At 84, Sir Paul McCartney still knows how to turn heads. During a recent holiday in St. Barts with his wife, Nancy Shevell, the former Beatle was photographed sporting a sleek man bun—proof that even rock royalty isn’t above a little style experimentation. McCartney’s choice of hairdo seemed to suit the carefree Caribbean setting: his salt-and-pepper locks gathered neatly at the crown of his head, while Nancy complemented him in a pastel pink top, an oversized brown fedora, and dark sunglasses that framed her grin as they strolled along sun-dappled streets.
Paul’s willingness to embrace new looks is nothing new. When The Beatles first burst onto the scene, their trademark mop-top cuts became as much a cultural phenomenon as their music. As the band evolved, so did their styles: Paul traded in his youthful fringe for longer, looser waves during the “Sgt. Pepper” era, and by the 1970s he’d adopted a more relaxed, shoulder-length look. In 2018, he surprised fans again by letting his auburn dye run its course and reveal his natural gray, announcing at the time, “I’ve been coloring my hair since I was about 21, so you can imagine how tired my scalp was.”
That same spirit of spontaneity guided his creative life over the past few years. Stuck at home during lockdown, Paul discovered that music—like style—often arrives unannounced. He ended up recording ten new songs in his home studio and released them as McCartney III, the third installment in his series of entirely self-produced albums. In an interview, he joked that making an album was “like cleaning out your closet—you don’t plan to get a record done, but somehow you end up with a pile of tracks.” He admitted to Idris Elba that until the tape was rolling, he hadn’t intended to create a full record: “I didn’t sit down and say, ‘Okay, I’m making McCartney III,’ I just had these ten tunes and realized they belonged together.”
Paul’s career has been defined by that same blend of intention and serendipity. From the raw energy of early Beatles hits to the lush orchestration of “Band on the Run” with Wings, he’s never shied away from following a creative impulse wherever it led. His ongoing partnership with Nancy, whom he married in 2011, seems to foster that adventurous streak. She often appears at his side—whether in formal suits for award ceremonies or island chic on holiday—offering a grounding presence that balances his occasional creative flights of fancy.
On this particular vacation, fans delighted at seeing him relaxed and unguarded. He paused to chat with locals, worked on his tan, and even shared an impromptu toast in a beachside café. Through it all, his man bun became a symbol not just of a new hairstyle, but of an artist who refuses to let age dictate his choices. After all, the same man who once penned “When I’m Sixty-Four” now proves year after year that creativity, curiosity, and a dash of daring never go out of style. As he strolls along sandy lanes with Nancy at his side, Paul McCartney reminds us that rock ’n’ roll—and personal reinvention—are evergreen pursuits.