subscribe to style file blog via RSSthe braid is french, the style is now
July 24, 2008 10:56 am
With the devastating one-two punch of being the hairstyle of choice for female athletes and Mormon cult members, the French braid has gotten a bad rap in the past decade or so. But a few recent runway nods (like Trace Reese, above) and several celebrity endorsements (thank you, Nicole, Mary-Kate, and Ashlee) have redeemed the less-complicated-than-you-think technique, making it one of the most popular looks of the summer. “It’s a very easy way to have hair look styled without looking overly ‘done,’” New York-based stylist Ted Gibson says. “Plus, it’s a very comfortable way to get hair off the neck when it’s hot outside.” Humidity-fighting power aside, Gibson also credits plain old innovation for the style’s resurgence, pointing out some avant-garde interpretations that almost make up for years of abuse on the basketball court. “I like to update the look by doing asymmetrical French braids, or French braids that are on the side, rather than in the center—or by really messing up the braid so that it looks sexy.” Rebel.
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