On Trend: Braids

We have to give it to braids – they’ve managed to stay on the runways, through spring and fall, and still look fresh every season. What we really love is how versatile they can be: a messy fishtail is perfect for keeping frizz in check; a sleek braided bun or crown braid is great for formal, dressy occasions; and a couple of ribbon-threaded braids add fun to your everyday, open-hair routine.

Need inspiration? Check out our slideshow for everything from no-brainer plaits to complicated dos from Indian and international runways.

Photograph: Imaxtree.com/Davide Gallizio (international runway), Shivaji Juvekar and Gulshan Sachdeva (Indian runway)

You may want to read: Hair accessories 101

Valentino SS14

Antonio Berardi SS14

Rachel Zoe SS14

Bohemian

Monsoon making your hair go frizzy? Run a dollop of mousse or a couple of pumps of serum through the hive, braid some ribbons or bright wool through it, add cut-off shorts and pretend you’re heading to Coachella.

Y-3 by Yohji Yamamoto (pictured above)

Karen Walker SS14

Calla SS14

Naeem Khan SS14

Venexiana SS14

Papa Don't Preach SS14

Dolce&Gabbana SS14

Naeem Khan SS14

Dressy

From the crown braids at Moschino to the perfectly mussed-up braided bun at Dolce&Gabbana, these are perfect for formal evening dos. Dress them up with jewelled barrettes and combs, or down with floral accessories to match the occasion.

Rebecca Minkoff SS14 (pictured above)

Crazy

And then there were these. The bumblebee antennae at Sophia Webster and the insane braided dreads at Junya Watanabe make for great runway drama, but we’d keep these for Halloween parties.

Sophia Webster (pictured above)

Junya Watanabe SS14

Yohji Yamamoto SS14