I Loved These Met Gala Looks But I'm So Over This No-Fuss Hair Trend on the Red Carpet

To start, this Balmain look on Elle Fanning is truly stunning. The craftsmanship is impeccable, the gown is perfectly fitted to her. It literally looks like she is a garden nymph with birds spraying her with spring water to create her gown. But then there's the hair which is almost casual to a fault. I have never been one to claim to be an amateur hair stylist (a messy bun is about all that's in my repertoire). Still I can't help but think something slightly more polished could have added to the final full look rather than this intentionally underdone 'do that looks perhaps more air dried than professionally styled.

The Tamara Ralph silk faille gown Jessica Biel stunned in on the stairs took over 320 hours to make, according to the designer's Instagram account. The gown is adorned with feathers and crystals, with a full ballroom skirt that should look heavy for its size but instead exudes a bright spring lightness. While I'm usually a fan of Biel's casual, effortless style when she's out for a stroll in Hollywood, this moment just feels like it deserves more. Perhaps a braid crown or a half pulled back style would add something to the look to make it feel more red carpet-appropriate. There's a time and place for the beachy wave, and the Met Gala just isn't it.

Jennifer Lopez rarely misses in my book. The co-chair of the evening opted for a glamorous custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown. Everything from this look screams delicate, glamorous elegance, a perfect homage to the butterfly that inspired Elsa Schiaparelli. But, the hair styling again feels unfinished. With such a glamorous look, wasn't this the time to go big or go home? Where's the volume? Where's the creativity? This gown took 800 hours to craft and features over 2.5 million silver bugles and beads, so why did we intentionally make the hair look like it was styled in no more than 5 minutes?

There are, of course, exceptions and in this case it's Tyla. She nailed this look with her nod to the sands of time, leaning into the year's theme of "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion." Her Balmain dress is so delicate and made to fit her like literal sand. And in this case, the hair actually adds to the look (though I would argue there is nothing 'no-fuss' about Tyla's locks here).

So maybe I'm not saying every evening look needs a sleek chignon, but as with the choice of dress, the choice of hairstyle should add to the overall impression. And with rare exceptions, the no-fuss treatment is a red carpet miss. Unlike my memory of Tyla's dress which will not soon fade, here's hoping this no-fuss hair trend is one that will only last for a brief moment in time.