Television’s ‘it girl’ of the moment? Michelle Pfeiffer. The Madison has had fans hooked from the get-go, and not least because of Pfeiffer’s portrayal of Stacy Clyburn, the impossibly wealthy matriarch of the Clyburn family. No, it’s her style credentials that have women sighing longingly en masse. From her loyalty to her husband’s oversized clothes (I’m ordering a beaten-up Barbour jacket as we speak) to her preference for no make-up make-up – a blot of blush here, a slick of gloss there – she’s the very antithesis of what it means to be effortlessly, and even perhaps even accidentally, chic.
And it would be remiss of us not to mention her hair. Oh, that hair! Buttery blonde and layered into various iterations of the chignon (because of course it’s a chignon), it falls about her face and shoulders with a kind of artful dishevelment. It’s all so gorgeously unpolished in nature, yet so effortlessly elegant and seemingly unthought-out. Perhaps that’s why the masses are obsessed. Piling strands into a heap onto the top of the head and letting pieces tumble and billow as they wish is harder to achieve for us mere mortals. But Pfeiffer has the key. The addition of a single, sculptural gold clip that holds everything together.
Heather Campbell Green who runs the Instagram account CelebStyleGuide says that Lelet’s Mini Dome Pony Cuff was the exact product used – but unsurprisingly that’s out of stock. But my keen eye suspects that Pfeiffer’s clip is a very close match to Lie Studios Thea gold-plated hair tie, £135 – which is not really a clip at all. Instead, it’s a gold-plated brass cuff attached to an elasticated bobble. Plus, the elegant curved shape fits beautifully into any up-do.
Shop: Lié Studio The Thea Gold-Plated Hair Tie
An incredibly chic hair-tie crafted from gold-plated brass.
‘I feel like the look is characterised by that undone, messy-but-styled vibe that we’re seeing everywhere right now,’ says Zebulen Howell. ‘It’s quite similar to Margot Robbie’s recent press tour hair – almost whimsical, playing with lots of texture. Stylists are bringing out people’s natural hair types and really using that to their advantage.’
‘It’s become so viral lately because people are stepping away from heavy heat styling and embracing what their own hair can do,’ Howell continues. ‘Everyone’s searching for something quick and effortless, but still beautiful and interesting and a statement hair accessory does just this.’
His biggest tip? ‘Don’t think too much about it. The less effort, the more chic. Pull pieces out around your face, loosen sections around the bun, and take a really carefree approach. It’s not supposed to look formally done.’
To recreate the look, start by loosely gathering a section of hair at the top of the head. Then gather the rest of the hair at the nape of the neck to create a low, loose ponytail. Make a hole at the top of the pony tail and loop the hair back into itself. Then you can collect the rest of the hair from the top of your head and twist the pieces together, securing into a soft, floppy bun. Gently tease out a few face-framing strands and loosen the shape with your fingers to create that signature, old-money finish Pfeiffer does so well.
‘Products are key for getting that texture just right,’ Howell adds. ‘I love using a good curl cream, a little hair oil to seal the ends so they’re tamed, plus texture sprays and a touch of dry shampoo for that “next-day” feel.’
Love it but not ready to drop a cool £135 on a hair bobble? Shop The White Company’s offering below for a much more palatable £26. You’re welcome.
While it’s not gold plated, this hair clip is still an incredibly chic option.
Rachael Martin is Grazia’s Beauty director. Originally from Northern Ireland, she studied English Literature at Queen’s University Belfast, before moving to London to pursue a career in magazine journalism.
