…difficult to wear.
It takes a very special woman with a very special face to make the pixie haircut work (confession: I am not now, nor have I ever been, that woman). But Emma Watson of “Harry Potter” fame has garnered some publicity for cutting off her flowing locks and going all early Mia Farrow (hat tip: Althouse):
I think she looks pretty darn pretty. As did Mia in her prime, although not quite as good:
What are the elements necessary to pull this off? Very feminine, delicate features, with a wide heart-shaped rather than long face. Wide fawnlike eyes, tiny pert nose. Straightish and fine hair (mine sticks up in wild cowlicks when short; it’s way too wavy/curly to stay put). Ears that don’t stick out too much. And most of all, a beautifully-shaped head.
All these attributes were possessed to the nth degree by the actress who popularized the look (as Louise Brooks did the straight bob with bangs) but is largely forgotten by the youth of today, Jean Seberg. She was plucked from Iowan obscurity to play Joan of Arc as a teen, got bad reviews, and went on to fame, fortune, and a tragic end in France. The Godard movie that made her (and a very skinny Jean Paul Belmondo) a film icon was “Breathless,” a film I happen to have watched last night after renting it from Netflix to fill in a gap in my movie-going career.
It’s one of those classics that’s not all that good, although it’s fascinating as a portrait of the sort of empty, trendy, improvised new wave style of Godard at the time, with the hand-held camera filming in black and white, and the two tough, cool, beauties (Seberg and Belmondo) chain-smoking furiously, wearing little white socks, and talking your ear off about nothing, pretending to be in love but demonstrating not one whit of it. Seberg is gorgeous in various sorts of Gallic stripes that only the very thin can pull off:
Godard’s camera is absolutely in love with her. Closeup after closeup explores every aspect of her face, and there’s a longish scene in a car that focuses mainly on the back of her closely cropped and perfectly shaped head, which seems to especially fascinate the director.
And here—thanks to the magic of You Tube—it is:
[ADDENDUM: Halle Berry's another one who's got the requisite features to pull off a version (or several versions) of the hairstyle. Granted, her hair is wavier, but even her cowlicks look good.]
Previously a lifelong Democrat, born in New York and living in New England, surrounded by liberals on all sides, I've found myself slowly but surely 
August 7th, 2010 at 10:19 am
There’s also a bit of Twiggy in that picture of Emma Watson, although thankfully Watson isn’t that skinny! And thanks for mentioning Louise Brooks, one of the bravest bad girls ever to shatter the molds. Her life inspired the perfume, Lou Lou, which has been a favorite of tough-minded women for decades.
August 7th, 2010 at 11:09 am
[...] 7, 2010 by ETat Neo wrote a charming post about Jean Seberg and a certain type she represent – type in a sense that merges exterior [...]
August 7th, 2010 at 11:14 am
Sorry, but the spoiled brat white woman does absolutely nothing for me.
When I was younger, that type suckered me.
The advertisement, however, is really true. The spoiled brat, childish white woman really has nothing to give and believes that everything is coming to her.
This has ceased being attractive to me.
A traditional Filipina is a better bet if you actually want to be happy.
If you want to be run ragged by a spoiled brat, then you’re welcome to the spoiled brat white woman.
August 7th, 2010 at 11:15 am
AVI, what did I tell you about this shouting-something guy? Now you believe me?
August 7th, 2010 at 11:45 am
Personally, I find the new haircut significantly less feminine, and, thus, less attractive. It looks boyish to me, and I prefer women to look girlish.
August 7th, 2010 at 11:49 am
Neo,
I may be the only person in my generation who has never seen (and has no interest in seeing) “A Bout de Souffle.”
What I remember Jean Seberg for is her more obscure, slightly earlier role in “The Mouse That Roared,” a movie that I found absolutely hilarious as a little kid. And it introduced the notion, time and again proved to be true, that if your country was in trouble, the best thing that could happen to you was to get into a war with the Americans and lose!
Jamie Irons
August 7th, 2010 at 11:50 am
Although some women can pull it off, I’ve never been a fan of very short hair on women.
It seems to be very commonplace that women in their late 30s or early 40s, who are married and have children, often cut their hair short. It says to me that they feel that they no longer have to worry about attracting a man.
August 7th, 2010 at 11:59 am
rickl,
short hair makes one look younger. Not on all women, of course (one example – obese woman who has, however, a disproportionally long neck. Short haircut will make a caricature of her). But most.
And you’re making a typical man mistake: conflating your own tastes with that of ALL men.
Short hair look unattractive to you – but that doesn’t mean a woman with a short haircut lost interest in attracting men. Just you, may be.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Im with Rickl on this. I have heard very few men defend short hair on women-especially when there are no women around! Its almost always the women saying that short hair is “cute” -or saying that other men like short hair.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Tatyana:
Well, maybe. I don’t think it makes them look younger, though.
(Not to go off topic, but did you see href=”http://neoneocon.com/2010/07/31/still-not-getting-it-about-obama/#comment-175094″>this comment I made last weekend? I didn’t see you again on that thread so I don’t know if you saw it.)
August 7th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Oops. Link
August 7th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Rickl – Actually the ‘advice/rule’ is that women over 40 shouldn’t have long hair. I’m 44, and have the same length that I’ve had for over a decade – skimming the shoulder.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
rickl,
yes I saw it, wanted to reply, then decided not to go on more off topic @Neo’s post.
In short – you are right, human ingenuity and diversity will try to establish itself even in the most unifying circumstances. But what if someone in that “little boxes” community wanted to built a different house – a 3-story pseudo-Victorian with turrets or on the contrary, a glass house a la Mies? It would make other houses prettier by contrast and overall fabric of built surroundings – richer.
But I’m sure the community board will be up in arms…This is what I’m against.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
JuliB,
Im thinking maybe the “rule” about women over 40 not having long hair is made by women who no longer want to have deal with long hair themselves and try to compel other women to go along with them.
My mother is almost 65 and still has hair down to her shoulders. There was another lady at their Church who was way overweight and sported a boy hairdo that kept trying to get the other women to cut their hair off- I believe she put the age at 35-lol.
I have a 50 year old female cousin that still sports long hair and I think she looks better than a lot of 30 year olds.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
jon baker: I had similar experience! it’s most often men don’t dare to admit to other men that they like short hair and a look of helpless youthful naivete on their women. Only in company of their woman they’d utter approval…a, peer pressure.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Catherine Herridge of Fox news looks great with short hair – in my opinion. When she is on – I can’t look away.
Emma Watson does look good with the new short style – although my jury is still out on the final decision.
I noticed that Laura Ingraham is sporting an new shorter style which gives her a great, sexy, elegant look – the best I have ever seen her – just fantastic.
And Dana Perino – always looks great with her short style – most excellent.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
jon baker,
[to your comment above to Julie):
wrong principle.
It’s not the length of hair that makes one prettier or uglier – it’s the type of face and personality, in short: what’s suitable to this one particular person will not be to another one of similar age or socio-economic status!
August 7th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Tatyana said: “Only in company of their woman they’d utter approval…a, peer pressure”
Guys say a lot of things in the “company of their women” just to keep the peace……
August 7th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
AVI, what did I tell you about this shouting-something guy? Now you believe me?
You’re a nasty one, Tat.
You go your way and I’ll go mine.
Believe me, I don’t want anything to do with your type.
You’ll get even more pissed off by this.
You’re loyalty is with gay men. Good for you.
I learned a long time ago to get as far away from women like you as possible.
Men, pay attention to your own needs and ignore shrews like Tat. There are women out there who’s first loyalty is to hetero men.
Make yourself happy and don’t give a fuck what women like Tat thinks and says.
And, Tat that’s the truth. I could give a fuck less what you do, say or think as long as you do it as far away from me as possible.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
jon baker:
then these guys you who do that should not complain if their women think of them as lying scheming bastards…
August 7th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
And, please, Tat, wear yourself out pissing, moaning and cursing.
You can’t touch me.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Tatyana,
How often have you ever seen an ad for a strip club that featured short haired women?
And those silver silhouettes on trucks of women in profile with large bust-short haired or long haired?
August 7th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
jon baker,
again: wrong principle.
Man’s perspective: to get 9and be attractive to) as many women he physically capable to handle (let’s be charitable here…)
A woman’s perspective: to be attractive to one, “her” man.
She does not care, what’s tattooed on the tracks or jailbirds’ biceps. She does not want to be cheapened by stripclub standards. She does not need all those man to be infatuated with her. One is enough – but she has to be sure he really, really like her, inside and out.
And if he lies, even in this little matter…how can she trust him in something more serious?
August 7th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
I guess it all boils down to a matter of personal taste. Different strokes for different folks.
I’ve seen 60 year old women with long flowing silver hair and I think they look better than 60 year old women with short hair. But that’s just my opinion.
I can understand women getting tired of dealing with long hair and cutting it short.
I’m a man, and I had shoulder-length hair when I was 18. I cut it shorter when I was in college, and that was partly due to fashion pressure. Today my hair ends above the collar, but is still considerably longer than Emma Watson, Jean Seberg, and Mia Farrow. But lots of women don’t like men to have hair as long as mine. Oh well. You can’t please everyone.
August 7th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
rickl,
as long as you don’t have a bold spot on the back of your head, shoulder-length hair might look good on you.
[that former variant is just awful. even worse if the guy sports both a pony tail and a bald shiny back-of-a head. happens a lot to former rock musicians.]
it’s all the matter of face and body type, not just personal preferences.
August 7th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
oh shoot, so many typos!
apologies.
August 7th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
long hair is better, period…
August 7th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Bob, you don’t think Mia on the photo above looks stunning?
August 7th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
I’m with rickl and jon baker, and don’t care much for short hair on women.
And as for the first two photos above, that on the left shows a beautiful woman, while that on the right depicts what appears to be a paperboy who is counting the days until he can move to SF.
/ducks
August 7th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Another vote for short hair sucks from a male.
All anecdotal here of course, but in all my years of discussing females (and that has happened *a lot*) I have *never* heard someone utter they prefer short hair and often hear complaints that someone cut their hair short.
And no, I do not think Mia Farrow looks “stunning” either.
August 7th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Sorry, also with Bob, whose comment I didn’t see until after making mine.
August 7th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Mia Farrow is indeed stunning – as paperboys go, I guess.
August 7th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Neo, that’s a great thing you did with this post – it acts as sort of a filter. For free!
August 7th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Neo:
As a former FilmStudent, I found your comments on Breathless interesting. I tend to agree Godard always seemed to be more about technique than content.
August 7th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Jamie Irons: You and me both. That’s why I hadn’t seen “Breathless” until last night.
My entire cinematic knowledge of Seberg till then was “The Mouse That Roared,” which I saw about 10 times in my youth and loved. Peter Sellers—one of my favorites.
And he had short hair.
August 7th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Audrey Hepburn is another actress who looked good with short hair (and she certainly fit Neo’s catalogue of facial features), although I don’t think she ever had a pixie cut.
August 7th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
“Bob, you don’t think Mia on the photo above looks stunning?”
Just another guy’s opinion: the only stunning picture in this whole set is the long-haired Emma Watson.
August 7th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
I was thinking of Audrey Hepburn too and she did, wear the pixie cut;
http://www.belleiq.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/audrey-hepburn.jpg
Another beautiful actress that could pull off that look was Jean Simmons;
http://static.tvguide.com/MediaBin/Galleries/Imported/BioPix/Mi/bio16_cathy/jean-simmons1.jpg
August 7th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Geoffrey Britain, et al: Liz Taylor had a rather brief fling with something close to a pixie. But her best look was medium-length or a bit longer, even in her heydey.
Same for me, although I’m no Liz. The reason it’s true for both of us, I believe, is face/head shape. Liz’s face and mine are a bit too long for the really successful gamine look, and we both lack the requisite childlike quality.
August 7th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
As I always say, “Different strokes for different folks.”
My wife wore her hair like that when we met. It was very attractive to me. She also had a pixie-like smile that sure attracted my undivided attention. She now wears her hair medium long, but still short enough that it is very easy to manage, which was one of the attractions of the short hair style to her. when we were young. She wanted to be able to get out of bed, run a brush through it and be ready for the day. We did a lot of backpacking and camping for 40 years after marriage. Dealing with long hair would have been a pain.
I always thought Jean Seberg was extremely attractive but never analyzed why. This post has made me realize why. She and my wife both had the same look.
We’ve been married 54 years now and I am one lucky old codger to have married such a beautiful woman. Not just physical beauty but beautiful in ways that mean much more; loyal, loving, courageous, intelligent, tolerant and much more.
August 7th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Second that.
August 7th, 2010 at 10:52 pm
Keep saying that, guys. Louder, louder.
The gentleman does protest too much.
August 10th, 2010 at 1:23 am
J.J. formerly Jimmy J, beautiful tribute to your wife. She is a very lucky woman!
August 10th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
I’ve just learned that Emma Watson’s new look was for an audition for the American remake of the Swedish thriller “The Girl with the Dragon tattoo”, trying for the role of Lisbeth Salandar.
That would be a huge change from Hermione, as it is a very edgy role, But I think she could pull it off.
-
August 10th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
I mean Emma would be doing the equivalent of Kurt Russell going from the nerdy kid in Disney movies to “Snake” Plissken in John Carpenter’s “Escape from New York”. If she can get it, more power to her.
Of course she has competition, including Natalie Portman who’s been there and done that.
So, Good Luck, Hermione.