Now that she's experimented with almost every color in the rainbow (orange, purple, etc.), Cat McNeil, or perhaps more aptly, Cat McNeil's hair, has waded into new territory: the de rigueur blunt fringe of the moment. When she stopped by the office last week, we insisted on the who's, why's, when's, and how's of the situation:

'The story of my bangs is quite funny, actually. Whenever I do a show with Givenchy, they always do something weird with my hair. This summer, I saw Riccardo Tisci with my hair kind of bleached out from the summer and was immediately like, ‘I hate it. Change it.’ He’s been a dear friend of mine for years so I’ll do anything he asks, of course. We decided on bangs instead and just chopped—it took maybe 15 minutes backstage at the show. I was a little nervous, as you would be. I think it’s the craziest thing I’ve done with my hair in a while.

But I guess bangs are really in right now...they were at all these shows—Givenchy and then Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford, too. I love Jamie Bochert's fringe all around her face. I actually told her I was nervous right before they cut mine and she was like ‘It’s going to be fine!’

I've never used a lot of hair products or tools before, but now I have to use a straightener, because in the morning, I wake up looking totally crazy. I’ll do just a tiny little bit of styling on the ends and a bit of L’Oreal Dry Oil to keep it from going everywhere and being frizzy.

The cut definitely makes me feel different. And there are certain things I can’t wear anymore—like, I had a dress picked out for the Crillon Ball and put it on for my friend in the apartment and completely broke down sobbing. It just looked wrong. So much of what I used to wear doesn’t quite go with my hair anymore. But it forces me to change things up a bit, which is a fun challenge.”

—as told to ITG

Cat McNeil photographed by Tom Newton.