Vidal Sassoon Talks Legacy, New Documentary to Wilmette

Almost 200 people attended the viewing of Vidal Sassoon: The Movie Saturday at the . Attendees not only got to see Sassoon on the silver screen, but they also saw the hair stylist-legend in the flesh during a Q&A session.

Lee Shoquist, a film critic who works for Reel Movie Critic, spoke briefly before the movie and told the audience that the “sold out house is a testament to his legacy.”

The documentary tells the story of Vidal Sassoon's journey from a young boy living in an orphanage to a revolutionary stylist, cultural phenomenon of the 60's, and business entrepreneur. Sassoon's long list of achievements extend from beyond the world of hairdressing. He was the first to incorporate an open salon with windowss, a floor plan all salons now follow, and was the first stylist to release a line of hair care products. Additionally, the new film highlights how, through creativity, Sassoon liberatinged women during the 60's from coiffed beehives and complicated updos, as well as an inspiration behind the mini-skirt.

Some audience members reminisced, like 63-year-old Antoinette Sanders, about his influence during the film.

“I lived through the 60's, and I loved it [the film], I loved his story, and being reminded of the history," Sanders said.

Following the hour-and-a-half documentary, Wilmette Theatre owner Carole Dibo led 83-year-old Sassoon to the front of the stage—an experience she later described as “the highlight of her evening.”

Stylists and salon owners from all over the North Shore shared in the enthusiasm.  Stylist Rolf Waller, of told Patch, “honestly, it's just nice to sit in the same room with someone who changed the industry so much.” Waller admitted that he choked up throughout the movie.

“I kept thinking about my dad [who passed away recently]. I worked together with him in the salon for 25 years," he said.

Meredith Park, a student at the Aveda Institute in Chicago, said  “if I ever had any doubt about my career decision, this film removed them.” Following the Q&A, Park posed for a picture with Sassoon, and received his autograph.

Tony Gordon, a stylist and owner of four spas and salons in the area explained that “the Sassoon method is still the dominant method all over the world."

Sassoon's presentation also made an impact on up-and-coming stylists. 

Andrew Voorheis, an apprentice of Gordon's said that Sassoon “is the epitome of the stylist I want to become” and seeing Vidal Sassoon: The Movie “confirms my belief in my chosen profession, and the validity of how it can help individuals."