Beauty / Hair Trend: Reimagined Braids

Hair Trend: Reimagined Braids

Beauty Mar 29, 2015

by Soriyya Bawa

There Was Nothing Traditional About The Braided Styles We Saw On This Year’s Spring Runways

If there’s one go-to hairstyle for traditional South Asian women, it’s the braid. I’ve had long hair for as long as I can remember, and I was a very active kid, so the only way my mom could tame my wild hair without cutting it off was to put it in a secure, foolproof braid. I’m sure a lot of other South Asian women can relate.

I hated it back then, but today, I always rely on a quick, loose braid to keep my long hair pulled back. The best thing about braids is that, every few seasons, the style seems to make a comeback on the runway in some way. This spring was definitely the season of the braid. We saw a lot of the classic plait that South Asian ladies will recognize, but modified to create a look that’s more contemporary and wearable for today’s modern woman.

My favourite look this season was definitely the messy, deconstructed braid from the Mara Hoffman Spring 2015 Ready-to-Wear runway. The centre parting with wispy, loose strands framing the face gave it a casual, laid-back feel, but the intricate-looking weave at the back made it just as workable for an evening look. The style actually starts with just a basic braid at the back. To get the look, divide the hair in three sections and loosely braid the middle section. Secure it with a hair tie. Then loosely wrap one of the side sections around the top of the braid and secure in place with a bobby pin. Do the same thing with the last section but go in the opposite direction. Then, gently pull apart pieces of the braid to give it the deconstructed look.

Marissa Webb used the braid in two different ways. Some of the models wore a textured five-strand side braid with a deep side parting, and others sported something a little more elaborate — a French-braided pompadour in the middle with thin Dutch braids (reverse French braids) on either side. All three braids came together at the back to finish off the look. Although this second style might be a little tricky to recreate on your own, it’s the perfect example of how you can use traditional braids to create an edgy and modern style.

Quite a few designers also did a braided chignon but added their own unique touch. For instance, Alice + Olivia wove coloured fabric into the braided bun to match the Versailles-inspired collection. And Erin Fetherston slicked hair back into a low braided chignon and finished with a very feminine hairband.

Even with all of the different takes on braided hairstyles, I still found myself drawn to the very loose, unkempt look on the Michael Kors runway. It was literally just a centre parting with a low classic braid, but it was very loose at the top so the wavy, unattached pieces from the front created the illusion of a textured faux bob. There was something so simple and carefree about this perfectly undone look — just the right style for a warm, relaxing April afternoon.

^{_{Feature Image: Mara Hoffman: Elle.com (Mara Hoffman),

Blog Images: BeautyBlitz.com (Marissa Webb, Erin Fetherston), Style.com (Michael Kors)}}

Soriyya Bawa

Author

Soriyya Bawa has been featured in national publications including ANOKHI Magazine Tribute Magazine and Canadian Family Magazine. Soriyya currently works as a freelance writer and editor based in Toronto, Ontario and also specializes in customized web content and socia...

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by Soriyya Bawa

There Was Nothing Traditional About The Braided Styles We Saw On This Year’s Spring Runways

Soriyya Bawa

COMMENTS

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