The ‘Audrey Updo’ Is Autumn's Favourite Throwback Hairstyle

Do you know what’s almost as cuddly and cosy as autumn? Nostalgia. That’s why the latest trending “Audrey updo” is hitting us with both barrels right in the “feels” when it comes to current hairstyles. It offers a style that completely matches the mood of right now: it’s pulled together (we need that), but approachable (we need that, too), it’s perfect for autumn (extra points) and it’s got some serious old-school charm behind it, too (ding ding: bonus).

What is the “Audrey updo”?

Taking its name from Audrey Hepburn’s most iconic updo, the style is inspired by the style Audrey wore as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Falling somewhere in between a beehive, a French twist and a chignon, it sparked a whole generation of homage hairstyles at the time it was released in 1961, and it looks like it’s getting a whole new lease of life now with celebs referencing the style everywhere we look.

Why wear the “Audrey updo”?

Undeniably, the style is more prim than the low-key styles that have headlined for the past few decades, but post-pandemic we’ve seen a rise in women wanting a style that’s a little more “done” than previously. Of course, we want to put our own modern spin on it, though. Fashion has loosened up a lot since the hair do’s heyday and there’s something pretty charming about pairing a “special occasion” style with a more relaxed outfit to create a high-low look.

This scooped up style is perfect for roll-neck season and it works really well with the preppy-girl styles we’ve seen coming through, too. See: plaid mini skirts, loafers, tights and trench coats. That’s exactly how Hailey Bieber wore it in her recent autumn dump on Instagram. On. slides 7 and 9, the model shared pictures of her wearing an Audrey-style updo with a preppy outfit. Equally, paired with a T-shirt and jeans, it offers up a stunning juxtaposition. Or, you could go full sophisticate and wear it out with an evening look (especially as we enter party season).

How to wear the “Audrey updo”?

This isn’t the first we’ve seen of updos. The Pammy Updo ruled most of 2022 with celebrities like Kim Kardashian referencing ’90s icon, Pamela Anderson, and her signature hairstyle. The difference is that Pamela wore hers a little sexier and messier with the ends kept loose and tumbling from the top of the updo. Audrey’s rendition is much more polished. The ends are kept neatly tucked in and it leans more into the old money, heiress aesthetic that’s been taking off on TikTok. Only, instead of a dynasty, you’ll just need some bobby pins for this one.

Here’s 6 of our favourite ways to wear it…

Compact and cute

Hailey‘s taken the basic beehive structure of Audrey’s iconic hairstyle and deflated it for a more casual, modern rendition