Jackie's Hairdo

By Mary Alice Garrett

This story originally appeared January 19, 1961 in The Ledger-Star of Norfolk, Virginia.

It may not have been this state's influence that did it, but Jackie Kennedy has forsaken her carefree hairdo for a cared-for style as Virginians had hoped.

The longish tousled tresses have been shortened to collar-length in a smoother, neater fashion and still further changes are predicted tomorrow at the Inaugural Ball.

"It's what Virginia women were hoping she would do," said Lee Smith, who personally polled females on the future First-Lady's hair.

"They expressed approval of her but all said they did hope she would change her hairstyle," added the owner of a chain of Norfolk beauty salons.

"And the men wanted a change, too. They like that lady-like look - anything that's feminine."

Endeavoring to fashion several suitable styles locally, Mrs. Smith and Chris Wiseman thus became prognosticators as well as hairstylists.

One style modeled by look-alike Mrs. John Bruce Jr. is the casual coiffure which several males described as "much prettier than Jackie's."

Similarly, Eleanor Tyler's sleek away-from-the-face number is appropriate for shopping, driving the children to school or even boating, be it in Virginia or Massachussetts.

For formal state occassions the hair dressers arranged a silhouette similar to that of Princess Margaret's on her wedding day.

By the addition of a false hairpiece, an illusion of longer hair is given. This is what Mrs. Smith foresees Mrs. Kennedy's stylist will come up with for the ball.

In the meantime, Kennedy's barber, Louis Bocchetto, is confronted by demands for "Kennedy haircuts" and requests for his locks!