STYLE : Spring Beauty : The Latest on Looks : Making Waifs

Flipping through the fashion pages, one would think Calvin Klein and Karl Lagerfeld invented the waif look this spring. But, no, it’s a clean, plain, unforced style that’s been popular for years and can be worn by women of all ages.

Unlike voluptuous goddesses such as Marilyn Monroe, actresses associated with the look have included (clockwise) Mia Farrow, Audrey Hepburn, Jean Seberg, Leslie Caron and Mary Martin. And in today’s modeling world, there is an androgynous gamin, Kristen McMenamy.

Waif hair is loose and unstructured, and that works on many women. From k.d. lang and Joanne Woodward to Shirley MacLaine and Jessica Tandy, this short ‘do is more a classic than a fad. “I have friends well into their 60s who wear their hair like this, and they look fabulous,” says hair and makeup artist Trisha Gossett. “It’s also a great ‘90s look. The length of the hair is not as important as the way it’s cut to frame the face. Wispy hair makes everyone’s features softer.”