When photos of Kristen Stewart’s forthcoming Chanel campaign leaked online this week, the first thing I noticed (aside from the select pieces of Karl Lagerfeld’s Métiers d’Art collection) was her hair. In lieu of the double-C-stamped feathers or Lady Gaga-style bows previously seen on the Paris-meets-Dallas runway, Stewart sported cornrows. While I appreciated the sneak preview, I wasn’t exactly shocked—this particular plait has been having a moment of late, making appearances at Adam Selman, Marchesa, Simone Rocha, and Alexander McQueen for Fall 2014. Despite this season’s revival, the braid’s history stems back to the Stone Age. In this month’s The Look feature, we investigate the origins of the cornrow—from cave wall to catwalk.
