Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco officially tied the knot over the weekend with an intimate ceremony in sunny Santa Barbara, California. While many of the wedding day details remain to be seen, Gomez did gift her 417 million Instagram followers a single carousel post to announce the news, and respectfully that's all we needed. Dressed in a timeless halter Ralph Lauren gown, Gomez's ethereal bridal beauty look included her signature soft, radiant make-up style, chrome nude nails and a hairdo that took a departure from traditional bridal hairstyles.
In a year that has been obsessed with undone bridal hairstyles, read: Lauren Sánchez's loose up-do or Charli XCX's free-flowing wavy hair moment (at both her weddings, might I add), Gomez opted for a side-swept old Hollywood bob that steered clear of textbook wedding day hairstyles like slicked-back chignons or half-up, half-down styles.
Created courtesy of her longtime stylist Renato Compora, Gomez's look oozed romance and glamour. Achieved with a deep side part and waves that were fashioned with 1930s-inspired S-shaped bends, Compora explains in an interview that the final result was 'a flawless, timeless, healthy-looking Hollywood Glamour Marcel Wave Bob for a day that celebrates love, beauty, and perfection.'
Experts agree that Gomez has just ushered in a new and alternative hairstyle for brides-to-be, enter: the bridal bob. Izzy Warrren, stylist at Hershesons Fitzrovia, notes, 'Selena Gomez’s bridal bob is an elegant, "old money" take on the classic bob, which makes it suitable for a wedding day. It sits just above the collar bone to jawline. The way it is elegantly styled characterises the bridal bob for a sophisticated and chic feel.'
Celebrity hairstylist Edward Taylor concurs and explains there is a shift towards alternative bridal hairstyles. 'Brides are looking for more non-traditional styles now and going for something more themselves. When you have over-the-top hair, with lots of make-up and an over-the-top dress it doesn’t always feel very "you". The trend is certainly for styles that are polished versions of what you wear every day, just done really well.'
Key to recreating Gomez's look is the placement of your parting, polished waves (stay away from the beach kind) and a glossy finish. 'This is a modern look for brides-to-be because bobs are such a popular style at the moment, therefore it means that brides don’t feel like they have to grow their hair long for their big day, which I think some people feel is the only option to creating romantic bridal hair.
'The bridal bob gives you versatility to keep your current look and not feel like you must grow your hair then style it into a more classic up-do. The bridal bob feels far more understated and modern.'
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, covering all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).
Main image: Instagram @petrafcollins
