L-R: Black and pink (Marc Jacobs), beige (vintage)
Like a small child of 5 years old, I have an addiction to bows. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t stop buying them: whether for my hair, for my neck, for my waist, for my fingers or my toes, they just keep accumulating in my wardrobe!
But let me emphasise: there is a fine line between a bow being fabulous or tacky. A giant bow on one’s head a la Blair Waldorf? Fabulous, if worn with polished accessories like the Upper East-Sider herself. A velvet bow around the waist? Can serve as the perfect pop of colour or finishing touch to a silk blouse in winter. Bows on shoes? Can be trusted if by Marc Jacobs or Miu Miu, but the bow must always be a statement, rather than a tiny detail. A bow in the form of a printed motif or a cheap little necklace? Tres tacky, and to be avoided at all costs.
My general rule of thumb is that regardless of it’s incarnation, the bow must be large enough to be a statement rather than a fussy detail. And counter-intuitive as it may seem (though this is probably exactly why it works), bows work much better with an otherwise mannish, sharp or dressed-down outfit.
If something is ‘my thing’, I wear it whenever I like regardless of what the current fashion trends dictate. But it is worth noting that bows were all over the Autumn/Winter runways of Prada, Louis Vuitton and Miu Miu, and will be appearing everywhere in the form of belts, shoes and accessories.
What do you think of bows? Fun and fabulous or fussy and silly?
Love, Miss B xx
JusteRyma says
MUCH LOVE
JUSTERYMA
Ritournelle says
Your post makes me think of a bow-embellished T-shirt I saw at the Lanvin store and fell in love with. It’s part of the bridal collection, but I don’t care, I would definitely wear it everyday!
http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/65394
I also like bows on shoes, and yours look fabulous!
http://ritournelleblog.wordpress.com
J says
i loveeeee white blouses with a black ribbon, how simple.
emmy says
I love them! How can you not? They’re soo cute!
Erin says
Fun and fabulous! I love bows at the end of shoes – it’s the perfect detail. <3
the style crusader says
i don’t think i have bows on anything i own. not because i’ve consciously decided to avoid them… i just don’t have any. i definitely agree with what you’ve said here about them – there is certainly a fine line between chic and cheap. there is nothing worse than a grown women looking tarty in a too little girly get up – amplified if its got a cheap bow to top it off. anyway… all this to say – bows done right are an absolute dream and i’m sure you pull them off perfectly. even better that it’s your trademark item, it seems? p.s. the shoes are gorgeous!
Patricia Villablanca says
I love bows!! I love Mimco, and once I’ve graduate WATCH OUT!
lol dam the days of being a poor law student =(
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
Absolutely fabulous!! I love the MJ bow shoes (in fact I don’t think there has been a pair better before or after those). I have that Mimco bow necklace and I love it to bits 😀
Lauren Adams says
I love love LOVE bows!!!
Diana says
I am totally smitten with bows…I so want shoes like that:)
Great stuff, sweetie
Lucy Dazilma says
They are the perfect match of femininity and classy. Love it.