Meredith Boles, Artistic Director of Matthew Morris Salon & Skincare
Our series Talk Shop is a career and style profile featuring personalities from various industries. They are shot on location in Cherry Creek and beyond. Editor in Chief ESTHER LEE LEACH interviews the Artistic Director of Matthew Morris Salon & Skincare, Meredith Boles, at the salon in RINO.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ESTHER LEE LEACH
Esther Lee Leach: Meredith, I have been lucky to observe you working on set at photo shoots and fashion shows. There is such joy on your face when you are doing hair! When were you introduced to this industry? How did you begin your journey?
Meredith Boles: That means so much to me! I feel so much adrenaline, love and personal expression with my craft! My journey in this industry started as a little girl as my mother was a salon owner and stylist. I will never forget climbing up into my mother’s salon chair and getting into the makeup kit, painting my face and feeling transformed! I wanted the tightest perm she could give me, then highlights and then we cut it short! I drank the hairdressing kool-aid early!
ELL: In New Mexico, you worked for a hair stylist to a few 80s stars! Any stories you can share with us from this time?
MB: I am sworn to secrecy, but I do know some juicy stories about how Hollywood really was in the 80’s and how back then people really lived secret lives. I don’t think that is possible now with social media and TMZ!
ELL: Ten years ago you moved to Colorado and wanted to work for a fashion-focused company so Matthew Morris was the natural choice. Can you share more with us, how you started from the bottom and are now the Artistic Director of Matthew Morris?
MB: I have never wanted to work somewhere so bad as I did with Matthew Morris and I still feel the same way! I did a sit-down interview and didn’t get the job ( I will just note here that I am horrid at personal interviews) but I persisted and finally nabbed a technical interview. Afterward, he told me that I inspired him and I knew from that moment that I would throw my whole heart behind his name, and we were on a rocket ship to greater things and you could feel it! I worked on every photoshoot and fashion show that he would offer and assist whenever he needed me, I wanted every bit of it. I was truly honored when Matthew told me he wanted to make me the artistic director of the salon and knew I would have my work cut out for me! I did hair for New York Fashion Week twice a year for multiple designers including their look books! I teach the level 3 classes at the salon that has 13 students that are all learning how to do editorial hair and fashion shows. I love that saying “your light doesn’t dim when you ignite someone else flame.” and that is what I want to do as Artistic Director.
ELL: As part of your role, you attended New York Fashion Week in September! Tell us more about the shows you worked on and what the experience was like.
MB: New York Fashion Week is always inspiring and so much fun! I did hair for Kerastase and clothing designer Badgley Mischka. The clothes were elegant and gorgeous, their inspiration was 1940’s island chic, so the hair was smooth undulating waves; think of a smooth, shiny finger-wave. I also worked for L’Oreal Professional and clothing designer Custo Barcelona, their clothes were bright, funky and very fun. The hair was a mix of sleek, wet shine on top with a loose textured wave on the ends.
ELL: What are the hair trends for the new year? Any particular cuts or colors?
MB: Shine was a common theme in most shows that I saw and I’m not talking about a wet or oily shine, but more of a holographic, healthy glow. Colors were bold reds, blondes with a pastel pink or blue hue, and cool tone brunettes.
ELL: How can our readers find their ‘look’? Where do you find inspiration for new hairstyles and trends?
MB: There are so many questions to ask yourself when excavating your inspiration, what celebrity, public figure or musician do you admire most! I even follow trends and inspiration from my favorite shows like “euphoria”. I love to pin things to keep organized but I truly try to avoid Pinterest as it can be dated and too cookie cutter. I would rather see someone pick up a curated magazine of current trends or watch what musicians are wearing. I keep my eye on world trends and classic looks and try to mix that up.
Meredith Boles: @meredithboles
Matthew Morris Salon & Skincare: @mmsalondenver