Plaits, Please! The Best Festival Braid Inspiration From the Vogue Archives

Jenna Rennert
Updated

Plaits, Please! The Best Festival Braid Inspiration From the Vogue Archives Inline

<h1 class="title">Khadijha Red Thunder</h1><cite class="credit">Photographed by Greg Harris, <em>Vogue</em>, November 2018</cite>

Khadijha Red Thunder

Photographed by Greg Harris, Vogue, November 2018
<h1 class="title">Amanda Burden</h1><cite class="credit">Photographed by Irving Penn, <em>Vogue</em>, December 1965</cite>

Amanda Burden

Photographed by Irving Penn, Vogue, December 1965
<h1 class="title">Taylor Hill</h1><cite class="credit">Photographed by Scott Trindle, <em>Vogue</em>, May 2016</cite>

Taylor Hill

Photographed by Scott Trindle, Vogue, May 2016
<h1 class="title">FKA twigs</h1><cite class="credit">Photographed by Angelo Pennetta, <em>Vogue</em>, April 2014</cite>

FKA twigs

Photographed by Angelo Pennetta, Vogue, April 2014
<h1 class="title">Kirsty Hume</h1><cite class="credit">Photographed by Irving Penn, <em>Vogue</em>, April 1997</cite>

Kirsty Hume

Photographed by Irving Penn, Vogue, April 1997
<h1 class="title">Twiggy</h1><cite class="credit">Photographed by Justin de Villeneuve, <em>Vogue</em>, April 1970</cite>

Twiggy

Photographed by Justin de Villeneuve, Vogue, April 1970
<h1 class="title">Sasha Pivovarova</h1><cite class="credit">Photographed by Mikael Jansson, <em>Vogue</em>, April 2014</cite>

Sasha Pivovarova

Photographed by Mikael Jansson, Vogue, April 2014
<h1 class="title">Martine Chioko Johansen, Gunnhild Chioko Johansen</h1><cite class="credit">Photographed by Remi Lamande, <em>Vogue</em>, September 2018</cite>

Martine Chioko Johansen, Gunnhild Chioko Johansen

Photographed by Remi Lamande, Vogue, September 2018
Charlene Högger
Charlene Högger
Photographed by Jai Odell, Vogue, September 2017
<h1 class="title">María Elena Marqués</h1><cite class="credit">Photographed by Horst P. Horst, <em>Vogue</em>, January 1946</cite>

María Elena Marqués

Photographed by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, January 1946

Music festival season is here with Coachella kicking off its second weekend, and Bonnaroo to follow soon. And while you may have given thought to the perfect breezy crop top or eye-popping tangerine aviators, it’s high time to strategize on a desert-friendly hairstyle—one that can go toe to toe with the California heat and humidity. This spring, consider the braid—and not just any pair of plaits but a far more creative twist, pulled from the Vogue archives.

See a sun-drenched Sasha Pivovarova with two shimmering fishtails hanging over her shoulders, or Taylor Hill sporting a triple French braid, the back wound together with a pink bungee cord. FKA twigs, too, transformed the popular off-duty look by plumping the top of each twist into a cool-girl knot, while María Elena Marqués went full Heidi in the ’40s for legendary lensman Horst P. Horst, exuding geek-chic appeal ahead of her time.

There’s Amanda Burden copping Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic wedding hair, a thick Rapunzel-like rope stuck with white teacup roses—a dreamy alternative to the flower crown. Elsewhere, Twiggy’s golden, knee-grazing mane plays with a romantic proposal—unfurl each braid at the bottom, letting the ends ripple. For a touch of ease, Kirsty Hume’s scattering of small tails, haphazardly dotted around the head, and German model Charlene Högger's loose ribbon-accented plait offer two simple yet chic ways to rock the braid at your next festival and beyond.

See the videos.