Angelo seminara styles vintage looks for selfridges exhibition

Angelo Seminara has created hairstyles for the Britannica 1951-1953 exhibition at Selfridges in London.

Celebrating Jubilee year in style, curator Judith Clark and acclaimed milliner Stephen Jones have recreated outfits worn by the Queen and her contemporaries at the time of her coronation. The exhibition forms part of The Big British Bang - the store's all-encompassing creative homage to both the Jubilee and the Olympics. 

Rather than rely on vintage pieces, the collection uses modern designs chosen to reflect the era with a fashion-forward update. And who better to create vintage-inspired hairstyles with a modern twist than HJ's British Hairdresser of the Year 2012 nominee, Angelo Seminara. 

Angelo says: "The inspiration and title of the exhibition comes from three 'Britannica' issues of British Vogue, published in February from 1951 and 1953. These editions celebrated Britishness, especially in fashion terms in the aftermath of the war and with the advent of a new monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

"And as most fashion magazines and pattern books - another inspiration for the exhibition - were published in black and white, I was briefed to ensure the models' hair conformed to the grey-scale look of the dresses," he adds. "They look as though they've been photographed in black and white and the hair colour tones gently echo the subtlety of the garments.

"Style-wise, my looks have a graphic 2012 fashion feel with a nod to the smooth dressing techniques of the 50s. It's my way of showing how trends are a never ending circle, how strong form and structure will always be fashionable."

The Britannica 1951-1953 exhibition is in the lower ground gloor Ultralounge at Selfridges on Oxford Street, London until 24 June.