A 90's Revolution: The Return of the Scrunchie

The revolution has begun.

Whether rooted in nostalgia for the bright and playful aesthetic of the 80s or in celebration of one’s natural hair, the scrunchie’s reemergence spices up any outfit.

Mansur Gavriel foreshadowed the scrunchie emergence in high fashion with his Fall 2017 New York Fashion Week show. “When I heard scrunchie, I was like, ‘Ahhh! My nightmare!’” says hairstylist Laurent Philippon, according to Vogue. “But it’s actually done in a very cool way,” he continues. Philippon thinks the scrunchie looks better when worn loose and messy with hair.

For curly haired girls like myself, the scrunchie is not new to my repertoire. I can not recall who introduced me to the soft hair tie, but it has always been the trick for keeping my curls intact overnight and post shower. More recently, it’s become not just a solution to the hair dent of the elastic hair tie— the scrunchie also pairs with any outfit as it embodies fun and youth. Between velvet, satin, patterns, colors, and ribbons, the myriad of styles allows the hair accessory to be used in virtually any capacity. By wearing it beyond lounging in your house and giving it a stylistic purpose, the scrunchie, a mundane accessory, becomes fancy and even luxurious as it provides a sense of comfort as you go about your busy, everyday life.

Amelia Romick, a sophmore in SESP, wears scrunchies because they are practical. Its style rests on its effortless and everyday quality. “They also come in cute colors so you don’t have to have an ugly hair tie on your wrist,” says Romick. She perfectly points out how scrunchies function beyond a hair accessory but a stylistic piece worn on your wrist as well.

When looking back on her childhood, Romick remembers choosing her scrunchies to match with her soccer uniform. According to Romick, Matching a scrunchie to one’s outfit can bring the look together and make you feel a certain sense of coordination..

In thinking of scrunchies, my mind thinks of the women in Full House and Saved By the Bell who wore their scrunchies in high ponies on their head. Yet, no revolution rests on repeating the past. The revolution must take new heights. Why confine scrunchies to hair when their “scrunch” can provide comfort and dynamism on many fronts?

Luxury brand Altuzarra has taken a step in the right, or rather down, direction: scrunchies as heel ankle bands. The result is effortless, sexy, chic and refined. Scrunchies solve the constant problem of finding heels, and all shoes for that matter, that fit your ankle comfortably and don’t cause marks or stress to your feet.

I envision the future of scrunchies as belts and watch bands. Imagine clipping together through your jeans waistband or strapping over your summer maxi dress the elastic artistry that is the scrunchie; the perfect belt with its balance of softness and texture. I dream of gold hardware fastened in a velvet scrunchie on my wrist to check the time to make my next class — the flamboyance of the scrunchie contrasting the elusiveness of the the moving watch hands.

Better yet, what about scrunchies sewn to the ends of sleeves for a ruffled look. My mind soars next to scrunchies as turtleneck collars and pant ends.

The cherry on top of the scrunchie sundae, however, is the fact that you can easily make a scrunchie from home. You can buy packs at Free People or even Target, but D.I.Y. projects allow for a more personal tie (no pun intended) to the product. What better way to make of a girls night than a good movie, snacks and a make-your-own scrunchie activity?

Gift it, wear it or sew it into pant cuffs, a belt, a watch or whatever you please, the scrunchie obsession rightfully deserves it praise.

Balenciaga sells scrunchies for $195, but why pay that price for a good you can get for a dollar at CVS? The answer may lie in the fact that once seen as a trend, the fashion world can grossly make anything over-priced due to brand image and trend demand. But still, it seems so unnecessary. Isn’t the value of scrunchies in their simplicity yet flare? Isn’t the fun in the trend about making something mundane that was once popular all the rage again? However, people act in unexplained ways – a yellow version of Balenciaga's scrunchie is currently sold out online. Scrunchies have officially been ingrained in the fashion world.