to steal the show. Guido Palau, the hairstylist behind the coif, described it as a “modern take on the chignon”, and drew reference from classic French hairdressing with an “uptown nod to the ’60s”.

Creating height and volume with padded cushions and wrapping the hair over them, Palau constructed the hives with mesh hairnets and a hell of a lot of hairspray. He then finished off the look with braided rope headbands, hiding the evidence of construction and creating a contrast to each of the models’ hair colour. Far from its kitsch connotations, the look was chic and sophisticated, much more Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s than Amy Winehouse … well, anywhere. The style brought with it a breath of fresh air and, although not quite as easy for us mere mortals to achieve as the slick, greasy Alexander Wang do that Palau was also responsible for this season, it’s probably not as appropriate for day-to-day wear either. Check out the looks close-up in our gallery - and yes, that's Aussie models Miranda Kerr and Catherine McNeil strutting their stuff in the show.

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