Loading ...Forget AirPods—Bella Hadid Is Bringing Back the Humble Wire Headphone
SOURCE: VOGUE WORLD
BY: LIANA SATESTEIN
Bella Hadid isn’t bothered about those wireless, plucked-from-Gattaca AirPods—neither the originals, nor the newest noise-cancelling pro version. The model made that clear yesterday as she stepped out at New Orleans International Airport in a monochromatic outfit that included an oversized slate gray coat, a concrete-colored sweat suit, and her now-signature black Prada boots. For a flashy Y2K-era touch, Hadid wore a pair of icy blue-tinted rimless sunglasses—but what about the other vintage accessory she sported? Look closer and you’ll spot a pair of Apple’s original wired headphones, their dangly white threads cutting across her look. The pair, which were first released in 2012, go by the technical title of “EarPods with Lightning Connector,” and can still be purchased for a modest $29.99.
Yes, Hadid’s headphone choice is the least expensive of Apple’s offerings. AirPods sell for $159, while AirPod Pro go for $249. (That’s respectively over five times and eight times more than those thrifty OG EarPods.) There are various reasons to explain Hadid’s choice of this old school earphone. Maybe AirPods keep falling out of her dainty ear canals? Maybe she hates the noise-cancelling feature, and instead enjoys the soft murmurs of outside sound permeating her eardrums! Whatever the reason, Hadid’s choice for flaunting those classic wires feels strangely luxurious. The choice connotes that she can’t be bothered to keep up with the latest tech and prefers the simpler things in life, which is, oddly enough, the true measure of success. The moment is reminiscent of Daniel Day-Lewis’s look last year, when he was spotted on a bench in full Brooklynite garb—a Carhartt jacket and tiny beanie—and browsing through his flip phone in yesteryear T9 style. Like Hadid, the overall impression was one of laid-back, lo-fi chic at its finest. In other words, not keeping up with the Joneses has never looked so good.