17 Half Up, Half Down Hairdos for Brides

1. Corset Gowns

Corsets have been taking over the fashion world, including bridal style! You can keep that sophisticated bridal style with the added texture of a corset top. With the off the shoulder straps and lace-up detail, it's an unexpected choice that's still super classy. (via Rebecca Schoneveld)

2. Lace Wedding Dresses

Lacy dresses have been around since the turn of the century, but designers are continuing to find ways to make them look brand new. The semi sheer look, slit, and strappy silhouette add a modern edge. Plus it has pockets! (via Rebecca Schoneveld)

3. Open Backs

Summer brides don't normally need to worry about it being too cold, so it's the perfect time to show a little more skin. A plunging neckline can be fashion forward and very flattering, but open backs or sides are where it's at this season. (via Rebecca Schoneveld)

4. Monochromatic Texture

What this trend may lack in color, it makes up for in appliqués, embroidery, and more. It's perfect for turning heads, but it won't clash with the decor, no matter your color palette. (via Rebecca Schoneveld)

5. Puff Sleeves

This dress is perfect for any bride who wants to feel like a princess on her wedding day. The asymmetrical pleats and leaf fabric design are great for gals who want to keep things romantic and chic at the same time. (via Rebecca Schoneveld)

6. Delicate Hair Accessories

Hair accessories aren't just limited to spring music festivals. We've seen tiaras, headbands, and decorated clips incorporated into wedding looks this year. Keep things simple by adding all the jewelry to one side of your 'do, but feel free to mix up pattern. (via Rebecca Schoneveld)

7. Simple Dresses + Statement Veils

With lots of brides opting for low-key dress designs, long and intricate veils are making a comeback. Decorated veils (like this starry one) are a fantastic way to add detail to your look without having to deal with a variety of other accessories. (via Rebecca Schoneveld)

8. Sheer Bodices

Embroidered floral bodices might be a bit out of your comfort zone, but with padding in the bust area and plunging sides, it's a classy and modern choice for any bride. (via Rebecca Schoneveld)

9. Minimalist Everything

Minimalism has been a lifestyle trend lately, and we predict that beautifully simple gowns will be new go-tos for brides. We love this tiered skirt and cinched bodice for any and all weddings this summer. (via Rebecca Schoneveld)

1. A Braid Crown (via Brit + Co)

2. Pony Perfection

3. Voluminous Twist Updo

4. Khaleesi-Approved Side Braid

5. Twists and Vines (via Angelo Pantazis/Unsplash)

6. Half-Up Twist

7. Classic Wrapped Pony

8. Pearl Pony (via With Love Caila)

9. Messy Center Part

10. Feather Headband

11. Braided Pony

12. Nourished Natural Curls (via Brit + Co)

13. Loose Top Knot

14. Sleek Swoop

15. Pancaked Pull-Through Braids

16. Wispy Face-Framing Curls (via 小谢/Unsplash)

17. Shimmering Chignon

18. Statement Accessory (via With Love Caila)

19. Daisy Side Braid

20. Touch of Feathers (via Brit + Co)

21. Boho Crown Braids

22. Edgy Bubble Braid (via Kimson Doan/Unsplash)

23. Sleek Side Pony

24. Sophisticated Low Pony (via VellaSyah/Unsplash)

25. Piecey Braid

26. Floral Hair Accessory

27. Vintage Headpiece

28. Twisted Rainbow Updo

29. Bubbled Half-Up Look (via Lindsay McGrath/Unsplash)

30. Shiny Low Bun

31. Piecey Updo

32. Rapunzel-Esque Mane

33. Half-Up Half-Down Braid (via Maria Nila)

34. Flirty Fishtail Waves

35. Lace Details

36. Flower Clip

37. Beachy Curls

As a Power of Women honoree, Mariska was recognized in regards to her work as an advocate for sexual assault survivors. She took the stage and used her platform to discuss rape and assault conviction reversals, shining a light on the recent overturned ruling in Harvey Weinstein's landmark NYC case. Here's what she said:

Today I want to talk about reversing convictions, and more specifically I want to talk to you about how impossible it is to reverse mine. It’s impossible to reverse my conviction that survivors matter. It is impossible to reverse my conviction that what happens to us matters, and that our society must respond to survivors with a more a compassionate, holistically, deeper, and more nuanced understanding of what healing means.

It is impossible to reverse my conviction that after a trauma, survivors can reclaim lives of hope, of possibility, of audacious risk, beautiful intimacy, and glorious, glorious abundant joy. And I stand before you as evidence of that statement.

It is impossible to reverse my conviction that we must listen to survivors as experts on what justice means. It is extraordinary how little their voices are consulted, let alone incorporated, in the process of deciding how to repair harm. Justice is not a one-size-fits-all journey.

It is impossible to reverse my conviction that patriarchal impunity has to end. Patriarchal impunity is when a male-dominated system exempts perpetrators from punishment. Studies show that only 20% of all rape cases in the U.S. are reported to the police, and that between 5 and 0% of all rapes result in a guilty plea or a conviction. So why do 80% of victims not report? Because they're met with a system that grants impunity to perpetrators; a system that blames victims; a system that accepts only those victims who are experienced as "real" rape; a system that completely misunderstands the neurobiology of trauma, which causes behavior in women that doesn't fit the picture of how a "real victim" would act.

Is that change needed that victims should just pull themselves together? Just buck up and report anyway? No. No, it's the system that receives them that needs to change

It is impossible to reverse my conviction — and the conviction of my extraordinary team, The Joyful Heart — that the backlog of untested rape kits can be brought to zero; that the testing of all new kits must be mandated; that we need a statewide kit tracking system; and that survivors have the right to access the status of their kits.

It is impossible to reverse my conviction that grammar — yes, grammar — that we use when we speak about rape must change. In the sentence, "A woman is raped," there's a crime and there's a victim, but there's no perpetrator. Where's the perpetrator? Where is he? Statistically, as we know, most likely he's walking free. He's so free that he doesn't even appear in the language about the crime that he committed. Is that not extraordinary? It's extraordinary that in the very grammar, the perpetrator goes free. Reintroducing perpetrators in the language of rape will make some very unwieldy grammar, but that's the nature of change. It's unwieldy, it's messy, it's uncomfortable, but it's necessary.

Hargitay continued on in her prolific speech to describe that rape shouldn't be considered a "crime of passion" because it's "not simply the next step in the trajectory of his passion" when a man takes a consensual hookup too far and assaults a woman against her will. She stated that it's "an exercise of power," doubling down that the language we use is important.

The speech went on to address that rape is both about power and control, as a "construct" that was "built, and assembled, and reinforced over time." She noted that there are people with these positions of power — and she specifically called out those in the entertainment industry — that could make a difference and aligned themselves to victims and survivors.

After this and some other remarks, Hargitay specifically called out the Weinstein conviction reversal. She said:

I do want to say something about the Harvey Weinstein conviction, specifically about the reason that it was overturned: too many women's voices. Too many women's voices were allowed to speak. Hallelujah! Amen! I can't imagine anything more beautiful than that. The Daily podcast episode talked about how it was so risky for the prosecution to have that many women testify. Risky to let women speak? You're damn right it is!

Too many women speaking brings change. Too many women speaking shakes the establishment. Too many women means we get listened to more, and people might actually hear what we have to say. Look what happened when women started saying just two words, right? Me too — just as an example — a tidal wave of change. Me too.

And then of course, there was the response: the Me Too Movement. The backlash. The examination of whether the changes that have come are lasting, or are even positive. Of course there's a backlash! What did they expect? For women to speak repeatedly, loudly, together, with a purpose — for there to be no backlash? The backlash is evidence of how powerful those voices were, how powerful those voices ARE.

Watch Mariska Hargitay's Full Speech Here

Turns out that your TV heroes really can be your IRL heroes after all. Long live Olivia Benson! Long live Mariska Hargitay!