Backstage Beauty Report: Brilliant Ways to Dress Up Your Hair
by Sophia Panych
We've seen our share of off-duty models sporting gorgeous waves during New York Fashion Week, but on the runways the look has been more dressed up and decorated than in recent years. Hooray! Here are my three favorite hair accessories so far--and how to pull them off at home.
Gold barrettes at Jason Wu. To reflect the shimmer in the collection, hairstylist Odile Gilbert used gold barrettes clipped into low, supersleek ponytails (seen above). The rectangular-shaped Sylvain Le Hen clips can be attached above or below the base of a ponytail and still conceal the elastic. They look best on a low ponytail rather than one that's high or mid-level, but you don't have to keep your hair sleek and straight: They're pretty on a messy tail as well. Gilbert told us she prefers the rose gold variety she buys in Paris, but I hunted them down on the website La Garçonne.
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White elastics at Altuzarra. Gilbert tied off low, naturally textured ponytails with a piece of white bungee chord. It's amazing how something so simple ended up looking so elegant on the runway! Bungee cord is hard to use for all us non-hairstylists, though, so I recommend white ponytail holders from Ricky's (although you'll probably have to buy a set with several colors), or you can pick up a fabric version from Emi Jay or Sephora. With this style, you can literally just comb in a middle part or side part, gather your hair at the nape of your neck, and put it in a ponytail, and you have instant chic in five seconds.
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Flower-strewn updos at Zac Posen. Flowers in the hair are usually for music festivals and tango dancers, but Gilbert used small silk blossoms in a pretty, non-theatrical way at Zac Posen. Hers were no doubt hand-cut and expensive, but you can find similar flowers at craft stores and just remove the plastic stems. Try the Posen look by looping up sections of hair and pinning them in place, or just throw your hair up into a big, messy bun. Then, take the flowers (which should be no larger than a nickel) and pin them haphazardly into the loops of hair. The more random, the better, and remember: Less is more with this one.
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