With the Dolce&Gabbana Spring Summer 2013 fashion show inspiration being summer, Sicily and the beach, there is no better place to look for postcards of summer.

From history books to the catwalks of Milan and Paris, Swide is fascinated by the gender defying, globalized and symbolic meaning of the braid. Here’s a brief history of this well loved and experimental hair do.

You could forgive us for thinking that Scarlett Johansson and Matthew McConaughey were on some sort luxurious date, judging by the way the stars have their arms draped lovingly around each other. But is all as it seems?