the best part

Whenever we're at the hair salon and our hair dresser asks, 'Where do you part your hair?' We can never seem to come up with a sure answer. Are we left? Are we right? Are we center? If only it could be as easy as choosing a political affiliation. According to our backstage beauty coverage at New York Fashion Week, designers and hairstylists alike couldn't be less clear on which part they want to take part in. We saw side parts to the extreme at Rag & Bone and Ohne Titel.

They were so exaggerated, in fact, that they begged the question: At what point does a side part become a comb-over? But when done correctly in a non-Donald Trump way, the result is totally sleek. Hairstylist Jimmy Paul, responsible for the side part craze at Ohne Titel, gave us this tip, "Thickening hairspray--does it all." On the other hand, center parts were in full swing at The Row, Jason Wu, DKNY, Derek Lam, Vera Wang, and Theyskens' Theory. We also saw some messy--yet still centered--parts at Rodarte.

Our argument for going straight down the middle: it's easier to play around with layers and volume. At The Row presentation on Monday, the look made an appearance, this time with a '70s feel; the models had wispy layers in the front, and a little bit of volume towards the back. So what do you do when it's time to choose sides? Long live the side part? Or straight down the middle like you're Moses parting the Red Sea?

Derek Lam fall '13

DKNY fall '13

Rodarte fall '13

Rodarte fall '13

Rag & Bone fall '13

The Row fall '13