The History Of The Hair Clip - Barrette Inspiration From The A-List
The functional accessory has some serious staying power.
You'll likely find a random assortment of clips, barrettes, and bejewelled pins in almost every woman's beauty arsenal. In addition to being deeply functional, a hair clip can add an instant—and unexpected—dose of chic to an everyday look. And while even the slightest mention of the accessory might conjure up cringeworthy memories of decades past (neon-coloured banana clips, anyone?), the hair clip has actually always been trendy. Click through the slideshow to see how some of our favourite vintage icons, street style stars, modes, and celebrities have sported them.
Audrey Hepburn
In this still from Breakfast at Tiffany's, Hepburn dons a small bejewelled tiara atop her iconic updo.
Elizabeth Taylor
The film legend famously wore this emerald- and diamond-encrusted brooch as a part of the Bulgari set that was gifted to her by husband Richard Burton.
Patricia Neal
The screen icon sports an embellished black hair accessory in a promotional photo for the 1952 film Diplomatic Courier.
Princess Diana
On her first public outing after giving birth to Prince Harry, Lady Di pins her hair back with a simple, tortoise-shell barrette.
Naomi Campbell
Campbell rocks a purple hair clip during Fendi's Spring/Summer 1992 show in Milan.
Salma Hayek
The actress sports a simple, chic barrette during Giorgio Armani's Spring/Summer 1992 show.
Jennifer Lopez
J. Lo rocks not one, but two bedazzled barrettes on the red carpet at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards.
Cameron Diaz
Diaz wears a jeweled clip to the 70th annual Academy Awards.
Drew Barrymore
Barrymore looks sweet in a yellow floral hair clip during the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in 1998.
Jennifer Aniston
The Friends star frequently added a bobby pin to her classic and now-iconic "Rachel" 'do.
Rihanna
The Bad Gal became one of the earliest celebs to revive the hair accessory after a brief hiatus in the late '90s.
Elsa Hosk
The off-duty style expert sports a minimalist hair pin while leaving the Ermanno Scervino show in Milan.
Marjan Jonkman
The Dutch catwalk fixture wears lime green bobby pins in a shoot for CR's 1999-themed issue.
Bella Hadid
The CR girl completes her retro look with a pair of long white pins.
Ashish
'90s-era Claire's nostalgia was alive and well during Ashish's Fall/Winter 2018 collection.
Chanel
For Fall/Winter 2018, Chanel debuted what might be the chicest hair clips in history.
Max Mara
Monogrammed clips were shown on Max Mara's Fall/Winter 2018 runway.
Zadig & Voltaire
Hailey Bieber in bedazzled bobby pins on Zadig & Voltaire's Fall/Winter 2018 runway.
Versace
Gigi Hadid wears an elegant gold hair clip while walking Versace's Spring/Summer 2019 show.
Versace
Grace Elizabeth sports three bejewelled hair clips on Versace's Pre-Fall 2019 runway.
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