The American debut of British burlesque queen Katrina Darling at New York City’s W.i.P on March 13th was a royal success, thanks in part to the Oribe pop-up salon at the event. Clubgoers and beauty editors were treated to one-of-a-kind coifs from a collection of top stylists as they watched the daring dancer (and second cousin to Kate Middleton) perform a seductive tribute to her native country.

"The Katrina Darling show had a “God Save the Queen” theme, so we wanted to create a look that was one part Brit Rock, one part Elizabethan and one part Rockabilly/Pinup,” said hairstylist Paul Cucinello of Manhattan’s Chris Chase Salon, who was on hand at the event to construct the unconventional hairstyles. “We wanted to explore the concept of contrasting textures by creating bouffant styles with a very dry, matte texture using Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray and added a shiny, smooth face-framing detail like a bumper bang, quiff or a victory roll in the front using Oribe Soft Lacquer and the upcoming Fiber Groom.”

Attendees took full advantage of the temporary salon to try a new look, let loose and have some fun. "Everyone thought it was a really unexpected twist to the usual experience of going out to a club,” said Cucinello.

Along with Cucinello, other stylists creating gravity-defying looks the event included Nicole Obert of Mizu, Fatima Sheikh and Tammy Reynolds of Rare NYC and Christie Terranova from Pepper Pastor. – Jackie Hyman