With the cutest little bow I’ve ever seen.
Let’s hop in our time machine and travel back about 20 years, shall we? Elle Fanning, you come too!
Back in the day, all the biggest young stars wore their hair in something called a “pouf,” including Lindsay Lohan, Lauren Conrad, Beyoncé, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a small section of hair is pulled back from your forehead, “poufed” up like a shih tzu, and pinned, with the rest of the hair worn down. For the National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala in New York City on January 7, Fanning brought this staple style back to the red carpet—with a 2025 spin, of course.
The A Complete Unknown Star kept her version of the pouf much more modern and sleek than its 2000s counterpart, skipping the Snooki-style volume in favor of just a liiiittle oomph. Hairstylist Jenda Alcorn pulled Fanning’s straight blonde hair back and pinned it right at the crown, then added the cutest little lilac bow to match Fanning’s adorable pastel purple and yellow chiffon dress and feathery pink coat. It could not be cuter, and honestly makes me want to revisit my ’00s styling routine again—minus the sequinned Express “going out top” and low-rise flares. But then again, the 2000s are back…
Fanning knows all about the power of a well-placed hair accessory to transform a simple hairstyle. A few weeks ago, she hit the red carpet to promote A Complete Unknown and accessorized her wavy long bob with a humble bobby pin, making the workhorse hairpin look like a million bucks in the process.
