SAM MCKNIGHT MBE

Celebrated session hair stylist, Sam McKnight, is the hairdresser's hairdresser. He boasts a legendary career spanning over four decades encompassing catwalk, editorial, and advertising campaigns for fashion houses such as Chanel, Fendi, Balmain, Burberry, and Tom Ford. A regular contributor to both British and international Vogues, W, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, i-D, and Love, he has over 100 covers to his name from British Vogue alone. McKnight is also a Contributing Beauty Editor at British Vogue. 

McKnight has collaborated with some of the world’s most prominent photographers including Patrick Demarchelier, Mario Testino, and Nick Knight. A long-time stylist for the late Princess Diana, McKnight was the creative behind her iconic short, slicked-back hairstyle in the now-famous 1990 Demarchelier shoot for British Vogue, a partnership that led to him becoming her personal hair stylist for seven years.

One of the original session stylists, McKnight initially trained as a teacher before working as an assistant at a local hairdresser in his native Scotland. Moving to London in the early 1970s, McKnight secured a position at Molton Brown, which at the time was a leading hair salon in London’s South Molton Street. He worked on projects for London-based magazines 19 and Honey before landing his first editorial shoot with British Vogue in 1977. While working in London, he was introduced to stylists Liz Tilberis (later editor of British Vogue and Harpers Bazaar US) and Lucinda Chambers (British Vogue), who were instrumental in hiring him for high-profile editorial shoots.

McKnight has been bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award at both the Scottish Fashion Awards and Creative Head Awards 2015. He is hugely respected within the hairdressing community and is often cited as a source of inspiration or named  ‘the hairstylist I would most like to work with’ by his peers.

On November 2nd, 2016, Somerset House launched Hair by Sam McKnight, a major exhibition celebrating McKnight’s impressive career. Never before has an exhibition of this kind taken place, looking at hair from a new perspective and celebrating the significant role of session hair styling in both fashion and culture throughout the decades.

In tandem, McKnight also released his first book: Hair by Sam McKnight (Rizzoli), a hardback anthology of his magazine covers, editorial shoots, and personal insights into working at the heart of the fashion industry.

June 2017 saw McKnight launch a brand: Hair by Sam McKnight, in Liberty of London, injecting fashion, glamour, and ease into haircare and styling. The collection is the culmination of McKnight’s knowledge and experience in the industry, giving women the tools and confidence to style their hair themselves.

Sam was awarded an MBE in the King's New Year Honours List 2023 for his services to the British fashion and beauty industries.

Photographers

Alasdair McLellan, Andrea Spotorno, Angelo Pennetta, Arthur Elgort, Ben Hassett, Bruce Weber, Carter Smith, Charlotte Wales, Clara Giaminardi, Corinne Day, Craig McDean, David Bailey, David Sims, David Slijper, Derek Kettela, Elaine Constantine, Ellen Von Unwerth, Emma Summerton, Erik Torstensson, Glen Luchford, Greg Williams, Hedi Slimane, Inez and Vinoodh, Irving Penn, Javier Vallhonrat, Johnny Dufort, Juergen Teller, Jem Mitchell, Josh Olins, Karl Lagerfeld, Lachlan Bailey, Liz Collins, Marcus Ohlsson, Mario Sorrenti, Mario Testino, Mert & Marcus, Mikael Jansson, Mikael Schulz, Miles Aldridge, Morelli Brothers, Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Jem Mitchell, Josh Shinner, Juergen Teller, Nadine Ijewere, Nick Knight, Paolo Roversi, Patrick Demarchelier, Paul Wetherell, Peter Lindbergh, Phil Poynter, Regan Cameron, Robin Derrick, Richard Avedon, Richard Burbridge, Sean Ellis, Sean Thomas, Sharif Hamza, Simon Emmett, Sølve Sundsbø, Terry Richardson, Tim Walker, Tom Ford, Tom Munro, Tyler Mitchell, Vincent Peters, Willy Vanderperre, Viviane Sassen

Editorial

Another, Another Man, CAP74024, Chaos, CR Fashion Book, Dazed, Elle (UK, China), Evening Standard, Garage, Glamour (UK,US), GQ, Harper’s Bazaar (UK,US, France), i-D, Interview, Love, Madame Figaro, Marie Claire, Numero, Ponystep, POP, Porter, Showstudio.com, The Edit, Vanity Fair, V Magazine, V Man, Visionaire, Vogue (Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, British, US), W Magazine

Advertising / PR

Alberta Ferretti, Angelo Marani, Aquascutum, BaByliss, Barrie Knitwear, Blumarine, Bottega Veneta, Brioni, Burberry, Calvin Klein, CHAOS69, Chanel, Chloé, Christian Dior, Clinique, David Morris, Dior Homme, DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana, Estée Lauder, Etro, Equipment, Fendi, Gap, GHD, Givenchy, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hogan, Huawei Watches, Jean Paul Gaultier, Jimmy Choo, Jo Malone, Joop, Joseph, Just Cavalli, Kate Moss, Kurt Geiger, Lancôme, Liu-Jo, Louis Vuitton, L'Oréal, Mac Cosmetics, Mango, Marni, Massimo Dutti, Max Factor, Michael Kors, Montblanc, Mulberry, Nina Ricci, Noble Panacea, Patrick Cox, Philosophy, Pirelli, Pantene, Pollini, Ralph Lauren, Reserved, Revlon, Rimmel, Roberto Cavalli, RMK Cosmetics, Salvatore Ferragamo, Shiseido, Sportmax, Stella McCartney, Stuart Weitzman, Swarovski, Tods, Tom Ford, Tommy Hilfiger, Topshop, Ungaro, Uniqlo, Versace, Vivienne Westwood, Yves Saint Laurent, Z Zegna

Celebrities

Alexa Chung, Alicia Vikander, Amanda Seyfried, Anne Hathaway, Audrey Tautou, Bella Hadid, Cara Delevingne, Carey Mulligan, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Cate Blanchett, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Claire Foy, Clara Paget, Claudia Schiffer, Cora Corre, Diana Princess of Wales, Diane Kruger, Drew Barrymore, Ellie Bamber, Élodie Bouchez, Emilia Clarke, Emma Corrin, Emma Watson, Eva Green, Evan Rachel Wood, Florence Welch, Georgia May Jagger, Geraldine Chaplin, Gigi Hadid, Gisele Bündchen, Hailey Baldwin, Helena Bonham Carter, Helena Christensen, Hilary Swank, Jennifer Lawrence, Jodie Comer, Kate Bosworth, Kate Moss, Kate Winslet, Kendall Jenner, Keira Knightley, Kim Basinger, Kim Kardashian West, Kirsten Dunst, Kristen Stewart, Kristin Scott Thomas, Kaia Gerber, Kylie Minogue, Laetitia Casta, Lady Gaga, Lara Stone, Lauren Bacall, Léa Seydoux, Lennon Gallagher, Lily Cole, Lily Collins, Lily Donaldson, Lily-Rose Depp, Linda Evangelista, Liv Tyler, Lou Doillon, Madonna, Maggie Cheung, Marion Cotillard, Margot Robbie, Marine Vacth, Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen, Michelle Williams, Milla Jovovich, Monica Bellucci, Naomi Campbell, Naomi Scott, Naomi Watts, Nicole Kidman, Olivia Cooke, Penelope Cruz, Pharrell Williams, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Rafferty Law, Riley Keough, Rita Ora, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sharon Stone, Sienna Miller, Suki Waterhouse, Taylor Swift, Tilda Swinton, Uma Thurman, Vanessa Paradis, Winnie Harlow

Fashion Shows

16Arlington, Alberta Ferretti, Alexandre Vauthier, Anna Molinari, Annie’s Ibiza, Antonio Berardi, Anya Hindmarch, Ashish, Asprey, Aquascutum, Bally, Balmain, Blugirl, Blumarine, Brioni, Burberry, Carolina Herrera, Chanel, Chloé, DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana, Dries Van Noten, DSquared2, Emporio Armani, Etro, Fendi, Gareth Pugh, Gianfranco Ferre, Giorgio Armani, Halpern, Iceberg, Isabel Marant, Jasper Conran, Jean Paul Gaultier, Jill Stuart, Julien Macdonald, Krizia, La Perla, Lancetti, Margaret Howell, Marios Schwab, Mary Katrantzou, Matthew Williamson, Max Mara, Michael Halpern, Miu Miu, Moncler, Monot, Moschino, Cheap & Chic, Mulberry, Nicholas Kirkwood, Nicole Farhi, Oscar de la Renta, Paul Smith, Philosophy, Ports 1961, Prada, Pringle, Ralph Lauren, Ralph & Russo, Richard Quinn, Roberto Cavalli, Roland Mouret, Ryan Lo, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sonia Rykiel, Sportmax, Thierry Mugler, Tom Ford, Topshop, Trussardi, Ungaro, Valentino, Vivienne Westwood

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