Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Womenswear Trend of the Week


This week's trend is the head band, which has made a comeback in various forms over the past year. The head band has been a prevalent style in haute couture, casual American style, and even athletic wear. However, this new and hip era of head bands has been dominated by three styles, embellished with jewels and feathers, braids (whether natural or synthetic), and cotton headbands.

These styles have all been pioneered by various celebrities and television shows, helping to popularize them over the course of the year. Perhaps the most well known would be Blair Waldorf on the hit show Gossip Girl, played by Leighton Meester. Blair is never seen without a head band, and they accompany all her outfits, whether they be designer or her prep school uniform. Blair even wore a head band to prom! Blair wears several kinds of head bands, including plain wide traditional styles, as well as newer styles boasting feathers, jewels, sequins, plaid, and bows in bold colours.

A second kind of head band that has become immensely popular is the braided hair headband. Traditionally, this head band was created using a french braid in the wearer's hair, but was very difficult to achieve. Now, because of the popularity of the trend, faux hair braided bands are easily available and simplify the once hard to achieve look. Don't know where to find one? Check out Icing by Claire's or Ardene for a cheap version of the braided head band. Want to know who's a fan? Lauren Conrad is often seen sporting a braided head band, or even a side braid.

The athletic head band has also come into popularity, not only at the gym but in casual everyday style. Lululemon, a Canadian athletic brand, has a range of head bands all in various colours with their infamous logo printed upon it. This hand band, while meant for the gym, has shown up everywhere, from the classroom to the mall, and shows no signs of dying out. At over $14.00 for this head band, you have to realize it's purpose is more than just to hold a few hairs back. Other, thinner elastic head bands are also making their rounds, becoming a new way of wearing hair down.

Be sure not to miss out on this style! Stylish head bands can be found at stores the world over including Topshop, Primark, Claire's, Ardens, Icing, Lululemon, and Urban Outfitters!