With December just around the corner, I'm already thinking about party season and the hottest trends for the glitziest few weeks of the year. With a slew of glittering red-carpet events recently, there’s been plenty of inspiration for all the styles to start practising in preparation for party season. I've been keeping a keen eye on the freshest styles for AW18 and their celebrity inspirations. Here's the lowdown on what I think will be the hottest trends this upcoming party season…
Modern Hollywood Waves – as seen on Natalie Portman and Cate Blanchett
It’s always a classic style, present on the red carpet for generations and the ideal accompaniment for a dazzling party dress, but this season, there’s a twist. Instead of the classic look worn on long hair, this season, the stars are opting for this look with bobbed hair, creating a dramatic and contemporary twist on this timeless style.
Natalie Portman and Cate Blanchett both wore this look to film premieres recently and it looked incredible, glamour in its purest form, but their shorter lengths gave it a bit of edge. The perfect partner to a sparkling sequinned dress, a deep side parting, a wide-barrel tong and some volumising powder or spray is the key to creating this look!
The Slicked-Back Low Ponytail – as seen on Chloe Sevigny and Mia Goth
This is a simple yet bold style that pairs perfectly with a variety of party looks; from giving a fashion-forward twist to feminine frills, to playing with androgyny with a sharp jumpsuit or tailoring. I love this look with minimal makeup and a bold lip; it’s dramatic but it allows your makeup and outfit to take centre-stage. Chloe Sevigny and Mia Goth have both recently sported this style with daring outfits – think feathers and extreme cut-outs, but it’s a style that lends itself well to more trend-led looks (as well as being one that works well on the dancefloor!).
To get the look, it’s key to prep the hair and get it as smooth and flat as possible. Straighten small sections until all the hair is completely flat, and use a tail comb to create a sharp centre parting and smooth the hair into position. Finish with a high-shine strong hold hairspray to fix the ponytail in place and avoid flyaways.
French-Girl Hair – as seen on Clemence Poesy and Berenice Bejo
Loose and relaxed but endlessly chic, ‘French Girl Hair’ is one of my favourite looks. Its insouciance makes it the perfect partner to a glitzy outfit, especially if you’re the type who never wants to look too ‘done’. A glamorous blow-dry might look fabulous but it’s not for everyone – wearing your way in this more relaxed, undone way can help balance out a dressy outfit and will always look cool. Think of Clemence Poesy, she wears this kind of messy hair to every red carpet event and always looks like the coolest girl in the room.
Getting this look is all about not being too precious with the hair. Prep the lengths with a hydrating leave-in conditioner to get it feeling soft and silky, and then mist over a texturizing spray or even a dry shampoo to get that matte, lived-in texture. Use a wide-barrel tong for a few seconds on different-sized chunks of hair to create an uneven, natural-looking head of waves, wait til they cool and then fluff them out with fingers. Tuck hair behind ears and mist with a soft-hold hairspray so that the waves don’t fall out, but that there’s still plenty of movement.
Glossy and Relaxed – as seen on Barbara Palvin and Dakota Johnson
If you love glossy, glamorous hair but aren’t into bouncy blow-dries, there is a seriously stylish alternative that I think will be very popular this party season. Glossy blow-outs, where the hair has a little bit of bend and movement, are a very modern way to do glamour. It’s a look that can work with any outfit combination, and looks very chic; it’s more groomed than ‘French Girl Hair’, but not as stiff or formal as a curly blow-dry. Think more Meghan Markle – it’s shiny, healthy, glossy hair, but with a bit of real-life edge.
Getting the look is all about that prep – wash and condition hair with shine-boosting products, and prep with a hydrating blow-dry cream. Spend time blow-drying the hair properly, taking small sections at a time and using a roller brush to distribute the heat and ensure smooth locks. Twist the brush wherever you feel that the hair needs a little movement, and roll under at the ends to create a natural bounce.