Marie-France Van Heel Proves How To Handle Mature Hair

As the wife of the new British prime minister, Andy Burnham, Marie-France Van Heel has engaged in two Remembrance Day services, for the first time in an official capacity. Van Heel accompanied Burnham to the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance on Saturday night at the Royal Albert Hall, and on Sunday morning watched the laying of wreaths and parade at The Cenotaph on Whitehall.

Van Heel wore two ensembles that befitted the sombre mood of both occasions. At the Royal Albert Hall, she wore a black floor-length gown with decorative sleeves by Queens of Archive. She carried a neat gold handbag and wore pointed pump shoes. For the chilly Sunday morning start, Van Heel chose to wear a pillbox hat and a wool coat with an exaggerated collar that offered her classic look a more contemporary feel. She joined spouses of previous prime ministers on the balcony: Sarah Brown, Victoria Starmer, Hugh O’Leary and Akshata Murty.

What serves as greatest inspiration from Van Heel is her consistent hairstyle. The stylish flicked bob she wears her platinum blonde hair in is an enduring cut that has picked up fresh appeal in recent months. It works well for the evening as it offers something extra beyond the classic bob, and it does just as well styled with a neat hat. It would be remiss to not liken Van Heel’s look to the most famous wife of a statesman, Jackie Kennedy, and her pillbox hat and flicked bob, too.

This length works well for mature hair, which might have become thinner over time, as it adds volume at the ends. It is a typically feminine style that pulls focus to the face and frames it well.

Talking to George V Magazine previously, hair trend forecaster Tom Smith praised the ‘bell bottom bob’ versatility. ‘If you want to showcase a more symmetrical face, opt for a middle parting and a perfect sharp flip at the ends. Meanwhile, if you prefer a softer look, try a side parting with less precise flicks and try tucking one side behind your ear,’ he said.

His advice for styling it at home and ensuring that the curl remains throughout the day is especially simple. ‘Try wrapping the ends up in a small Velcro roller while they cool to set the flick in place. Finish with a stronghold hairspray,’ he shared. ‘And for a softer, more wearable look shake the hair out after styling and add texture spray for a more undone finish.’