AND perhaps one of the most famous haircuts in the history of cinema and also the most copied onewith results not always up to the original: Gwyneth Paltrow’s cut in Sliding Doors turns 25. It is a “bixie cut”, Nineties by definition, which has become iconic (so much so that it was also copied by Brad Pitt, the actress’s boyfriend at the time). Why did it make history?
Haircuts, in Sliding Doors the short film by Gwyneth Paltrow
The year was 1998 and an English comedy was released on the big screen that explained very well how life goes sometimes: a decision made, a small change in one’s daily routine and everything suddenly turns upside down. Comedy is Sliding Doors and has remained in the minds of most, as well as for history, especially for the protagonist Helen, aka Gwyneth Paltrow. And her beautiful short cut which marks the moment of breaking of the plot.
After discovering her boyfriend’s betrayal, the protagonist changes her life completely. And as often happens to women, one of the fundamental stages of this change is the appointment with the hairdresser.
This is how his long, and perhaps even a little anonymous, hair blondeand undergoes a complete restyling: from long it becomes short and the light brown lightens further with lots of highlights.
It’s the turning point. Not only for Helen, who sports what will henceforth be recognized as the “change cut”, but also for the same Paltrow, transformed into a contemporary icon to take to the hairdresser.
A cut immediately copied
La Paltrow brought his hair stylist from the Big Apple to the British set. THEThe cut chosen was a bixie cut, similar tothe shorts already sported by Meg Ryan – another icon of highly copied haurlook – in two of her romantic comedies of those years, French Kiss And You’ve Got Mail.
The bixie cut is generally shorter in the back, slightly shaded, and longer in the front with a maxi side tuft, ideal for playing with the parting and with any clips. The strong point of Gwyneth’s interpretation was a very light backcomb to avoid too flat hair.
Who is it good for
Seemingly minimal and easy, in reality this cut is not very easy to wear or maintain. Like all bixie, it always goes made to measure, but especially flattering on faces elongated, lean and slightly squared. And then the retouching: it must be kept perfect. So iconic. But high maintenance.
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