(Culture)
Joan Smalls' Messy Braid Might Be The Prettiest Plait You've Ever Seen
What do you get when you put fashion A-listers together in an abandoned subway station in Lower Manhattan? A Tom Ford show, apparently. The American designer scouted the unconventional location for his New York Fashion Week Spring 2020 runway show, and everyone from Anna Wintour to Miley Cyrus were in attendance at the VIP event space, inspired by an image of Andy Warhol and Edie Sedwick in 1965. The front row included Cyrus wearing aviator sunglasses and a fluffy hat, seated beside Ansel Elgort and his statement thick-framed specs — but Joan Smalls' messy braid was what caught beauty-lovers' eyes.
Courtesy of hairstylist Hos Hounkpatin, the waist-length plait wasn't your average side ponytail. Featuring loose tendrils framing the Puerto Rican model's bold eyeliner and striking features, the tousled braid made for a perfectly undone accent to her bold red pantsuit. With the 31-year-old's piercing gaze highlighted by a copper smokey eye and a perfect nude lip, Smalls demonstrated how an intentionally-disheveled hairstyle will work to offset an otherwise polished outfit. Accenting the suit's deep plunge with a vivid stone necklace, Smalls finished the monochromatic look with red heels and matching clutch.
Whether you're looking to spruce up a power suit or add a free-spirited vibe to a bohemian frock, this carefully-unkempt hairstyle is a chic and timeless solution. Team the model-approved 'do with a brown smokey eye and an understated lip color to let the hair steal the show, and be prepared for inquiries on how to achieve the relaxed side-plait. Ahead of trying it out for yourself, shop The Zoe Report's selection of essentials to achieve the look, and read styling tips along the way.
