What Kim Kardashian's 'guillotine cut' means in 2025

Paris Fashion Week is many things: a celebration of luxury, of runway spectacle, of daring sartorial statements. But this season, all eyes were on Kim Kardashian—not for a dress, but for her hair. At the Maison Alaïa and Maison Margiela Spring/Summer 2026 shows on October 4, 2025, she walked in with what the internet has dubbed a “Paris Pixie”—a sharp, edgy pixie cut shorter than anything she has worn in years. And it is not just another pixie. It resembles the infamous guillotine cut, which has now made a comeback.

A choppy, cropped back and sides and longer tousled front segments sweeping faintly toward the brow in soft and wispy bangs. She paired it with minimalist yet dramatic styling—grey trench coat, black ribbon choker, sheer corset ensembles—leaning into an aesthetic that felt bold.

While many are calling this a pixie, the imagery and symbolism invoke something darker and more charged: the guillotine cut, a style connected to the French Revolution. The cropped cut and the choker ribbon nod back to the 1790s, when public sentiment and counter-cultures reclaimed imagery of execution—shortening hair for those condemned, wearing red ribbons around the neck in symbolic solidarity. 

History of the Guillotine Cut

To understand the buzz around the guillotine cut, we need to travel back to 18th-century France. During the French Revolution, women began cutting their hair short as a quiet act of rebellion against the aristocracy. Elaborate wigs and towering hairstyles had long been symbols of wealth and excess, so chopping it all off was a statement of equality and freedom.

This short hairstyle came to be known as the Titus Cut—inspired by ancient Roman statues—but it was also nicknamed the guillotine cut. That’s because women who were sentenced to execution had their hair cut short before facing the guillotine. In a strange twist, the style later became fashionable among revolutionaries and socialites alike. It was daring, modern, and unapologetic—much like Kardashian's version today.

Celebrities who made it iconic

Over time, the look evolved. In the 1950s, it was reborn as the pixie cut, thanks to icons like Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday and Jean Seberg in Bonjour Tristesse. The short crop became a symbol of fresh starts and independence. Then came the swinging ’60s, where Twiggy and Mia Farrow made it the ultimate mod statement. Later, stars like Winona Ryder, Linda Evangelista, and Halle Berry turned it into a symbol of confidence and reinvention.

The cut made a major comeback this year on stars like Emma Stone and Emma Chamberlain—even though Kris Jenner has been effortlessly owning it for years.

What Kardashian's cut means in 2025

For Kardashian, this haircut isn’t just a style experiment—it’s a statement. Known for her long, glossy hair and hyper-glam looks, the sharp crop signals a shift toward minimalism and maturity. It’s edgy but also symbolic, representing transformation and power.

There’s also something poetic about the connection to her mother, Kris Jenner, whose signature pixie has long been part of the Kardashian image. By taking that look and reimagining it in her own way, Kardashian is bridging heritage and high fashion, blending nostalgia with reinvention.

Kardashian's guillotine cut may look sleek and simple, but it carries centuries of symbolism. What began as a rebellion against royal excess has transformed into a modern emblem of confidence and individuality. From revolutionaries to runway icons, the short crop has always been about more than beauty—it’s about control, identity, and evolution.

Whether she keeps the look or not, Kardashian's haircut has already made its mark. Just like the women who wore it before her, she is using hair not just as fashion, but as a form of self-expression, and that’s what makes this moment so powerful.

All images: Getty images

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