Bangs, According To Cat McNeil

Now that she's experimented with almost every color in the rainbow (orange, purple, etc.), Cat McNeil, or perhaps more aptly, Cat McNeil's hair, has waded into new territory: the de rigueur blunt fringe of the moment. When she stopped by the office last week, we insisted on the who's, why's, when's, and how's of the situation:

"The story of my bangs is quite funny, actually. Whenever I do a show with Givenchy, they always do something weird with my hair. This summer, I saw Riccardo Tisci with my hair kind of bleached out from the summer and was immediately like, ‘I hate it. Change it.’ He’s been a dear friend of mine for years so I’ll do anything he asks, of course. We decided on bangs instead and just chopped—it took maybe 15 minutes backstage at the show. I was a little nervous, as you would be. I think it’s the craziest thing I’ve done with my hair in a while.

But I guess bangs are really in right now...they were at all these shows—Givenchy and then Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford, too. I love Jamie Bochert's fringe all around her face. I actually told her I was nervous right before they cut mine and she was like ‘It’s going to be fine!’

I've never used a lot of hair products or tools before, but now I have to use a straightener, because in the morning, I wake up looking totally crazy. I’ll do just a tiny little bit of styling on the ends and a bit of L’Oreal Dry Oil to keep it from going everywhere and being frizzy.

The cut definitely makes me feel different. And there are certain things I can’t wear anymore—like, I had a dress picked out for the Crillon Ball and put it for my friend in the apartment and completely broke down sobbing. It just looked wrong. So much of what I used to wear doesn’t quite go with my hair anymore. But it forces me to change things up a bit, which is a fun challenge."

—as told to ITG

Cat McNeil photographed by Tom Newton.