The Shocking Truth Behind Savannah Guthrie's '90s Bob Haircut: Why She Regrets It And Her Chic New 'Rachel'-Inspired Look

The fascination with Savannah Guthrie's hair is a constant topic of conversation among *Today Show* viewers, but no single look has generated as much buzz as the infamous '90s bob she recently joked about wanting to "burn." As of December 18, 2025, the co-anchor’s hair evolution has taken a full-circle turn, moving from a regrettable throwback style to a chic, modern interpretation of the decade's most iconic cuts, thanks to a legendary celebrity stylist. This article dives deep into the contrast between the two looks and the surprising story behind her latest, shortest hairstyle in years. This deep-dive into the *Today* host's style journey reveals that the '90s bob is a complex entity: one version is a nostalgic, slightly awkward memory from her early career, and the other is a fresh, sophisticated, and highly coveted modern bob that has viewers rushing to their own stylists.

Savannah Guthrie: A Quick Professional and Personal Profile

To truly appreciate the evolution of Savannah Guthrie's style, it's important to understand the woman behind the anchor desk. Her career path is as dynamic as her on-screen presence.

• Full Name: Savannah Clark Guthrie
• Date of Birth: December 27, 1971
• Place of Birth: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Guthrie was born while her father was stationed there for work, but she was raised in Tucson, Arizona)
• Current Role: Main co-anchor of NBC News' *Today* show (since 2012) and NBC News Chief Legal Correspondent.
• Education: Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Arizona; Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Georgetown University Law Center.
• Early Career: Started in local news in Missouri and Arizona (KMIZ, KTVB, KPNX) before working as a legal affairs correspondent for *Court TV*.
• NBC News Start: Joined NBC News in 2007, serving as a correspondent and anchor for MSNBC.
• Family Life: Married to Michael Feldman; they have two children, Vale and Charley.

The Infamous '90s Bob: "I Tried to Have 'The Rachel'"

The look that launched a thousand memes and a few laughs from Guthrie herself was a throwback photo that surfaced on the *Today Show*. The picture, taken during her early career as a local reporter in Tucson, Arizona, showed her rocking a voluminous, dark-brown bob with a severe side part. The photo perfectly captured the essence of mid-90s television hair: big, feathered, and full of product. When confronted with the image, Guthrie's reaction was priceless, jokingly telling the audience, "We can burn that."

The '90s Haircut Intention vs. Reality

Guthrie admitted that the hairstyle was a clear attempt to emulate the most popular haircut of the decade: "The Rachel," made famous by Jennifer Aniston on *Friends*. * The Intention: To achieve the iconic, layered, face-framing, voluminous look that defined a generation. * The Reality: Her version was a darker, heavier, and perhaps less-layered bob that, in hindsight, she found embarrassing. This moment of shared vulnerability resonated with viewers, as nearly everyone who lived through the '90s has a similar photo of a failed "Rachel" attempt. This throwback moment solidified the '90s bob as a style she was happy to leave in the past—until a recent, highly-publicized hair transformation brought the spirit of the '90s back in a completely new way.

The Modern '90s-Inspired Choppy Bob: A Chris McMillan Masterpiece

Fast forward to a recent season of the *Today Show*, and Savannah Guthrie debuted a dramatic, new haircut that immediately drew comparisons to the decade she had just joked about. This time, however, the look was a definitive success. The mastermind behind this chic transformation was none other than celebrity hairstylist Chris McMillan—the very man who created the original "Rachel" haircut.

Why This Bob is Different and So Iconic

Guthrie’s new style is a shorter, choppier bob, often referred to as a "lob" (long bob) or a slightly messy, layered bob. It is arguably her shortest look in years and represents a significant style shift for the veteran anchor, who typically wears her hair in long, soft waves. The new cut embraces several key trends that are currently dominating the hair world:

• The Choppy Texture: Unlike the smooth, heavy bobs of the past, this cut features subtle, internal layers that give it movement and a modern, "undone" feel. This texture is what makes it feel fresh and not dated.
• The Collarbone Length: The length hits perfectly at the collarbone, making it versatile for both on-air professional styling and casual, off-duty looks.
• The '90s Influence: While not a direct copy, the volume and face-framing layers are a clear nod to the '90s supermodel blowout and the original "Rachel," but updated with a softer, less structured finish.
• The Stylist Factor: Having Chris McMillan—a figure synonymous with iconic '90s hair—craft the look adds a layer of pop culture significance and guarantees its trend-setting status.

This transformation is more than just a haircut; it’s a powerful statement about embracing change and the cyclical nature of fashion. It proves that the spirit of the '90s, when reinvented by an expert, can be incredibly chic and modern.

The LSI Keywords and Entities Driving the Bob Revival

The discussion around Savannah Guthrie's hair taps into a massive trend known as the "Bob Renaissance." Her decision to go shorter, especially with a '90s-inspired twist, perfectly aligns with current beauty movements. Entities and keywords relevant to this topic include: * Celebrity Stylist: Chris McMillan, the creator of "The Rachel." * Haircut Trend: The "Lob" (Long Bob), choppy bob, layered bob, and the "Midi Cut." * Nostalgia: '90s hairstyles, '90s supermodel hair, Jennifer Aniston's iconic looks. * Media Personalities: Jenna Bush Hager (who also recently got a bob), Hoda Kotb (her co-anchor), and other *Today Show* hosts. * Style Elements: Face-framing layers, texture, volume, side-part vs. middle-part (a constant debate). * Professional Context: On-air hair, broadcast journalism style, and professional chic. Savannah Guthrie's ability to move from a self-proclaimed '90s hair fail to a modern, '90s-inspired triumph underscores her status as a style icon for professional women. Her new look is a masterclass in taking a classic style, injecting it with modern texture, and making it entirely her own.