Naomi Watts and Cate Blanchett's French Bobs Prove That Short Hairstyles Are Here To Stay

We may be inching closer to autumn, but stars at the Venice Film Festival are making a convincing case for holding on to the summertime vibe juuuust a little longer. From a graduated bob to a longer lob, we've seen an endless array of bob hair inspiration for summer, and A-listers continue to embrace short hair on the red carpet - much to our delight.

In recent months, both Naomi Watts and Cate Blanchett have been on our blonde bob hair moodboards for their often sleek, extra-polished take on an earlobe-grazing crop. However, both stars embraced a much more relaxed, done-undone French vibe for their bobs in Venice; an excellent way to lend an insouciant touch to their black tie ensembles.

Watts teamed her embroidered tulle Valentino gown with a beauty mood that felt undeniably fresh, breezy and natural. Her longer, slightly graduated bob haircut was styled by Rebekah Forecast, with a deep side parting to create extra volume along with soft beachy waves that were extra tousled and textured. The gently flicked-out ends also created a playful touch that feel cool instead of retro.

A day before, fellow actor Blanchett attended the opening night of La Grazia with a brighter blonde bob styled in a similar vein by her hairstylist, Nicola Clarke. 'The haircut is a classic French bob with a very slight graduation, making the wavy hair sit nicely, especially when wearing in a side part,' shares the stylist Charlie Illi at Brooks & Brooks salon.

While both stars are clearly adopting a more laidback approach to their bobs, there is still a grown-up, sophisticated effect to both looks. 'I think it is all about the finishing touches,' says Illi. 'Even finishing with a light serum creates shine in the hair.'

You'll notice that both hairstyles have an intentionally 'undone' mood that's no doubt created deliberately using a texturising mist or a sea salt spray. A well-maintained, fresh blonde tone is also key to ensuring it looks elevated. Looks like the effortless French bob isn't going anywhere anytime soon...

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Medina Azaldin

Beauty Editor, ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK

Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.