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Tanner Fletcher
In This Article
Bow enthusiasts everywhere held their breath as they scrolled through imagery of Sandy Liang’s highly anticipated Fall 2024 New York Fashion Week show. The motif has become synonymous with Liang’s design aesthetic—but while past seasons emphasized bows, the new collection featured them as details at best. It was a welcome vibe shift, proving that ribbons and bows have range beyond themes of youth and girlhood. In fact, the use of bows throughout this season’s top collections corroborates the idea that bows can be grown-up and glamorous. Ahead, learn all about fashion’s elevated new take on the bow trend, complete with 19 of our favorite bow-adorned pieces to consider adding to your wardrobe.
About the Trend
The TikTok era has led to a constant cycle of niche fashion aesthetics like Barbiecore and coquette, and along with this has come a rejuvenated love for all things emblematic of girlhood. These trends have provided an opportunity for sartorial inner child healing as more people embrace details we may have shied away from in our formative years, like the color pink, hair ribbons, and tulle. Older and more confident, a growing number of us have realized that girlhood and maturity are far from mutually exclusive, so the trends have allowed us to revisit the sweetness of an outgrown era.
Just as bow details and the coquette aesthetic gained traction on TikTok, the trends were all over the runways in recent seasons. The likes of Sandy Liang and Dauphinette leaned all the way in, creating collections that were odes to and explorations of all things girlhood. Suddenly, pink was cool again—and bows were even cooler. Free to reconnect with the softness we once misaligned with weakness, we put (and stacked) bows in our hair, on our purses, and on our coats.
Despite my fairly feminine style (I’m a sucker for a long dress or a swishy skirt), I didn't initially feel a pull towards this wave of nouveau bow, if you will. It wasn’t until a Spring 2023 ready-to-wear presentation by Tanner Fletcher that I first spotted a bow-adorned ensemble that piqued my interest: the Walt Bow Blazer ($1550) and Willie Bow Trousers ($950), a satin suiting setup covered in 3D powder blue silk ribbons. It was the first time I’d seen something so bow-heavy that didn’t scream "girlhood" to me. It was cool, it was creative, and it felt like it had achieved a decidedly more adult energy.
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Tanner Fletcher
Perhaps Tanner Fletcher knew then what it’s taken the rest of us some time to figure out: Bows can be more than girlish and saccharine, without sacrificing the spark that makes them so nostalgic. They can be devastatingly cool or perfectly prim and polished. We see the latter take shape in Liang’s innovative new collection, in which bows take a backseat as an enticing accent on tailored tops and pretty party dresses, aiding the overall aesthetic without becoming the whole story.
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Sandy Liang
Liang’s commitment to evolving her emphasis on ribbon undoubtedly played a role in inspiring a new era of bow-forward ensembles on the runway this season. Coach featured floppy, oversized bows fastened to little black tanks and ballooning taffeta skirts, while at Wiederhoeft, a long pink number wrapped in seventeen rows of black bows and dripping crystals made every attendee whip out their cell phone to snap a photo.
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Getty Images
At Prada, Mother Miuccia did what she does best (take the obviously feminine and make it infinitely more interesting, if not political) and produced a flurry of bow-heavy silhouettes, most notably shapeless shifts in pink and black with trellises of silky bows acting as an unexpected armor to the otherwise utilitarian fabrics.
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Getty Images
All the above proves both of the following: Bows are back, and bows are evolving. Perhaps this simply marks the next step in our exploration of femininity. The first stop was girlhood, sweet and unassuming. Now, bows are taking on a fresh and confident coquette energy that departs from childlike nostalgia.
Forgive the pun, but perhaps there’s no neat way to put a bow on the discussion of femininity as it pertains to personal style. There are, however, a plethora of ways to incorporate fashion’s new bows into your current wardrobe. Below, shop our top picks for ribbon-heavy fashion that feels more glamorous than girlish.
The Best Fashion Pieces with Grown-Up Bows to Shop
Statement Bow Top
Melke is making a name for itself with kitschy pieces that feel anything but childish, and the bows—which have been all over the emerging New York-based brand's recent shows and presentations—are a top standout. We love this sheer top with haphazardly placed ribbons, which feels simultaneously playful and sophisticated thanks to the cool blue and gray palette.
Minimalist Bow Clutch
The red handbag trend has expanded into deeper shades of cherry, oxblood, and bordeaux, and a subtle bow detail adds interest to this ruched leather clutch. The dark yet minimalist design is worthy of quiet luxury and indie sleaze looks alike.
Bow CEO
Some concrete proof of bows' refined new era is that maximalist, unapologetically feminine brands like LoveShackFancy are offering their takes on the trend. Here, tiny pocket bows take a blazer into slightly playful territory for the modern office siren.
She Wears the Pants
The understated bows on these trousers will make everyone do a double-take and are proof that feminine ribboned details work as well on tailored pieces as they do on skirts and dresses.
Step Into Ribbons
One of the simplest ways to integrate bows into a minimalist, sophisticated aesthetic is via beautifully tied laces, as seen on the ankle straps of these neutral suede pumps.
Evening Elegance
A dress like this—with its simple, form-fitting silhouette—highlights how bows have more range in traditionally feminine pieces than it first appears. The sophisticated, head-turning look will help you become the life of the party at your next evening event, date night, or work cocktail.
Space Siren Silver
Here, the bow is the whole clutch, which has a structured feel for bringing a modern feminine touch to the futuristic space siren aesthetic.
Adorned with a Bow
These bow earrings are sideways and feature a textural tribute to grosgrain ribbons, giving an avant-garde feel that's certainly cool-girl-approved.
All Wrapped Up
It turns out that ribbon detailing is an ideal way to add extra interest to a bra or tank. Become the bow with your arms through the loops, or leave them out for more of a traditional bow crop top feel.
Grown-Up Coquette
Monochromatic pairings give ribboned appliqués a more reserved feel, and the rosette-bow combo here is impossibly chic.
Romantic Twists
While not literal bows, the twisted front details on this top have a bow-adjacent feel. The look is extra romantic thanks to a sweet yet sophisticated rose print.
Casual Bow Day
Talk about a creative way to upgrade your standard t-shirt and jeans: The ribbons here add a feminine feel that doesn't detract from a laid-back vibe.
Artful Accents
Give your all-black outfit an upgrade with this ultra-cropped cardigan, which features a pair of crystal bows that feel modern and chic thanks to their thin, elongated shape.
Next-Level LBD
Here, a little black dress gets a subtle upgrade via white ribbon trim, with the tie holding together a plunge neckline.
Little Red Pumps
If your gateway into the red shoes trend was a pair of bow ballet flats, these cutout heels are a fun way to switch it up for a new season. The patent red shade and 3D ribbon appliqué both feel playful yet elevated.
Boatneck Bow Top
With this off-the-shoulder silhouette, the bow detail feels elongated and fresh. The classic black-and-white palette further elevates the statement.
Decked-Out Sandals
Accessorized sneakers are trending, and these bow-adorned straps feel like a variation for the sandal crowd. By being directly in line with the straps, the appliqués are subdued yet still stand out.
New-Age Hair Bow
Ribbons and pearls are both major ongoing hair trends, and these hair pins combine both in an artful, elevated way.
Glove Upgrade
Looking for gloves that bring the drama without going full opera-length? Oversized bows take simple black gloves (and your accompanying outfit) into a new category of chic.
Side-Tied Skirt
While a maximalist coquette moment is always fun, when you're looking to tone it down, side-tied bows make a classic black mini skirt feel special.
