Over the past week, the Cannes Film Festival has found its most stylish actresses and models pushing the boundaries of above-the-neck statement beauty—but there’s one unexpectedly casual trend that is quietly sweeping the red carpet. At once polished, youthful, and feminine, black-tie ponytails channel a new modern elegance, ideal for drawing attention to plunging necklines, glittering jewels, and highly photogenic faces.
Bella Hadid swapped her airport-friendly travel knot for a long, sleek iteration of the ponytail with blunt ends, an aesthetic that was also echoed by Adriana Lima, who finished her glossy tie-up with a black satin hair band and catlike flicks of eyeliner. Blake Lively raked her calling-card blonde strands into an elevated ponytail—all the better to showcase the welcome beauty benefits of a baby bump. And though Kendall Jenner’s lineup of Cannes looks has steered unapologetically glamorous, her high, textured take on the style telegraphed the best of her breezy California-girl spirit. Above, our favorite ponytails of the week from the Côte d’Azur.
