Roundup: Dying for tie-dye + hair update!

December 3, 2020

Writer’s note: Because I ran into a bit of a delay in reporting, the second part of “The lion-dogs that guard the desert” will be published Dec. 10. Please come back for a new perspective on the mysterious foo dogs that appeared in the Mojave Desert.

If you follow me on Instagram then you probably know this already. But if you don’t, well, for my 28th birthday, I got a new chop! While most people typically opt for darker colors during the fall and winter season, I decided to go lighter. It’s been a pretty dark year already, and after over 14 months of leaving my hair untouched, it was time for something a little, well, transformative. Short hair, after all, is a lot about liberation — shedding the old and embracing the new.

Well, sorta. I say that because my haircut itself was somewhat an ode to the 90s lob. Think: Cameron Diaz in There’s Something About Mary or Rachael Leigh Cook in She’s All That. And I love it — it’s versatile, flattering and low maintenance. Not to mention, I don’t have to deal with rogue strands getting stuck between sweater layers, handbag straps and zippers anymore. To throw it back even more, the first time I showcased my new hair I wore a tie dye calf-grazing dress. Yes, tie-dye — the hippy-dippy trend that was born in the 60s but revived again in the 90s.

For many, tie-dye brings about so much nostalgic memories of poolside afternoons, lava lamps and jelly sandals. But in 2020, tie-dye is all grown up. Now, it screams “fashion” instead of “tourist.” It’s more polished and decisive, sticking to a handful of colors instead of, well, all of them. Last year, tie-dye began to infiltrate runways, making its debut in the collections of Proenza Schouler, Paco Rabanne and Collina Strada, to name a few. And judging by its proliferation on social media feeds, it seems like it’s here to say — at least for a while. So, in case you want to give these psychedelic swirls a go, here are a few of my favorite tie-dye picks.

Outfit deets: the dress I’m wearing here is sold out! But you can find lovely alternatives below.