Over the last few weeks, this ‘Quarantine Couture’ column has explored various ways fashion trends have emerged and transformed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Influencers have continued to show us how to effortlessly sport unique patterns, textures, and clothing combos with ease and elegance, and yet it feels I’ve been missing something while analyzing the trends that are taking over social media feeds and magazine covers around the globe.
Well, I was finally able to put my finger on it. As the classic saying goes, “the devil is in the details,” and the fad I was failing to highlight in my recent fashion rundowns may be small, but proves to be anything but insignificant. So, how do I get out of this ‘hairy’ situation? With one easy step: covering the trending hairstyles and accessories that 99% of influencers and celebs are embracing with every fiber of their being (or with every fiber of their hair follicles, I guess?).
From brand new styles that have yet to hit the beauty scene ’til now to classic accessories that are making a striking comeback, let’s get down to business and talk all things braids, barrettes, and bangs.
As the founder of Frankie’s Bikinis, one of the most popular swimsuit brands in the US, fashion guru Francesca Aiello is deemed a tremendously trustworthy judge when it comes to assessing if a trend is a hit or miss. So, when hundreds of gals started showing off their ‘bubble braids’ on social media (especially TikTok and Instagram), many looked to her to see if the hairdo was a smash hit or a pass.
As Aiello stylishly shows off in this photo, they are obviously a hit. Now, let’s be honest, at first sight the braids are a bit weird. If you’re anything like me your first thought may be, “oh wow, um, how many rubber bands did that take exactly?” or “there is no way you did that in under an hour”. However, when you get past pondering how long it took to make this hairstyle possible, it’s hard to deny how adorable it is (especially for summer time!). It’s nearly impossible to look at Aiello without doing a double-take to admire her hairdo, and their unique look compliments her neon bathing suit, jewelry, and statement shades perfectly.
Okay, so maybe you’re not wanting a hairdo that will take nearly an hour to accomplish. Instead, let’s bounce to the complete opposite side of the hairstyle spectrum and highlight an accessory that allows you to throw your unruly hair up in seconds. These hair clips were all the rage in the 90s and early 200s (I can’t be the only one whose mom depended on them 80% of the time), and the fact they’re making a comeback makes me feel all sorts of excitement and nostalgia.
What’s not to love about them? As iconic fashion influencer Emelie Lindmark elegantly shows in her Instagram photo, the clips come in whatever color, pattern, and size you can dream up, and can serve as the cherry on top of any updo or half-up, half-down hair look. Whether your outfit is full of vibrant colors and you’re looking for a neutral accessory to compliment it, or you’re wearing a dull fit that needs a little spice, this clip can take your locks from drab to fab in less than a minute.
Remember that one time you tried to cut your own bangs with safety scissors when you were in kindergarten? The result was oftentimes something like the bangs street style star Marie Jedig is sporting in this photo. Now, however, instead of having to wear a hat for three months to mask the monstrosity, they’re considered one of the cutest hairstyles to have if you’re wanting to take on an edgy, bold fashion sense (I wish that was the case when I cut my own in first grade).
Now listen, unlike the clips I just talked about a second ago, not everyone can pull this one off. Unless you’re a pro at delving into daring fashion trends that some may obnoxiously oppose, you may want to stay far away from scissors anytime you’re feeling spontaneous with your hairstyle. However, if you’re like Jedig and can turn nearly any trend into something terrific, I say go for the bangs.
Good news: baseball caps are no longer meant solely for bad hair days or summer camp (especially if you can find them in adorable colors like this one). A few years back, celebs and influencers were only seen in baseball caps if they were having a bad hair day or were out on an early morning coffee run trying to avoid paparazzi. However, now that they’re being embraced as an accessory to add to feminine fits by fashion influencers like Barbara Kristoffersen, it’s game on.
We all know the upsides of the classic baseball cap: problematic hair days can be properly avoided, you can get them basically anywhere (I’m talking your local thrift store, a gas station in the middle of nowhere, etc. — the possibilities are truly endless), and they’re super cheap. So, time to dust off those baseball caps you have lying somewhere in the depths of your closet and give them a second chance in the name of fashion.
Last, but certainly not least, Fashion YouTuber, influencer and small business owner Suede Brooks has no choice but to be on top of fashion trends (she has 1.1 million Instagram followers and 974.5k TikTok followers she has to keep in the know). As her Instagram photo and caption show, simple barrettes have been a quarantine must-buy for influencers around the globe.
Similar to the hair clip Emelie Lindmark wore, these barrettes are practically immortal. Between 90s pop stars, elementary school girls in the early 2000s, and now teens and twenty-somethings in 2021, barrettes have always found a way to sneak their way onto the fashion scene. After getting a look at Brooks’ fit, it’s pretty obvious why. They’re simple enough to not draw attention away from the clothes you’re sporting, but they add a sweet, sophisticated touch that elevates any look. So, even if you don’t go all the way like Brooks and buy a 300 pack on Amazon, I still recommend investing in some barrettes — chances are they’ll stay relevant for years to come.
The Beat @APU 