Queen Bees: The Evolution of the Beehive

Throughout the years there have been many different hairstyles that have transformed a generation. One hairstyle that has truly evolved into a sensation for many generations is the beehive. As Rolf's inspiration for our Fall 2008 Campaign, we bring you some of the more famous beehives over time.

Although the name was not coined until the late 50's, this trend dates back to the 1700's with Marie Antoinette. Hair during the 1700's was a form of art for many prestigious women. Using wigs and hairpieces to create her towering masterpiece, Marie Antoinette set the stage for many fashionistas in Paris. Women began raising their hair with pads and pomade and decorating it to match the themes of elaborate parties thrown by the French court. Marie Antoinette was said to undergo hairdressing rituals that lifted her hair three feet. Many women competed to out-do one another and copy Marie Antoinette's infamous look.

The “queen bee” of the 18th century would have to be Madame de Pompadour. She is remembered for many things but she is best known for creating a hairstyle that represented the elite women living in France at the time. This stacked look, which was draped over a frame and stuffed with wool, straw or cotton, allowed some longer pieces of hair to grace the back and collarbone. Intertwined in the hair would be items as outrageous as live birds, waterfalls, and even naval battles.

These wearable art pieces became all too unbearable for these women, who soon opted for a sleeker style. But it wouldn't be to long until these sky-high styles would appear on women all over the world. The beehive made a slight but memorable appearance during the 1930's in James Whale's Bride of Frankenstein. Elsa Lanchester impressed audiences with her performance as the mate of Frankenstein, but even more impressive was the towering updo upon her head.

In the late 1950's, Brigitte Bardot debuted a sweet but wild style that would dramatically impact future women. The bouffant or “sex kitten” look was almost a toned-down hybrid of the Marie Antoinette and pompadour styles. What it lacked in Marie Antoinette's height, it made up in sex appeal. Bardot's tousled locks and pouty lips caused quite a stir as women rushed out to re-create her effortless style.

The Supremes, one of the most commercially successful artists belonging to Motown Records, were fashion icons in the late 50's and early 60's. Music at that time was all about doo-wop, pop and soul. The Supremes never went on stage without a coordinated look, including matching beehive inspired hairstyles. For a period in the 1960's, only the Beatles could match their popularity.

The 60's were all about class. Moving away from the sex kitten look were women like Jackie Onassis and Audrey Hepburn. They embodied elegance in every way possible. Audrey Hepburn's classic beehive style in Breakfast at Tiffany's seemed like the perfect hairstyle because it demanded attention.

By 1964, hairspray became the number one hair product on the market and the large beehive styles were living proof. As the 60's came to a close, so did the beehive style, until a new generation of women took the look into their own hands.

The 1980's proved that hair could not be too big. The beehive came back in a bold way when a new band stepped on the scene. The B-52's took their name from the ever popular southern style of an exaggerated bouffant hairdo. Instead of the typical teased style, the hair was wrapped around the head with an open hold in the top. The look resembled the nose cone of a B-52 bomber, hence the slang term. People had a hard time getting their famous song "Love Shack" out of their heads and their unforgettable hairstyles out of their minds.

Another important moment in Beehive History was in 1989, when the show “The Simpsons” first premiered on television. Everyone knows Marge Simpson for her most notable physical feature, her blue hair, styled into an improbably high beehive.

The 1990's represented a new type of beehive style. It was much edgier than previous years. Women like Gwen Stefani and Pink rocked these defiant styles with attitude. Into the early 2000's where pop culture took control of the newest fashion and hair trends, celebrities like Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson re-created their version of the famous pompadour with a trendy “poof” The “poof” was smaller in size but not in attitude. Every major female celebrity sported this style in the early 2000's. Although it was not as tall as Madame de Pompadour's hair, teenage girls went wild over the style.

Often referred to as the “rat's nest,” there is no mistaking Amy Winehouse's hair. Combining the bouffant, pompadour, and beehive with enough hair left over to drape down her back, her hair has defiantly made a mark on this generation. Love it or hate it, she has inspired many to tease their tresses. Even true fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld has been bitten by the Amy Winehouse bug. Inspired by her look, all of the models for his fashion show in London wore the Winehouse beehive style.

Whether it is the pompadour, bouffant, B-52, poof, or beehive, we owe a round of applause to this truly inspiring hairstyle.