Latest news with #fashiontrends
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
‘Short hair is dying out': 30% rise in cost of UK haircuts, not fashion, is driving the change
Skin fades and sculpted bobs are out. Messy tops and longer locks are in. For fashion hawks, the move towards lengthier hair is hardly news, but it may not be fashion alone that is driving the shift. Rising costs and tightened belts are among the reasons some believe are behind the trend for longer hair. The average cost of a haircut for men and women in the UK has soared by more than 30% since 2020, according to government data. As a result, many of us have adapted our hairstyles. 'We're still in a cost of living crisis,' said Phil Smith. 'Most people are struggling. Anything that's going to give your hair a bit of a longer life is going to stay in fashion.' For Smith, the owner of the salon Smith England in Salisbury, which caters to men and women, the move towards longer-lasting styles has hit business. 'It's been disastrous,' he said. 'People are not coming in as often.' The most common shift he has seen among men is a move away from skin fades, where hair on the sides is cut tightly and blended to created a faded look – a style that needs regular maintenance. Instead, people have opted for taper fades, which provide a similar blended look but retain more length on the upper sides and top. 'Short hair is dying out and longer hairstyles are back in fashion,' he said. 'When the taper fade is done properly, it lasts that little bit longer. The skin fade lasts two weeks and you've got to do it again. When the taper grows out, it looks a bit cooler and messier.' Mullets are also back in fashion, but Smith has a note of caution for those wanting the in-demand do. 'If it's been cut badly, it's just a throwback to Chris Waddle.' The collision of the cost of living crisis with the salon is most keenly felt by women, who have traditionally paid more for their hair styling than men. Smith said here too, there have been cost-influenced fashion trends. The treatment that has undergone the largest change is hair colouring. Dyed roots, which need to be redone every 10 to 12 weeks, are out. Balayage, where colour is applied directly to the hair, is all the rage. This treatment only requires a bi-yearly visit to the salon. 'It looks like sun-kissed ends, lovely hair that's being lifted by the sunshine,' he said. In his own shop, Smith said he has had to raise his prices by about 15% to 20% as rising costs, including the recent national insurance rise and inflation on salon products, hit hard. 'I've been doing this for 41 years and this is by far the hardest I've ever seen it. The recession and 2008 banking crisis was a walk in the park compared with how things are now,' he said. Bobby Gordon, the owner of the men's barber Fella, which has branches in London and Kent, has found the climate similarly challenging. 'There's a limit to what people will pay for certain things,' he said. 'It's the same with a haircut. I think the work has been cheapened for a very long time and we're playing catch-up.' 'For a long time, people just assumed a men's haircut was a tenner. But the quality of work that barbers are doing now is, on the whole, a lot better.' He said the skin fade and shorter styles in general were on their way out. 'Hair couldn't get any shorter unless we started to take people's scalps off,' he said. He has been forced to raise his prices owing to rising costs, but time is also a factor. 'Clients are more demanding, they know what they're after. They're not bringing in a picture of a footballer like they did a long time ago. They've seen stuff on Instagram and the cuts people want now take a long time to do. It's not a five-minute job, they take 40 to 45 minutes to do, maybe even an hour,' he said. With longer styles booming in popularity, Fella has introduced a 'back and sides' option to entice those who don't want to pay full whack for a touch-up. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion 'It's been quite popular,' he said. 'We felt that with the way styles are changing, people don't necessarily want a full haircut and they find the back and sides to be the problem areas.' Richard Scorer, the creative director of the women's salon chain Haringtons, said people were 'having higher-value services left less often'. He has seen a similar surge in demand for balayage treatments. 'Time is a big issue for people. People used to come in every week and have a blow dry. Now, they're coming in less regularly, so they want services that last,' he said. Scorer said his salons, located around the Thames Valley, are at the 'higher end of the market' for the area. Despite this, he has seen new customers expecting to level up their treatments, especially as prices in less-luxury hairdressers have also risen. 'People want experiences now, having a haircut here is a lovely experience,' he said. 'Beware of false economies. If you come to a salon like ours, the initial price might be more, but we do things like fringe trims for free for three months.' Taper fade For those who still want a bit of tightness in their cut, the taper fade offers a good balance between some shortness on the sides while retaining some volumising length on top. Because it's left longer towards the blended top of the head, when it grows out it still retains a good shape, which means less frequent visits to the barber. Mod cut This longer, textured trim will give your mop some flexibility. You can leave it soft and unkempt and still look fresh or apply some product for a more defined look. The fringe also gives you some hair to play with, which can be slightly parted or left to sit on your forehead. This cut can be done every four to six weeks. Forward graduation This layered, textured cut will give your long, luscious locks some bounce and make your facial features pop. It involves cutting shorter layers in the front and longer layers in the back, which will make it grow out more evenly. It is a particularly good style if you want to add some shape, volume and bounce to long, flowing hair. Square layered haircut This boxy cut, which involves cutting layers at a 90-degree angle to the head shape, will give your hair a neat but bouncy look. Like the forward graduation, the layered cuts mean it will grow out more evenly and is fairly maintenance-free.
CBC
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
The bandage dress is back — here's how Gen Z is wearing it
The year was 2007. Apple released the iPhone; the Spice Girls set out on their first reunion tour; and the final Harry Potter book hit the shelves. It was also the year the bandage dress — a form-fitting frock that mimics the look of a body wrapped in, well, bandages — was ubiquitous, worn by the likes of Rihanna, Lindsay Lohan and Victoria Beckham. Now, nearly 20 years later, the polarizing silhouette appears to be making a comeback, and the numbers prove it. Molly Rooyakkers — an Amsterdam-based researcher who uses data to forecast fashion trends — noted a recent surge in interest, globally, around the style (a 400 per cent increase in online search traffic in just one week in June). That has slowed, Rooyakkers said, but searches are still up compared to this time last year. "It's definitely still trending," she said. While many may be familiar with the reign of the bandage dress in the late 2000s and early 2010s — some fondly refer to it as the "millennial going-out dress" — couturier Azzedine Alaïa first introduced the look back in the 1980s, drawing inspiration from the layered strips of fabric on Egyptian mummies. In the 1990s, designer Hervé Léger created his own version of the look, and it became a red-carpet staple; supermodel Cindy Crawford famously wore a white number to the Oscars in 1993. In 2007, A-listers started wearing the dress to buzzy events and it trickled down to the masses via fast-fashion dupes. A go-to formula for a night out at the club? A bandage dress, a blazer and a pair of wedge or platform heels to navigate a sticky dance floor. Like most trends, it died out, making way for styles like the slip dress, the wrap dress and the milkmaid dress. But last September — in an obvious nod to Crawford's fashion moment — her daughter, Kaia Gerber turned heads at the Toronto International Film Festival in a similar white bandage dress. It was an early sign of the trend's revival, Rooyakkers said, but the spike came after British womenswear brand House of CB launched a collection of bandage dresses to celebrate the company's 15-year anniversary. "Part of the appeal is that it pushes back against the rise of 'quiet luxury' and more conservative dressing," Rooyakkers said. "A lot of brands that used to cater to the going-out outfits, like PrettyLittleThing, have pivoted to minimalist looks. So people became really excited about the bandage dress because it was in opposition to a mainstream trend that they didn't necessarily like or relate to." Toronto fashion stylist Candy Sai said the trend is resonating with a younger generation. "While millennials remember the bandage dress as a nightlife staple, Gen Z is reinterpreting it through a fresh lens — pairing it with streetwear elements, oversized leather jackets or even sneakers to give it a more casual, wearable edge," she said. And under creative director Michelle Ochs, the Hervé Léger brand is doing its part to bring the style back, releasing a slew of updates on the theme. Of course, there's the concern that the return of the dress glamorizes toxic ultra-thin beauty standards. "The bandage dress is historically associated with very small body types across the 1990s late 2000s, so its comeback seems to overlap with that shift," Rooyakkers said. "It's not that the dress requires a certain body type, but culturally it's tied to that esthetic." For Sai, the trend is no surprise, with Y2K fashion still dominating the runways and the streets. And Rooyakkers believes the dress has staying power as it's come back again and again — and is easy to thrift or find as a dupe. "That accessibility gives it the potential to keep circulating for a while," she said.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
The ‘naked dress' trend has suffered a PR problem
OPINION There are certain fashion trends that, no matter how often they appear on the red carpet, always seem to teeter on the edge of cliché and trying too hard. Naked dressing, with its catchy, oxymoronic name, is one of those trends. The phrase encompasses everything from sheer fabrics, risqué cut-outs, and garments made entirely of strategically placed beads, or, in the case of Zoe Kravitz at the 2021 Met Gala, sexy chain-mail. Since Kate Moss rocked that see-through slip dress with little black briefs in 1993, celebrities from Rihanna and Beyoncé to Emily Ratajkowski, the entire KarJenner clan, and perhaps most infamously, Bianca Censori, have all tried their hand at the daring fashion statement. But for me, there's always been something about this sartorial choice that seems a bit … well, obvious. Let me preface this by saying that if the 'free the nipple' movement had only one fan, it would be me. Sometimes I even wish I could pull off the look myself, but I am nothing but a mere mortal – and cosplaying as a near-naked celebrity while walking the streets of Surry Hills on my lunch break might get me arrested for public indecency. That said, while I've wholeheartedly supported the spirit of this trend, I've wanted to speak to the manager about it a few times. Because as much as I believe it's empowering in theory, the execution often feels off, and overly sexual just for the sake of it. Too often, the looks focus solely on shock value, with bare boobs and bums front and centre. Again, I don't mind showing off your boobs. Honestly – there's something deeply satisfying about women reclaiming their bodies and dressing however they please, especially when it unsettles men who still think they get a say. But when I look to celebrities for fashion inspiration, their bare boobs are just not going to make the cut on my Pinterest board. The trend is stuck in a cycle of, 'Who can create the most out-there look'. The problem is, when everyone jumps on the bandwagon and takes their clothes off, there's only so far you can go. We can't keep stripping forever. I wish celebrities would start trying to incorporate the subtle art of a chic nipple into everyday outfits – in a way that the average Muggle can actually attempt to emulate. Of course, celebrities don't owe us anything – except the exact details of what they asked their plastic surgeons for – but it would be nice to be able to get some fashion inspiration from them again. Because right now, the naked trend has hit a wall. That is, until a recent photo landed on my WFH desk this morning, and I thought, finally, there could be some hope. Brooks Nader, the Sports Illustrated model who is currently having a moment after being papped at the Sanchez-Bezos wedding, has somehow made the naked trend fashionable, and dare I say, elegant. Yes, she has a body that fits society's beauty standards, and her perfectly perky breasts are easy to transform into something stylish (bigger boobs haven't had that privilege historically), but I think credit should be given where it's due – and she's nailed it. While she's built her reputation as a glamorous cover girl, it would be easy for her to take this trend in a sexualised, male-gazey direction. Instead, through various stylistic choices, she's elevated it to what it always had the potential to be: something truly chic. Part of Nader's genius is in her choice to wear a maxi dress with long sleeves and a high neck, deliberately covering everything except her chest. The on-trend yet timeless polka dot dress is flowy but tailored in all the right places. Unlike nude-coloured dresses, the navy softens the overall look, making it less overt and more quietly sophisticated. Of course, her hair, makeup, and accessories all contribute too. Her balayage hair is full, bouncy, and blow-dried in an '80s supermodel kind of way. Her glowing skin also adds to the effect, while chunky gold earrings finish the vintage-inspired look. And we can't forget the sunglasses at night. It's a move that could easily feel try-hard, but here, they're the perfect finishing touch, adding a hint of mystery when her outfit otherwise leaves little to the imagination. Finally, just in case you're still not convinced this is a fashion masterpiece, her pilates princess posture is the final piece of the puzzle that ensures she pulls the look off. While it's easy to dismiss the naked trend as attention-seeking or tacky, I urge you to give it another go. I reckon we're just starting to see its evolution.
CBC
5 days ago
- Science
- CBC
Chimpanzees follow fashion trends just like humans, study suggests
Chimpanzees follow fashion trends just like humans, study suggests | Hanomansing Tonight News Duration 3:24 Chimpanzees living in a sanctuary in Africa have been observed following 'fashion trends' by dangling blades of grass or sticks from their ears and their behinds. A new study suggests this behaviour mirrors how cultural fads develop among humans.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
From starfish prints to shell embellishments, sea-inspired fashion is making fashion fun this summer
Hottest fashion trends of 2025 MARINE-inspired fashion is making waves on the high street. From fun lobster-embellished bags to seashell prints, the coastalcore trend has evolved for summer, and these ocean-inspired pieces are making us all want to book a holiday immediately. There's something for everyone, from fun printed dresses to seashell co-ords. And if you just want to dip your toe into the trend, this season's accessories have had the seaside treatment too - think chic crab bag charms and shell-shaped jewellery. Whether you're jetting off on your summer holiday, heading to the beach or want to wear the trend all year round, our fashion editors have picked out their favourite coastalcore pieces. Tracey Lea Sayer, 53, Fashion Director 3 There is something about going on holiday that turns me into a fashion magpie - I take lots of trinkets to adorn myself with when I am away. Seashells, starfish prints and faux coral all feature in my jewellery collection, and I am happy to say that this year's prints include lots of lovely marine life, too! I am a huge fan of Farm Rio, so I am thrilled that this cute dress has been reduced from £225 to £158 in the sale. I stalk this brand regularly and often buy it on Vinted to get a better price. Add in a pair of classic toe-loop TKees sandals and a cute crochet bag that I will add bag charms to, and all need now is to feel the sand between my toes! Abby McHale, 30, Deputy Fashion Editor I'm all for summer dressing, and nothing screams summer holiday quite like a seashell or starfish piece of clothing. I've headed to the supermarket for this shirt, for just £18 from Tu Clothing at Sainsbury's, and you can get matching trousers if you want the co-ord look. The orange/red colour reminds me of sunsets and would look perfect on the beach. I've teamed it with cream trousers, a raffia bag, gold earrings and a pair of flat sandals. And with the heatwave we're currently enjoying, this is the perfect cooling look for the scorchio days in the UK, too. Emily Regan, 25, Fashion Assistant 3 I have a pretty neutral wardrobe, so I'm loving the shell prints that are currently taking over the high street. After my seasonal wardrobe clearout last weekend, I'm trying to be more mindful when investing in trend-led pieces. This shell-embellished skirt is a splurge at £249, but I know it will work beyond this holiday look, and I can style it for party season, too. Plus, it'll never really go out of style, so it will stay in my wardrobe for years to come. Here, I've teamed it with the matching tee, which will be a staple go-to all summer, some gold sandals and a gorgeous beaded bag from NA-KD. If you're looking for fun holiday jewellery, Parfois has some great affordable options, like this shell choker necklace, that finishes off this look nicely. Hottest fashion trends of 2025 Fabulous' Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend shares the biggest trends from the high street. The East/West Bag Baguette bags have had a good run, after returning from the 1990s' shoulders of Sarah Jessica Parker to modern-day fashion icons, like Hailey Bieber. In 2025, the East/West bag is a similar but elongated shape and has long, thin straps that are easy to throw over your shoulder. They've been on runway models' arms at nearly ever designer show - think Burberry, Givenchy and Bottega Veneta - and are hitting the high street now, too. Powder pink Bright fuchsia pink had its day after the release of Barbie in 2023 and now the more polished and expensive-looking pale shade is taking over for 2025. Pantone may say that it's the year of Mocha Mousse, but the catwalks say otherwise! From Prada to Erdem, the subtle look was all over the spring/summer catwalks, worn head-to-toe or on its own. If the sugary shade is too girly for you, then look to sharp suiting for a androgynous take on the colour. The shell jacket The '80s classic is back, but with a sleek and minimal new twist for 2025. We all know we're likely to see rain for most of spring, so your practical coat of choice should be a cagoule jacket. Depop revealed one of its big trend predictions for this year is retro sportswear, with surges already seen in '80s windbreakers'. Seen everywhere from the stylish streets of Copenhagen to the Miu Miu catwalk, now mums who have an emergency raincoat crumpled underneath their pushchair are very much in fashion! The turn-up jeans While the shape of jeans remains the same for this year and barrel-legs will still be everywhere, the way we're styling them is different. This season, transform your wide-leg, baggy denims into turn-ups. For this look, size doesn't matter, so while deep turn-ups are a hit from jean trend-leaders Citizens of Humanity, a slight fold is still just as good - but only as it's just one single fold. Peep-toe shoe Get your pedicures booked in sharpish, as this season your toes are the main event. After a long hiatus, the peep-toe has been welcomed back into the fashion fold, with brands like Hermes, Miu Miu and Tory Burch showing plain and embellished footwear in this style. From mules to pumps and clogs (yes, clogs will be around too!), there are lots of different styles that are set to sweep the high street. Sheer blouses See-through looks have always lived on the catwalk, but have rarely filtered into everyday life - until now. Designers Ralph Lauren and Tom Ford loved sheer looks on their S/S '25 catwalks and M&S even had sellout success with its black sheer pencil skirt last season. Expect to see more sheer looks lining supermarket aisles and high street shops in the form of skirts, tops and frocks.
