big hair, don’t care: huge tresses are hot this fashion month

Marc Jacobs, Miley Cyrus and Priscilla Presley brought back beehive bouffants.

By Darshita Goyal16 Feb 2024

2 mins read time

It’s officially fashion week, everybody! London’s streets are buzzing with creators, writers, photographers and makers donning their best outfits featuring niche designers and capital P Personal style (still stuck on what to wear? Read our guide for piecing together a look that’ll get you papped). It’s also that time of the year when trends are legitimised by fashion insiders, and forecasters predict what’s “in” and “out” for the upcoming season.

big hair inspo

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It’s never just about the clothes, though. The runway also dictates how sharp and what colour your nails should be or how dark and smoky your eyes will look. But this season, keep your sights set on the hair – if fashion month’s first leg in New York was any proof – it’s bigger, better and more boisterous than ever. Look at Marc Jacobs for inspiration: the American house paid homage to a modern-day Diana Ross in every vein.

The show’s hairstylist Duffy built volume upon volume from 108 full lace human hair wigs. The drama of the runway was heightened by the models’ windswept coifs, carefully set under clouds of aerosol hairspray. Then came NYFW’s hottest ticket Willy Chavarria with his short film Safe From Harm that highlighted themes of tender love and protection through big shoulders, leather bombers and fluffed up tresses.

If the ‘70s beehive got a new-age do-over it would be in the dressing room at Chavarria’s. At Christian Cowan too, bold, pumped-up hair emerged as the main character. Stylist Justine Marian reportedly spent all night curling the 35 wigs to give a lush, old school look and hell, it delivered. It was like Cate Blanchett from Carol stepped out of the screen and onto the runway. But backcombed bouffants have been beckoning in glamour for a while now.

Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla brought the look front and centre, and how could we forget pop queen Miley Cyrus’ mullet-esque blowout at the Grammys? The star’s hairstylist Bob Recine crafted the wavy, voluminous mane inspired by a punk Raquel Welch. Instead of a neat, coiffed look, Cyrus channelled the big hair into a messy do that had people dreaming of old school perms and crimps. Cast your mind back to 2023 and you’d see Sydney Sweeney at her prom-themed birthday in sparkly pink and spun-up hair.

Skyscraper tresses have made a comeback every decade, and it seems like our time is now. When so much in the world feels uncertain and bleak (hello, recession!), dressing your hair to resemble a vintage superstar feels oddly comforting. For most young people, it takes us back to a time when days were dotted with TV screens and playtime, not job apps and climate anxiety.

Whether you’re lurking outside the LFW venues or refreshing your feeds for instant updates, you’d likely spot the look, maybe go one step further and DIY it. Hide those problems and doom scroll dark circles under towering hair. Bring out the Barbie-themed rollers of your teenage dreams, Dolly Parton’s bigger than the beehive hair is back in fashion, and we’re here for it.