Rebel with a Cause: Christiaan, The Hairstylist Who Changed Everything

Jill sits with Christiaan, the legendary hairstylist who has shaped the beauty industry for over five decades. Known for creating iconic looks including Debbie Harry's signature shag and Grace Jones' striking flat top, Christiaan is also credited with inventing the revolutionary undercut years before it became mainstream. His distinguished career includes collaborations with renowned photographers Arthur Elgort, Peter Lindbergh, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, and Mario Testino, while styling supermodels Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, and Linda Evangelista for leading publications like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. Christiaan's remarkable journey began in a small Dutch village, working in his father's barbershop, and led him through military service in the Marines to eventually becoming creative director at Bergdorf Goodman. His path to success was marked by pivotal moments and chance encounters that opened doors to working with influential fashion editors including Polly Mellon and Phyllis Posnick. The precision and discipline learned during his military service proved instrumental in developing his meticulous approach to hair artistry. In this candid conversation, Christiaan discusses the evolution of beauty standards, his philosophy of prioritizing client comfort over fleeting trends, and his experiences working with fashion icons who revolutionized the industry. He offers insights into the creative process behind his most memorable work and reflects on how his approach to hair styling has contributed to changing perceptions of beauty and self-expression. The episode provides a comprehensive look at a career that has not only created stunning visual moments but has fundamentally influenced how we understand hair as an art form. Follow on Instagram and Threads at @goingrogue.podcast and Send us your questions or comments by calling us at 518-21-ROGUE

Om Podcasten

Welcome to the ultimate insider's guide to the world of fashion, celebrity, and media—straight from the heart of Vogue. I’m Jill Demling and for nearly two decades I was the Entertainment Director of Vogue. I've booked over 200 American Vogue covers, 30 covers for British Vogue, and more than 50 covers worldwide. That's nearly 300 covers that shaped pop culture, defined fashion, and captured the zeitgeist. But those perfect images? They're just the tip of the iceberg. "Going Rogue" is your backstage pass to the moments that never made it to print. The stories from the photographers who captured magic, the stylists who created iconic looks, and the writers who know every secret. You'll hear about the celebrities, the shoots that almost didn't happen, and the untold drama behind fashion's most memorable moments. Remember "The Devil Wears Prada"? That fictional 11-month snapshot? I was there for the real story—I even hired the person the book was based on and appear on page 21 of the book. But this isn't about one story. It's about hundreds of stories, from someone who was on the inside. This podcast is not an exposé, it's a celebration of the brilliant people behind the scenes that made all the famous moments possible at Vogue. It isn't just a podcast about fashion. It's about creativity, ambition, art, and the human stories behind the images that helped define a generation. We'll reveal how the talents behind these shoots got their start, and they'll share masterclass-level advice for a new generation of stylists, photographers, and creatives looking to make their mark. We're going behind the scenes of a world most people only glimpse through glossy pages and red carpet moments. Are you ready to go rogue with me?