Apart from the (traumatic) time my older sister gave me a mullet when she was training to be a hairdresser at college – it was spiked on top, and yes, I have the pictures to prove it – I’ve never had short hair. By short, I mean it hasn’t sat above my shoulders, but it has been down to my bum. So it’s safe to say I’m a long-hair advocate. With my mum also being a hairdresser, you can imagine the number of times my family has asked to give my hair the chop. And after bleaching it to death in recent years, I’m slightly swayed by the idea – and this thought is only elevated by all the new bob hairstyles I keep seeing on my favourite fashion insiders.

As a fashion editor, I can tell you all about how the suede tote is the bag to buy for autumn/winter or how knee-high boots are key, but the one unlikely accessory that’s quite taking over Instagram of late is the bob. Of course, there have been times when hairstyles have dominated certain decades or trends (but never the mullet – thanks, Sis), but after 15 years in the fashion industry, I’ve never seen a hairstyle be as prominent as the bobs we’re seeing everywhere right now. But why?

As someone who washes, dries and styles their long hair every day, my first thought is that it’s a lot lower maintenance – if you learn how to style the bob, that is. But wearing my fashion stylist hat, the real reason I appreciate it is down to how well the style suits all the autumn/winter 2024 trends I love the most. With this in mind, these are the outfits that are inspiring me to cut my long locks, though I may not be quite ready for the Italian crop pixie cut that’s doing the rounds right now.

“These fashion insiders with bobs are making me consider getting my long hair cut”: why the hairstyle is the No 1 autumn accessory