Evening Standard
A VINTAGE YEAR FOR BEAUTY
Ever yearn for the time when grooming was de rigueur? Now London has plenty of luxury retro salons for ladies and gentlemen
Call it the latest trend, call it the recession and a desire for tradition, but retro beauty has hit the big time in London. Salons with a vintage-inspired service menu and a décor to match are popping up all over the city, and getting the perfect "finger wave" has never been easier."There's a big culture of going to Blitz parties and joining secret silver screen film societies at the moment," says Katie Reynolds, who set up the Powder Room at-home service for women wanting retro pamper parties in 2005, before opening her own salon in Shoreditch this year. And men are reverting to traditional barber services: the City gent can once again get a wet shave and a shoeshine on his way to work.
From heated rollers to the ultimate wet shave, we visited London's top retro salons for service with vintage style.
THE DITA MAKEOVER AT THE POWDER ROOM
Retro vibe: Owner Katie offers "high-end affordable beauty". It's like entering a 1950s boudoir — Parisian prints and vintage mirrors adorn the walls and fairy cakes tempt from tiered stands. Powder Puff girl Helen — clad in pink 1950s uniform — greeted me with tea and biscuits.
The treatment: Helen applied a thin layer of Paul & Joe's Moisturising Primer (£20), followed by a light cream (£25) to even out the skin. She worked brown eyeshadow (P&J Palette, £28) onto the edges of my eye socket with a Japonesque brush before sweeping light brown powder across my brows, defining the arches. She added a half set of Japonesque false lashes — optional extra — and, using Diane Brill's Black Star Lace Liquid Eyeliner, drew a thin line along the tops of my lids. Finally she layered P&J mascara on my top lashes, dusted my cheeks with blusher (P&J, 001, £15) and painted on Diane Brill lipstick in Red Seam (£18.50).
Overall retro experience: I was in and out in 20 minutes. Dita is a good person to imitate when recreating retro beauty and paying at the old metal cash register just adds to the experience.
Cost: Dita, £15; eyelashes, £10. www.thepowderpuffgirls.com
Victoria Stewart