35 Iconic Bobs That Will Inspire You To Go For The Chop
Is there a hairstyle more iconic than the bob? From film to fashion to politics, the chin-length crop has always been a hit: just think of Gwyneth Paltrow in The Royal Tenenbaums and Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction; actress Nancy Kwan’s geometric bob courtesy of Vidal Sassoon in 1963; and Jacqueline Kennedy’s timeless cut, tucked neatly under candy-coloured pillbox hats.
Popularised by Hollywood’s silent movie stars in the early 1920s, the blunt bob quickly became a byword for flapper-era rebellion. Josephine Baker had her slick Eton crop, Clara Bow had her halo of curls and Louise Brooks’s shingle bob has inspired countless imitations (Anna Karina in Vivre Sa Vie, Liza Minnelli in Cabaret, Audrey Tautou in Amélie). Fast-forward to the 1960s, and neat bobbed styles were de rigueur for designers like Mary Quant and Jean Muir, while the tousled nonchalance of Debbie Harry defined the 1970s and 1980s. Since then, everyone from Rihanna to Beyoncé has experimented with the dramatic style, but few cuts have been as divisive as Victoria Beckham’s. When she debuted an angular, graduated bob in 2006, dubbed the “Posh Spice bob” or “Pob”, it became a pop culture sensation.
Even today, the bob’s popularity shows no signs of abating. We’re all looking for new iterations of the look, whether it’s the French bob or the baroque style, and A-listers always offer excellent additions to our mood boards. Here, Vogue shortlists 35 of the most memorable bobs in fashion history for you to peruse now.
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Mary Quant
Vidal Sassoon tends to the designer’s trademark bob in 1964.
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Sienna Miller
The pioneer of boho chic displayed a more deliberately polished look at the 2015 Golden Globes: a gently tousled bob.
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Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry’s rock chick bob, seen in 1979, was a key part of her look, which remains a style touchstone to this day.
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images4/35Saoirse Ronan
Bluntly cut, ultra short and styled with a slight bend through mid-lengths, Saoirse Ronan’s effortless blonde bob is simply perfect.
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Barbra Streisand
The legendary singer and actress sporting a bobbed hairstyle in 1965.
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Diana Ross
She’s known for her halo of curls, but in 1973 Ms Ross experimented with a sleek bob.
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Karlie Kloss
The supermodel showed off a glossy dark blonde bob at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards.
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Natalie Portman
Her sharp early aughts bob was one of Portman’s most memorable looks to date.
