18 September 2011

The Secrets of Florentine Women

 Photo by Brian Duffy for Vogue, Florence 1964

It was one of those days when my hair was everything one doesn't want: lank, frizzy, too many lengths and no style whatsoever.  Nothing would do but to get it cut THIS MINUTE.  With the utterance "It's as if you have a tail" (as in the NKOTB's Jordan in the '90s) echoing in my ears, I knew it was time to find a new stylist and after dialing frantically, I finally got an appointment - yes, I can be there in 5 minutes! -at Garren.

 It could only have been kismet that I was seated in the chair of Lazarus Douvos, an Aussie  Martyn Lawrence-Bullard look-a-like with just as much charm.  Besides sharing an overzealous enthusiam for The World of Interiors, our ideas of style were hugely influenced by living in Europe in our twenties.  For me it was the classic BCBG style of Paris, for Lazarus it was Florence's bella figura.

 View from the Palazzo Ginori

While working at a fashionable salon, he encountered a clientele of soignee Florentine ladies who were always impeccable, always chic.  Instead of following the vagaries of trends, their hair was inevitably sleekly coiffed and lacquered so that it  looked like one piece.  The only departure was during summer when they let it grow long allowing them to pull it back but also reflecting the more relaxed spirit of the season. 


Ascending to the attic...

After a day of clipping away, he repaired to his studio romantically nestled in the attic of the storied Renaissance Palazzo Ginori (yes, that Ginori, my porcelain-obsessed friends...) 

Lazarus' Florence studio

Terra cotta tile floors, white cotton slipcovers, and a soaring view of the cities' Renaissance towers and roof tops put my sixth floor walk-up chambre de bonne to shame...


the studio's seating area

It also demonstrates - to my mind - when you have good bones, one needs very little else to make a room.  Well, maybe good hair...

 Lazarus and Waldo in his current Murray Hill studio

Lazarus, whose styling work can be seen on Hamish Bowles in this October's Vogue, has recently gone out on his own.  Book him on 347.982.4894 or lazarusdouvos@gmail.com - I'll think of ways you can thank me.

11 comments:

Karena said...

Emily what a find a hairdresser of such esteem & to get in at the last moment. He appears so charming and his space, wonderful!

Now to see you lovely new do!

Xoxo

Karena
Art by Karena

quintessence said...

Kismet indeed!! I just love when this happens and I can totally understand the genesis of this post. This Martyn Lawrence-Bullard look alike (but the better looking version) seems to have led a charmed life with surroundings to match!!

Anonymous said...

Does he coif mere mortals ? I am in that same space where I could almost cut my own hair I feel so desperate. Please let us see the finished product and Thank You for the 'head's up'

Pat

home before dark said...

Reminds me of one of my favorite lines from Joyce's Ulysses~something like, "And Jesus said said come forth, but Lazarus came fifth and lost the job." Great looks, doggie, timing and interest. Time to show the goods, Missy!

Mrs. Blandings said...

He's pretty dreamy - not sure I could stand to sit before him arrayed in foils.

Jamie Herzlinger said...

Beautiful photos!

Jamie Herzlinger

The French Tangerine said...

Great post! I love your blog! And what a darling header!
Glad I found you...
Jan

Kellie Collis said...

Such beauty! Love the old world charm of it. Enjoy the wonderful day, Kellie xx

Unknown said...

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Im follower of your blog :)

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pve design said...

Lazarus show me your scissors.
Emily show us your coif bella!
pve

Easy and Elegant Life said...

You are fortunate to have found him. A fine introduction to Mr. Douvos.

I make it a point never to have my hair cut by anyone whose "look" makes me cringe. He is perfectly well groomed and therefore must be good at what he does.