Magdalena Frackowiak at Lanvin s/s 2010

The top knot was one of the hottest hair styles gracing the spring runways. It’s a pretty classic style, one that goes well with almost everything – like a chignon, but with a little more “POW!”

I’ve selected three very different top knots: the messy (Lanvin); the sleek (Marc Jacobs); and the textured knot (Richard Nicoll).

To achieve the messy top knot a la Lanvin, volume is key. Back comb and apply hair spray generously (very generously) to create texture. Once your hair resembles a bird’s nest, fasten it into a high ponytail. Then, sweep it around and fasten with bobby pins. It should feel pretty loose and bouncy.

Kasia Struss at Marc Jacobs s/s 2010

The sleek top knot a la Marc Jacobs is a very traditional bun (and yes, sumo wrestlers are very fond of it). Neatly brush the hair and sleek it using gel or paste. Twist the hair into a tight knot and secure with bobby pins.
Anya Kazakova at Richard Nicoll s/s 2010

For a happy medium, try the textured knot a la Richard Nicoll. Instead of using the entire hair volume, a whole bunch of small hair sections are gathered to create an appearance of a textured top knot.