The Top 10 Styles We Loved in 2011

Keira Knightly

Jennifer Anniston

1. THE BEAUTIFUL BOB: As exemplified by Keira Knightly and Jennifer Anniston, this classic cut is so versatile and has so many variations that it looks different on every woman who wears it. Whether chin-length or a “lob,” the bob is here to stay, and for good.

2. THE BIG BANG THEORY: Bangs are sexy. Heavy fringe, wispy bits, sideswept, graduated – it doesn’t matter. 

Kelly Rowland

Mischa Barton

Bangs are sexy, and bring attention right to the eyes. Kelly Rowland and Mischa Barton are both beautiful, but those bangs just transform them.

3. THE ‘DO THAT WON'T DIE: It’s long, it’s shiny, it’s parted in the center, and it’s straight. 

Demi Moore

Cat Deeley

This was Jennifer Anniston before she moved herself into another category, Demi Moore, and Cat Deeley. They may sometimes allow a bit of curl, an off-center part, or even wear it up, but 99% of the time, it’s down and flowing.

4. THE RETURN OF CURLS: 2011 was the year calling all curly girls to set down the flat iron and come out to play. 

AnnaLynn McCord

Taylor Swift

With so many fantastic products on the market now to help handle curly hair without weighing it down, making it crunchy, and keeping the curls in condition while eliminating frizz, it didn’t have to be a secret any longer. 

AnnaLynn McCord and Taylor Swift are examples of fabulous curl-girls who wear their hair straight, too. How wonderful to be able to have the best of both worlds.

Alexa Ray Joel

Blake Lively

5. THE CHIGNON (THE BUN): The sheer variety of chignons we saw on celebrities and on the fashion runways was amazing! At one end of the spectrum, Alexa Ray Joel wears the classic ballerina bun, and at the other, Blake Lively’s low chignon was all modern texture.

6. HOLLYWOOD RETRO: The award show season and movie premieres always seems to bring out someone’s “Hollywood Retro” tendencies. 

Jessica Chastain

Evan Rachel Wood

Whether it’s Veronica Lake’s deep side part, swooping bang and curled ends on Jessica Chastain,  or the finger-waved bang on Evan Rachel Wood’s usually punky crop, new Hollywood never forgets the classics.   

7. THE PONY TAIL: It was high, it was low, it was messy, it was controlled – and it was everywhere, not just the gym. 

Fergie

Marchesa's runway

Our favorites were the highs and lows, shown here on Fergie and the runway at Marchesa, respectively.

8. THE HALF-DOWN UP-DO: This style has always been a personal favorite – like bangs, it is an inherently sexy, just-rolled-out-of-bed look that seems artlessly undone, even though it takes a lot of work to make it look so haphazard. 

Anna Paquin

Proenza Schuler

No surprise that it’s a favorite style of Angelina Jolie. Here, Anna Paquin wears hers with a bit more control than they did on the Proenza Schuler runway.

9. BOHO BRAIDS: There were celebrities sporting braids in 2011 than any kindergarten playground.  Braided bangs, mini braids, fishtails, braided up-dos…you name it. 

Rag & Bone runway

Alexander McQueen

We particularly like the braids on display on the Rag & Bone and Alexander McQueen runways as exemplifying how the style is now quite grown up.

10. THE SEXY PIXIE: There were plenty of pixies to pick from in 2011, but the haircut heard round the world was Emma Watson’s snip after she wrapped the last “Harry Potter” film. 

Emma Watson

Ginnifer Goodwin

She went from bookish, shaggy ‘tween Hermione to sexy young woman Emma, landing a contract with Lancome. Ginnifer Goodwin’s pixie was another game-changer, transforming her from the pretty young third wife of a polygamist on HBO’s “Big Love” to a sexy, green-eyed siren.

Now that you’ve seen the top ten trends we loved during 2011, we want to know what inspires you to change your own trends? Do think you may do something different in 2012? Leave a comment and let us know if you’re contemplating transformation!

Until next week, ciao…