At 57, designer Karen Millen feared she was too old for the 'blunt bob' the stars love. But then she took the plunge... and says it's the best anti-ageing trick ever
- Fashion boss goes for radical new image after years of sporting the same look
- She admits she was scared to chop off her locks but is delighted with the results
- Now she's urging other older women to follow suit because it takes years off you
There was no doubt about it — my haircut had gone from being reliable to a style rut. I had variations on the same style, layered to shoulder length, for years.
I never went any longer because my fine locks started to go depressingly limp. And going short was never an option — I can be brave, but not that brave...
At the age of 57, I was keen to change my look, but unsure quite how.
Karen Millen was terrified of cropping her flowing locks (left) but says she is glad she took the plunge as her revamped style (right) has given her a new lease of life
And then came a chance meeting at a party that has not only led to a transformation of my hair, but has also taken years off me, detracting from some of the rather less welcome signs of ageing.
I'd go so far as to say that it's given me a whole new lease of life — and it's all because I've gone for a cut that many women my age might worry would make them rather more mutton than lamb.
I'm talking about a style known as the blunt bob.
As you can see from these photos, it differs from a conventional bob because of its razor-sharp straight edge and lack of layers.
Diane Kruger sporting her 'blunt bob' at a movie premiere
While it has largely been modelled by younger women, such as actress Gemma Arterton, 33, the supermodel Irina Shayk, also 33, Game Of Thrones star Emilia Clarke, 32, and the singer Dua Lipa, 23, some brave older celebrities have gone for it, too.
This includes actresses Cate Blanchett, 50, Naomi Watts, also 50, Charlize Theron, 43, and Diane Kruger, 42, and model Naomi Campbell, 49. And don't they look fabulous? It's proof your age needn't preclude you from getting a so-called 'young' hairstyle.
It's had such an impact on me that I truly believe all women my age should consider taking some (super sharp) scissors to their locks and embracing the midlife blunt bob.
Like all the finest styles popular in previous decades, from the feather cut to the Rachel (after Friends star Jennifer Aniston), every hairdresser worth their salt will know exactly what you mean when you ask for a blunt bob.
The particular hairdresser behind my new look is London stylist Dar, whose other clients include actress Goldie Hawn, singer Nicole Scherzinger and the Queen of Malaysia, no less — though I'm sure he's not the only one who can pull it off.
I met Dar just over a month ago at an awards ceremony in London.
What first drew me to him was his girlfriend Signe, and her amazing hair, styled in a blonde sharp-cut bob. I couldn't help telling her how fantastically thick and full-bodied it looked.
Bobs have, of course, been popular for quite a while, but I'd never seen one quite like hers, with such sharply defined ends.
Signe introduced Dar as her boyfriend and her stylist, and I blurted out: 'Oh wow, could you do that with my hair?'
Without skipping a beat, he replied: 'Of course I can darling! Come and see me.'
Cate Blanchett and Naomi Campbell are both fans of the close-cropped 'blunt bob'
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I thought I'd better explain that my hair is quite fine and I wasn't sure it could be made to look so fulsome, but he waved his hand and said: 'Believe me, Signe's hair is really fine — finer than yours. It'll look great.'
Despite his reassurances, I was still a bit worried that I might be too old to carry off such an edgy look — but this was exactly what I loved about the style.
And so, within a week I was sitting in a chair at Dar's chic salon in central London.
I was a bit taken aback when he began snipping at my hair while it was still dry, only washing and styling it afterwards — a technique he uses to ensure he gets the length exactly right for you.
Bobs are generally difficult to create, especially ones with such precise edges like mine, but seeing my reflection in the mirror I couldn't believe how flattering the finished look was.
As Dar moved the mirror so I could see my hair from every angle, the collar-length bob appeared to have incredible depth. It was a far cry from the limp tresses I'd been so used to.
Naomi Watts is another female star who has opted for shorter hair
Dar explained it's all about the way the ends are cut, which gives the illusion of fullness. And, despite the bluntness, the fact that the bob frames my face so perfectly means it actually softens my features.
It's these two things that make the blunt bob perfect for women my age. Although it's not the case with me, as my hair has always been fine, the menopause can thin your hair, making it limp. It's also a time when a woman can lose her youthful, fuller complexion. But the blunt bob can easily detract from both of these issues.
Dar agrees, saying that lots of women, including those in their 60s, are asking for this cut at the moment.
I left the salon full of va-va-voom. Still, I wasn't expecting quite so many people to notice and compliment me on my cut over the weeks since.
My partner Ben Charnaud, a property developer, loved the sleekness of it, with its echoes of Cleopatra.
He especially adored the blunt fringe, which he never wants me to grow out.
Friends who don't usually comment on my hair told me it looked fabulous and asked where I'd had it done.
Then, when I posted pictures of my new look for my 3,000-plus Instagram followers, lots responded saying it was 'stunning'.
A huge added bonus is that, when it comes to maintenance, this is the easiest style I've ever had — I've always been lazy where my hair is concerned.
It is naturally dry and rarely gets greasy, so I usually go about five days between washes.
With the blunt bob, I just tip my head upside down, point the hairdryer at it, and run my fingers through each section for a few minutes, et voila!
When it's dry, I give it a quick once over with the straightening irons. Unless I'm going somewhere special, I don't even run a brush or comb through it again, until the next time it needs a wash.
Yes, it's that low-maintenance.
With all my previous styles, I've felt compelled to tie my hair back for all but special occasions because otherwise it would hang messily around my face. But I'd often be self-conscious that, because it's fine and fair, doing so could make me look as if I'm going a little thin around my hairline — though I'm pretty sure I'm not.
However, this cut somehow always manages to look tidy. I'm not a gym bunny but I do walk my dogs most days — and even try to run a little with them — yet it still stays in place, which I guess is the sign of an expert cut.
As often happens, I've noticed lots of other women with blunt bobs since I've had mine done. Not all of them have poker-straight hair like me, yet it looks great on them, too.
There's nothing like an image change to give you a boost, and as I get older it's really important to me that I keep looking the very best I can.
So now, as long as I can keep up my ongoing battle to cover up the grey — or more accurately white — hairs, 38 years after I created a global fashion brand, I'm thrilled to say I'm still at the forefront of fashion. And it's all thanks to my blunt bob.
n Karen Millen is a fashion designer and founder of the eponymously named stores, which she sold in 2004.
As told to Helen Carroll
