Neville wears Prada - Sunderland hairdresser styles Vogue editor

Neville Ramsay, who works at A List salon in Durham Road, was called upon to tend to the tresses of Anna Wintour when she took a break from the catwalks of Paris and Milan to attend a student fashion show in York.

The editor-in-chief of American Vogue, who is famed for her sharp bob hairstyle, is believed to have been the inspiration for Meryl Streep’s steely character in hit film The Devil Wears Prada.

But Neville says she’s nothing like the cold silver screen persona.

“She was so lovely, humble and approachable,” he said. “I styled her hair at her hotel suite and before I went in all I could think about was the character in The Devil Wears Prada. She was in her dressing gown as she’d just got out of the shower, and she was an absolute sweetie.

“At one point I moved her table and her make up fell on the floor. I went to pick it up and she just said ‘let me do that darling’.”

He added: “Her hair is so iconic. She was really pleased with how I styled it though, she said people don’t often get it right.”

Anna, along with her trademark black sunglasses, took her seat in the front row of the Northern Youth Fashion Show, which was organised by her niece Ellie Wintour who attends York University.

Her appearance helped to raise thousands of pounds for Refugee Action York, which helps to integrate refugees into the local area, and the Xavier Project, which delivers mentoring schemes, offers job opportunities and runs schools for refugees across the world.

Neville was also artistic director for the fashion show in his role as an ambassador for sponsors Milkshake.

“She got out of a blacked out car at the event in a Chanel suit and everyone just went mad,” he said. “She put her sunglasses on for the front row. It was like something from London Fashion Week, not a student event.”

The hairdresser is no stranger to styling celebrities. He’s also worked his magic on Sting and supermodel Jodie Kidd. But he says blow drying and styling Anna’s hair is the pinnacle of his career so far.

He said: “All I need to do now is Madonna’s hair and my bucket list is complete.”