A Trend:
Back when Marni ss15 show had models greasy side strands looped in front of the ears, no one stood up on this type of hair manoeuvre until Alexander Wang aw15 show had models sporting similar style even on Prada and Balenciaga catwalk had similar styles.
Sideburns are subject to fashion trends the same way hairstyles are. Regardless of the sideburn style, the general rule is they should be consistent with your hairstyle. You’re looking for balance and uniformity that blends the two together. So, if your hair is short, burns should also be short and close to the face, while long hair can accommodate longer, thicker sides. Let your hairstyle lead the way in determining the basic length and fullness. And if your hairstyle compliments your face shape, the sideburns most likely will, too.
Anita Bhagwandas, an expert on beauty, is surprised by the catwalk trend, “Traditionally women with visible sideburns – particularly those who have dark hair and paler skin like so many women of Indian and Middle Eastern descent have had them removed in fear of looking ‘masculine.’ But it’s empowering if it’s one less thing that women feel they should get rid of.”
George Northwood, hairdresser to fashionable clients including Alexa Chung and a man who understands the nuance of what 10 strands of artfully placed hair can project, says that it can be hard to pull off in real life, but that a softer version as worn by Ms Chung – more Bardot – is growing in popularity. “If you pull some strand out in front of the ear it has the opposite effect to the catwalk hair in that it softens the face.”
Infact the look is as much National Portrait Gallery as painters such as Sir Thomas Lawrence made a career out of painting aristo women with standout sidies. The Victorian women who favoured the so-called Loop hairstyle were all over the faux sideburn too – as was Barbra Streisand. (courtesy guardian.com)
