Not just for VSCO girls and Madonna.

Invented by New York nightclub singer, Rommy Revson, the scrunchie has a rich and multi-coloured history. From its rise to fame in the 80’s, you could find them sweeping up the locks of Madonna and Janet Jackson, and featured on 90s sitcoms like Friends and Seinfeld. Scrunchies found their groove again in the 2010s thanks to the VSCO girl trend, breathing new life into nostalgic 90s fashion and putting a cute spin on it.

Bright and colourful 80s-style images of a rollerskate, a scrunchie and a bomber jacket.

Somehow, a scrunchie makes it effortless to sweep your hair up in an ‘I look good but don’t have to try’ messy bun, makes you look sweet as pie, or edgy AF solely depending on the fabric, dressing up your outfit and/or your wrist.

Let’s talk about the wrist décor for a second. Half the time you grab a scrunchie for the day, it will end up on your wrist, becoming a spontaneous accessory. Our explanation for this phenomenon is that your scrunchie is far more visible on your wrist, and I bet you have been subconsciously admiring it while you type away on your laptop or hold onto your latte (bonus points if your keep-cup matches your scrunchie). What do you think?

Fashion trends aside, scrunchies are built on the cornerstone of functionality. Rommy birthed the idea as a gentle alternative to the harsh hairbands available at the time. And she was on the money! Especially when made from silk, a scrunchie will hold your hair in a loving embrace, avoiding the tangles and knots of an elastic hair tie. You can even slide it right out in one swift motion before a slow-motion hair flip (think Lucy Lui in Charlie’s Angels).

So, who are scrunchies for?

Anyone who cares to wear one. Whether you consider your scrunchie a serious statement piece, wear it for the nostalgia, the practicality, or for the haircare… we are all for it. Long live the scrunchie!

References: Wikipedia & NRP

Previous
Previous

The short life of silk