TIED WITH A BOW: THE COMEBACK OF A CLASSIC ACCESSORY
By Sofia Giannetto
11 / 18 / 2023
Whether they’re lacing our sneakers, tied around our belt loops, decorating our
shoulder bags, beaded and adorning our necks, tied to our shower curtains, or ornamenting the flawless hair of SJP, bows are making a major comeback.
The traumatized victims of the stiff clip-in bows of their childhoods are reclaiming this simple yet elegant accessory in a chic, coquettish way. The trend calls back to the 2022 Met Gala where Sydney Sweeney, Karli Kloss, Elle Fanning, Emily Ratajkowski, and others dominated the simple black bow game in their respective homages to Karl Lagerfeld’s view of femininity (i.e. the classic Chanel black bow). Since then, bows have been seen in a number of trends varying from the new “balletcore” trend to the revival of soft-goth fashion, making their way out of the Pinterest boards and onto the streets.
New York based designer Sandy Liang dominated the bow trend of NYFW this year with her draped bow bags, and continues to make the statement with her popular “Ballerina Earrings” and “Pippy Studs” along with flowing taffeta “Recital Bows” that feel like they came straight out of a fairytale.
Bows aren’t just for bags or hair! In union with another recent trend, Adidas Sambas, bows are being used to accent and enhance the timeless footwear in a myriad of color and texture combinations. Jimmy Choo has attracted lovers of a more extravagant bow with their mismatched heels, while Miu Miu has transformed the look of a simple ballet slipper.
Retail brands have especially taken this “bow-tif” and run with it. Urban Outfitters introduced their new Kimchi Blue line recently, a collection that is rife with bows of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Their name brand collection also features bows on everything from hair accessories to jewelry to socks to skirts to home decor. Other brands like JCrew and Kate Spade have introduced bow-themed accent accessories into their collections, perhaps perfectly in time for the holidays. And who can ignore the ever-present coquettish look of the popular, vintage inspired brand, LoveShackFancy; nearly everything is tied with a lace or velvet bow.
Most frequently, however, the average consumer without the funds to pay the “bow tax” has taken to accessorizing with simple ribbons bought at any craft store. And why not! The options are endless and can be catered to suit the vibe of any look; and truthfully, you can never have too much ribbon.
At the end of the day, this trend is about embracing classic femininity and softening fashion. There are no rules. Order a yard of ribbon from Amazon and tie it everywhere.