The Spring 2012 runway saw a lot of loose side swoops, and with good reason. Pinning the front of your hair close to the ear gives the illusion of a side bang, making it an especially useful technique for women who don't want to commit to cutting their hair. We saw this trend in the Spring collections of Blumarine, Richard Chai Love, Jill Stuart, and others, so click through and take a look at this attractive and romantic face-framing style.
What do stars like Katy Perry, Amber Heard, and Rihanna have in common? They're all fans of a no-fail, classic coiffure: the French twist. And they're not alone in their updo choices. At Fall 2012 New York Fashion Week, several designers, including Naeem Khan, Thakoon, Rachel Comey, and Lela Rose, all featured the elegant look in their collections. Each version was gorgeous, and thanks to the talented hands of the stylists who created them, had its own unique spin.
At Naeem Khan (upper left) and Rachel Comey (lower left), flirty eyeliner played well with these twists. But for the former, Bumble and bumble's Laurent Philippon opted for a "slouchy" style, making sure the tousled look wasn't too "hairdresser-y," and for the latter, models' looks were similar, but finished with a more polished touch. As for Thakoon (upper right), Kérastase's Odile Gilbert looked to Audrey Hepburn for inspiration, creating a style that incorporated faux bangs in the front. And at Lela Rose (bottom right), celebrity stylist Ted Gibson also toyed around with fringe-line detailing, forming an eye-catching roll off to the side. What's not to love? So come on little miss . . . and do the twist.
Gorgeous clothes are only part of the excitement of New York Fashion Week — there are also the creative, cool beauty styles. This year, trends from New York ranged from easy braids at Rachel Zoe to flowing, straight hair at Theyskens' Theory, to giant bouffants at Carolina Herrera. Here are some of the shows that pulled off the trends that everyone will be watching this Fall.
At last year's Golden Globes, ponytails reigned supreme, and this year, the trend is still kicking. Nicole Richie had perhaps one of the most talked-about styles of the evening, opting for a vintage-meets-modern coiffure with blunt bangs in the front. Sarah Michelle Gellar went for a similarly retro-themed look, her voluminized fall tossed up high at the crown. For Amanda Peet, a classic ponytail was all she needed for a gorgeously fresh style. So the next time you think about grabbing that hair elastic, look to these three for some chic inspiration.
We saw slick (and in some cases, practically wet) looks on the Spring 2012 runways at shows such as Bottega Veneta, Ports 1961, and Alberta Ferretti. But certain celebrities have eschewed the trend altogether, hitting the red carpet sporting minimally shiny coiffures instead. Blond-haired beauties Nicole Richie, LeAnn Rimes, and Fergie, for instance, have all been spotted with matte, wavy textures. But what makes the roughed-up style so great is that as long as the hair is well-nourished and properly hydrated, your strands can still be molded into sleek and shiny looks, too. In essence: matte hair doesn't necessarily mean damaged. So go ahead and rough it a bit this year by applying a mattifying product to dry hair. A little teasing never hurts, either.
Move over, headbands. This year's hair trends were all about colorful contrasts, whether it was ombré streaks, multihued feather extensions, or bold, bright streaks. And while braids were hotter than ever, stars found creative ways to wear them, weaving their stylish plaits throughout their elegant updos. See nine of 2011's hugest hair trends, and be sure to vote on your favorite one at the end.
Over the weekend, Katy Perry showed off her new peach and pink hair color, but she also gave everyone a good look at her cute new A-line bobbed hair, which is shorter in the back than in the front. Why would you ever have an asymmetrical-length cut, you ask? It's actually a very clever way to get the volume and body of short hair while still looking mid-length. And Katy is not the only Hollywood lady to try this easy-care cut. Emily Blunt and Keira Knightley, among others, have been spotted wearing the perpetually chic style.
Many people go short when the weather turns warm, but for some stars, it's just the opposite. Emma Roberts recently chopped off several inches of her signature long strands in a move reportedly inspired by Jennifer Aniston's lob. Cameron Diaz and Penelope Cruz have also joined the tousled bob brigade, both debuting wavy, lightly layered looks within the past few weeks. It's easy to see why all three women have made the change. Not only is the style a chic, modern way to wear the classic cut, but because of its longer length, the styling options are practically endless.
With holiday season here, there has never been a better time to try out a new way to style your hair. And this season, there are plenty of big trends to inspire. From tight topknots to billowy braids, it's time to hair-dress to impress.
Last week we saw a lot of stars wearing old-school finger waves, but this week, the trend seems to be retro in a whole other era: the 1960s. Eva Longoria went for the ultimate in Mad Men-esque sophistication, styling just the front, middle portion of her hair back and away from her face. Flipped-out ends gave it all a Jackie O quality. But where Eva's strands were coiffed in the tamest of ways, Zooey Deschanel opted instead for loads of curls and volume all over, particularly at the crown. And Jessica Alba played it sweet, parting her hair down the middle, pulling it back at the sides. Love the flirty, Valley of the Dolls style? Get the look with large-barreled Velcro rollers, a teasing comb, and plenty of heavy-duty hair spray.
