This article contains spoilers for the final episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty.
“This is our Super Bowl,” has become a resounding cry amongst the millions of women—and not a few men—who have been tuning into The Summer I Turned Pretty dutifully each week. Yesterday marked the emotional drop of the series’ finale, and though it turns out we’ll be reunited with its beloved characters soon enough, for now everything from the coupled up cast to the mysterious music budget remains on the table for frenzied discussion. As for the beauty aficionados out there? We’re obsessing over Belly’s bob.
We see it at the same moment a lovesick Conrad Fisher does—Belly, on the back of a Vespa in Paris with the handsome Benito, removes her helmet to unveil a newly cut bob, complete with fluffed up layers. Far from an indifferent change, it’s clear that this transformation is accompanied by a new version of Belly. Pairing her cropped locks with other French girl beauty codes—a slick black cat-eye and a vibrant berry lip—this is a Belly who rides Vespas, wears heeled espadrilles, has an established life and social circle in Paris (that she will not be giving up for Conrad, thank you very much), and has even adopted the questionable—if très parisienne—habit of smoking. Her baggy hoodies and heaving backpacks of yore, begone.
Make what you want of the bob itself, but the point is: the allure of a classic, confidence-boosting hair transformation will never fade.
Research has proven the genuine benefits for self-confidence and self-perception that a ‘good hair day’ and flattering haircut can provide. Of particular poignancy for women, the cutting of long hair—associated with traits like youth and femininity—into a shorter style can be an empowering change.
Taking this into account, Belly’s bob couldn’t be a more apt revamp to take notes from over the coming season. It’s a fresh and timely spin on the enduring trope of a movie makeover—picture Andy’s sleek bangs in The Devil Wears Prada—as celebrities including Lily Collins, Kendall Jenner and Gracie Abrams have helped to make the bob one of 2025’s most in-demand styles. Whilst Belly’s take is more voluminous than razor-sharp, it’s this chic air of insouciance that lends a Parisian flair. Stars including Emma Mackey at the Cannes Film Festival and Sarah Catherine Hook at the recent Emmys have also made the case for a more tousled crop.
The bob’s trending traction shows no signs of slowing down, and is a timeless means of marking a new life stage with boosted style and confidence. With cues from Old Hollywood (we’re looking at you, Grace Kelly) and upcoming releases alike to take note of (hello, season 5 of Emily in Paris), consider this your sign to reach for the scissors—or, more sensibly, book in with your hairdresser—and unlock a new self for the upcoming season.
