One way that Esani is able to stay abreast of the latest trends in beauty and fashion and bring them to you for use in your everyday lives is by traveling to one or more fashion capitals of the world each year. In October 2009, the Esani International Trip featured the contrasting destinations of Bruges, Belgium and Paris, France.
The travel team consisted of a diverse array of future professionals, graduates, and associates of The Esani Institute, including a feisty ex U.S. Olympic gymnast turned hairdressing student, the doting mother of a one-year old fashionista also training to be a hairdresser and makeup artist, a professional hairstylist with an unquenchable appetite for Diet Coca Cola, and a sales and marketing professional with a “cool cat” disposition and a knack for technology.
Bruges – Picturesque and Chic
The team first landed in Brussels, Belgium on the morning of October 10th and took a “sleepy” train ride through farm country to the scenic Bruges, Belgium. For our team, Bruges was “picture perfect”. The serene canal scenes with swans moving apparently effortlessly across the water in the foreground and the striking Medieval architecture in the background made for a striking image never seen anywhere on the U.S. mainland. After settling into the beautiful Die Swaene hotel, the travel team made a hasty trek to the bustling Market Square and immediately got a taste of the original Belgian waffles, a unique brand of French Fries topped with mayonnaise, and the world famous Belgian chocolates (oh so good!). The people in Bruges were among the most friendly and helpful we experienced anywhere in Europe – an excellent fit for the picturesque town.
Fashion in Bruges is unquestionably chic yet accessible to the average person. In Bruges, our team discovered the art of wearing fashionable scarves and slim-fitting jeans with tall boots. The fashion was affordable and comfortable to wear.
Topping the experience in Bruges was the training received at the internationally renowned De Ridder Academy. In three days of training, the team was exposed to European fashion trends and learned advanced skills in cutting, color, and up-do styling. William De Ridder inspired the team with his amazing creativity and stories of his incredible professional journey. Esani and De Ridder will bring some of this training to hair professionals in the U.S. with advanced training classes scheduled for Atlanta in May 2010.
Paris – Vibrant and Edgy
Just as Bruges is picturesque and chic, Paris in contrast is vibrant and edgy. Arriving in Paris by train from Brussels, our team could immediately sense the energy and vitality of the city. The city abounds with culture, art, and, of course, fashion. There was so much for our team to experience – from the Louvre museum featuring famous works of Leonardo Da Vinci (most notably the Mona Lisa) to the Champs Elyssees with its Arc de Triomph, and, of course, the Eiffel Tower.
Haute Couture was defined for our team with a walk down Avenue Montaigne and Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore. Here we could see the latest collections of the world’s top fashion designers, including, Dior, Chanel, Yves St. Laurent, Versace, Lancome, and Gucci, just to name a few. It was not difficult for the Esani team to see why the world of fashion, hair, and makeup looks to Paris for inspiration. The designs were edgy and avant garde. Beyond the top shopping districts, malls like the Galeries La Fayette provided access to a wide range of fashion styles, perfumes, and makeup. With only a few days of shopping in Paris, our wallets were empty but our closets were full of the latest fashion trends.
The culture in Paris was clearly driven by the city’s passion for art and taste for the finest quality – in food, in wine, and in entertainment. Unfortunately, at times during our trip this translated into an intolerance for what was sometimes perceived as the excesses of American culture. But, all in all, our Paris experience was stimulating and inspirational.
To find out more about how you could experience the world of beauty and fashion with The Esani Institute, check out the programs available at Esani.com. The Esani Institute is A Paul Mitchell Partner School.