Hoboken Raised Stylist Cuts Hair for New York Fashion Week

The thousands of fashionistas flocking to New York Fashion Week this week can see the work of a celebrity hair stylist who started as just another kid from Hoboken.

Eric Alt, shortened from Altomare as he was known growing up on Fifth and Bloomfield Streets, styled hair for three shows during the winter half of the biannual slate that attracts designers, buyers and celebrities from all over the world. The first Alt related show, by designer Asher Levine, ran last Friday. Alt's work will next appear in the WALTER collection to be presented Monday evening and later as part of fur designer Adrienne Landau's show on Thursday.

Alt said Levine, who often dresses Lady Gaga and the Black Eyed Peas, presented a collection inspired by the 1940's.

“We went with this really, tight sleek look for the men,” Alt said. It's clean cut and parted, reminiscent of something you'd see during World War II."

Alt said he couldn't divulge too much information about the two upcoming shows, but said to expect Landau's collection to be eccentric and outrageous. Landau, whose work is often featured in magazines like Vogue, has dressed singer Rihanna and other celebrities.

“She's really fun to work with,” Alt said. “She sets the standard very high."

Alt said the WALTER show will look “fresh and sophisticated with an edge.” That show will take place on the rooftop of the historic Empire Hotel.

Lauren Rae Levy, who is styling the WALTER show, first met Alt in 2010. She said she has been developing a good relationship with him ever since.

“When I was putting together a team for people to do hair and makeup Eric was the first person to come to mind,” she said.

(Levy, who has appeared on the Real Housewives of New York and Jerseylicious among other shows, also has her own connection to Hoboken. Her father owned a silk screen printing factory here during the 1970's.)

Altogether the Fashion Week shows are meant to display the latest styling trends. When it comes to hair Alt said the latest trends include lots of texture, longer lengths and experiments with color.

"Gold is the new red,” Alt said. “The classic American beach hair, surfer girl waves, that's something that everybody should keep their eyes open for.”

While he's an expert in hair now, Alt credits his success to an aunt who worked as an art teacher and who still lives in Hoboken.

“She taught me how to mix colors and create shapes,” he said.

Later he got a big break getting hired to work at the Bumble and bumble salon in New York. There he cut hair for Madonna, Sting and Mark Wahlberg. He now owns three salons in Wood-Ridge, Saddle River and Hohokus and still cuts hair on assignment. He recently returned from China with Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir and actress Sarah Jessica Parker.

“The sky's the limit when it comes to this career,” Alt said. “And it all started in Hoboken.”