Hair stylist Cim Mahony grants Vogue Scandinavia a backstage pass to Saks Potts' autumn/winter '24 runway show as he brings to life the vision of early '00s festival-going 'dos
Drawing inspiration from Kate Moss during her Glastonbury days, naturally the Saks Potts' woman this hair was rocking matted textures and tousled waves. "The hair had a very glam look to begin with, pre party of course," says hair stylist Cim Mahony. "That's why we finished with a spritz of Oribe's dry texturiser for more of a matte look."
This is the third season in a row that Mahony has invited Vogue Scandinavia backstage to experience the controlled chaos of the backstage area at a runway show. "There's usually the calm before the storm," he jokes, noting how it quickly pivots to a full-on focus on getting the models ready in time.
Related: Saks Potts honours the '00s festival style of Kate Moss in a tightly-edited AW24 collection
For Saks Potts, the Kate Moss references and cool-girl styling offered ample inspiration in terms of hair styles – although it did pose its challenges. "Creating an undone look is often thought of as easy, but in actual fact, can be one of the hardest things to do," Mahony tells Vogue Scandinavia. "We wanted to have a sort of slept in glamour replicating a once chic hairstyle that has been through four days of partying supermodel style at a festival."
As for how to achieve the look? "We started by blowdrying each models' hair, adding a little Less is More Lime Souffle to create a matted-down, slightly greasy look," Mahony shares. Next, Mahony added more dimension by use the styling concentrator attachment on the Dyson Supersonic™ on French braids to create a natural movement and subtle wave. To finish off, the waves were intensified with a set of straighteners, and roughened up with a classic up-side-down shake for that "slept in" look.
Step backstage at Saks Potts's runway show:
![Designer Barbara Potts relaxing on the stairs of Saks Potts' beautiful showroom](https://images.vs-static.com/7JmX-Ne8qsNLpiBjhXaBBuqKu0w=/1900x0/000045660009_7806eba97d/000045660009_7806eba97d.jpg)
Designer Barbara Potts relaxing on the stairs of Saks Potts' beautiful showroom. Photo: Frederik Kastrupsen
![Pre-meeting in session with the designers, choreographer, hair, make up and (of course) the models](https://images.vs-static.com/46e_DqZBnFgVALDmWswAzyswN-0=/1900x0/000045660002_bfddccde53/000045660002_bfddccde53.jpg)
Pre-meeting in session with the designers, choreographer, hair, make up and (of course) the models. Photo: Frederik kastrupsen
![Cim Mahony worked with Dyson backstage](https://images.vs-static.com/5EgrGoa6PWkTRpl3GFecK8steyE=/1900x0/Saks_Potts_backstage_beauty_AW_24_0965c9a085/Saks_Potts_backstage_beauty_AW_24_0965c9a085.jpeg)
Cim Mahony worked with Dyson tools backstage. Photo: Frederik kastrupsen
![Cim Mahony blow dry a model's hair backstage](https://images.vs-static.com/w9EEjk8Do4FB3T0C-H5VBXt6ZRU=/750x0/Saks_Potts_backstage_beauty_AW_24_bd546c2d13/Saks_Potts_backstage_beauty_AW_24_bd546c2d13.jpg)
"We started by blowdrying each models hair, adding a little Less is More Limesouffle to create a mated down slightly greasy look to the hair" . Photo: Frederik Kastrupsen
![](https://images.vs-static.com/ZJ3NHMXKd-kLgRH1W8h7Cf_BX2M=/1900x0/00025808_E4_E6_4138_9773_C401_AAF_1_E9_BC_c5c9728716/00025808_E4_E6_4138_9773_C401_AAF_1_E9_BC_c5c9728716.jpeg)
"We then used the Supersonic with the gentle Air Attachment to weed out flyaways on top of our greasier base. This makes the hair look more windswept". Photo: Frederik Kastrupsen
![](https://images.vs-static.com/9pE0muuaPeNsbUc1IqXPbaoJ3Jo=/1900x0/EFE_6_A0_AE_94_C2_4_B7_E_AD_6_A_A12_BF_894_C42_F_9dc5cd4500/EFE_6_A0_AE_94_C2_4_B7_E_AD_6_A_A12_BF_894_C42_F_9dc5cd4500.jpeg)
"To finnish, we used the Dyson Corrale cordless Straightener to create flat waves here". Photo: Frederik Kastrupsen
![Cim Mahony backstage at Saks Potts](https://images.vs-static.com/msIdLoNsxG0wQTmjb9mF5kVbhhk=/1900x0/F5_D178_BA_C275_4649_8_C2_F_4546144_A89_CA_691a5bf2a6/F5_D178_BA_C275_4649_8_C2_F_4546144_A89_CA_691a5bf2a6.jpeg)
"Backstage at Saks Potts there is always a familiar vibe and loads of fun, especially with Nina Marker in the chair, who never fails to crack me up laughing my head off". Photo: Frederik Kastrupsen
![Almost showtime backstage at Saks Potts](https://images.vs-static.com/w-AifcNQ9BJ-CKr5J0GC9Ie-U6Y=/1900x0/Backstage_beauty_Saks_Potts_AW_24_208837d162/Backstage_beauty_Saks_Potts_AW_24_208837d162.jpeg)
"Getting closer to showtime the concentration level rises and we get our heads down and do some serious work". Photo: Frederik Kastrupsen
![Models walk across the street to the Saks Potts show venue](https://images.vs-static.com/frihB4skh6q24PyR7e9uWBgW4v0=/1900x0/Backstage_beauty_Saks_Potts_AW_24_7e5e23a2d9/Backstage_beauty_Saks_Potts_AW_24_7e5e23a2d9.jpg)
"The show venue and the backstage was split across two sides of the street. Here the beautiful Rose and Emma lead the crew from the backstage area to the rehearsals". Photo: Frederik Kastrupsen
![The rehearsal brief of the Saks Potts show](https://images.vs-static.com/xPtYqEbmZJx2smdHSttjAerKu1Q=/1900x0/000045660007_c804a6bc9b/000045660007_c804a6bc9b.jpg)
Rehearsal briefs in the venue, Saks Potts' showroom. Photo: Frederik Kastrupsen
![Stella Maxwell getting touch-ups backstage at Saks Potts AW24 runway show](https://images.vs-static.com/xslwkBkMlCDBlZ-N1bHN6QXAlxQ=/1900x0/000045660033_7363d46c2b/000045660033_7363d46c2b.jpg)
"The models are in their outfits and here I am doing pre line up touch ups on the gorgeous Stella Maxwell". Photo: Frederik Kastrupsen
![A model gets pre-runway touch-ups backstage at Saks Potts AW24 runway show](https://images.vs-static.com/cPtQ9MOSjmbKOKwX5iYCa--sYAw=/1900x0/Backstage_beauty_Saks_Potts_AW_24_581ed90604/Backstage_beauty_Saks_Potts_AW_24_581ed90604.jpeg)
"The lovely model Rose embodying the perfect late '90s Kate Moss with extensions worn in textured hair". Photo: Frederik Kastrupsen
![Model gets touch ups before walking to the runway at Saks Pott's AW 24 runway show](https://images.vs-static.com/C114LxdoOdGxrNcgahMT0_420IY=/1900x0/Backstage_beauty_Saks_Potts_AW_24_6a35f9ffa8/Backstage_beauty_Saks_Potts_AW_24_6a35f9ffa8.jpg)
More model touch-ups. Photo: Frederik Kastrupsen
![Models walking to the runway minutes before the Saks Potts show](https://images.vs-static.com/BcYTZe4tOAN7ZcQbKa0NcWTfzAA=/1900x0/84167_EBC_01_BB_4_D52_929_E_66858_B1_DC_4_BC_639d07c3ea/84167_EBC_01_BB_4_D52_929_E_66858_B1_DC_4_BC_639d07c3ea.jpeg)
"Minutes before showtime, doing the walk across the street again. In full outfits and rock n' roll authenticity from Nina and Klara Kristin". Photo: Frederik Kastrupsen
![Cim Mahony's assistant Alexandra behind the scenes at Saks Potts AW24 runway show](https://images.vs-static.com/rMLWvvi-96qSKnQn36FU0mf8AiE=/1900x0/000045660034_8854d10160/000045660034_8854d10160.jpg)
"My assistant Alexandra taking the rock-chic look serious behind the scenes". Photo: Frederik Kastrupsen
![Last touch ups backstage at Saks Potts AW24 runway show](https://images.vs-static.com/H-7uc7kWUZM3OVDlXvER5X3vibc=/750x0/Backstage_beauty_Saks_Potts_AW_24_b754dd1c29/Backstage_beauty_Saks_Potts_AW_24_b754dd1c29.jpg)
"Last touch ups, seconds before the show". Photo: Frederik Kastrupsen
Hair: Cim Mahony / @dysonhair
Makeup: Rikke Dengsø Jensen
Photography: Frederikka Strupsen