Fall 2011 Hair Trend: Ponytails, European Style
Photos: Imaxtree
Ponytials on the Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Emanuel Ungaro Fall 2011 runways
Sporty, practical, and goody-goody by nature, the ponytail couldn’t be less European. Yet at the London, Milan and Paris collections, the style kept cropping up. Here’s how the fashion capitals interpreted it—or in some cases, subverted it:
At Louis Vuitton, dominatrix ponytails ruled. Strict, straight and swingy, they were icy-cold perfection—the antithesis of the all-American pony. (For those having beauty déjà vu, Vuitton designer Marc Jacobs showed a near-identical hairstyle at his signature collection just weeks before in New York.)
S&M-style ponies also had a moment at Mugler. They were the perfect complement to the show’s cruel stilettos, nipple-flashing dresses, and its guest star, a snarling Lady Gaga (who was sporting dominatrix-style pigtails herself).
At Ungaro, the vibe was similarly explicit. The ponytails were high, tight and swung like riding crops; the clothes were a mix of lace and leather. Further proof that hard-core ponies were so pervasive this fall: They even made an appearance at the habitually chaste Nicole Farhi show (where they were backed up by some seriously red lipstick).
If it’s all getting too dark, look to Gucci, where stylist Luigi Murenu took the ponytail out of the dungeon and onto the dance floor. The models’ hair was smooth and glossy at the crown, and their ponies were crimped and back-combed at the ends, mimicking actual horse tails. The glamorous look worked so well with the ’70s-inspired collection.
And at the always-intellectual Prada, the pony was stripped of any sex appeal. Guido Palau pulled hair back at the crown and secured it low with a barrette to remind us of schoolgirls—albeit Prada-wearing schoolgirls. How very European.
