In Defense of a Blair Waldorf-Worthy Headband
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HBO Max's 2021 version of Gossip Girl is setting itself apart from its source material in a number of ways. Much has already been written about how the new cast is more diverse and the characters are more queer than the original; instead of remaining a mystery, the titular Gossip Girl is outed to the audience in the first 20 minutes of the series; and there's nary a headband in sight. Sleek minimalism is in, and, the show's once-signature accessory is decidedly out.
There's a particularly devastating scene in the first episode where Zoya arrives at the Met steps wearing a knotted scarf styled around her head. When Julien questions her friends about Zoya, asking, "What if she's cool?" Monet brutally responds, "She has a headband on," as if to say no one who wears one could ever be remotely sophisticated.
But while Blair Wardorf's signature accessory has been deemed obsolete in the eyes of Constance Billard students, I'm still not quite ready to hang up my hair accessories just yet.
Between Kate Middleton's never-ceasing endorsement, and Amanda Gorman's fresh take on the style at the inauguration, it seems to me not only are headbands not passé, but they're actually having a moment. Case in point: Helen Mirren's look on the Cannes red carpet last week—and Hailey Lu Richardson's. And it doesn't hurt that headbands are an accessory tailor-made for Zoom meetings that only show participants from the chest up.
Jennifer Behr, whose accessories line saw huge growth after Waldorf wore her styles on screen in the original Gossip Girl, agrees. "We’ve been in business for 16 years and hair accessories have grown in popularity every single year. There are definitely trends inside of hair accessories—this year the headband is the all-star—especially headbands with some height (à la Amanda Gorman) and anything embellished with pearls and crystals," she tells T&C. "Once people start wearing headbands they never really go back—it’s a whole new frontier of accessorizing."
Better yet, it's an accessory that helps you get out the door on time, as the world reopens, and people head back to the office. Adding a headband not only makes 2nd-day hair look a bit more polished, but it adds a little personality to even the most basic of ensembles.
Not convinced yet? Here, a few Waldorf-worthy pieces to try for yourself:
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