A more subtle approach to colouring techniques means hair looks elsewhere for a decorative fix this season. But rather than dripping diamanté fit for a princess we're thinking more along the lines of the classroom swot. Miu Miu's wide plastic headband is poised to launch a thousand imitations and at shows including Louis Vuitton, Donna Karan, Prada and Lanvin, bows, ribbons, slide combs and alice bands weren't just pretty, they brought structure, shape and control allowing hair to enjoy a largely styling product free fluidity. One of our favourite interpretations were the up-and-down 'dos seen at Marc by Marc Jacobs where soft shiny hair - even bob length - was worn loose, but with a side section or two dressed into a side ponytail or in mismatched bunches and accessorised with barrettes for a kooky-meets-otherwise-conventional finish.
Even kirby grips, formerly the hair accessory equivalent of morris dancing, are cutting edge on the celebrity circuit these days, adorning the styles of the likes of Christina Aguilera and Paris Hilton. To get the full decorative fix they should be worn in criss-cross formation for sleek sides; to contain summer's overlong fringe or keep finger waves in place.
Similarly forget the alice band's former association with adventures in Wonderland, the under-10s and '80s Sloane Rangers, the new attitude sees them worn high and wide balanced rakishly on the top of the crown or thereabouts. At the Ebru Ercon show Giuseppe Bulzis and the Windle salon team got creative in the quest for texture with black felt and woollen bands for a folksy feel perfectly in keeping with Ebru's natural boho collection. While for Aquascutum's return to the arena after an absence of three years, hair was parted at the side, pulled into a rough ponytail with elastic wrapped around the length of it, and sections roughed up and pulled out. It was then twisted into a chignon and pinned into place. Velcro ribbon doubled as an alice band. “The final result was preppy girl meets sex kitten,” says Phill Gallagher of Headmasters' Artistic Team who worked on the show at London Fashion Week.
Those glam wide headbands beloved by Gwen Stefani are best positioned just behind the hairline on top of hair that has been swept precisely back off the face for a clean finish. Check out the Scünci Spandex Head Wrap, £2.99, part of the range which also includes skinny alices available from Sainsbury's. Tesco's wide lycra band in chocolate brown makes a change from ubiquitous black and is a bargain at £1.49. Otherwise make your own from the leg part of an old pair of opaque tights. Track down lengths of grosgrain ribbon at your local haberdasher's and use it to tie your hair back or to customise a bog standard alice band - turning plastic into fantastic in the process.
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