One adjunct to the resurgence of interest in collared blouses and shirts is the return of bows decorating the neck. Bow blouses, which are blouses with attached fabric that ties at the neck into a knot or bow, have been stylish over several seasons. A key variation on this look fastens a bow of contrasting material just underneath the collar of a blouse or dress.
Vogue magazine is sufficiently enamored with this look that it featured an update showing four variations in the September 2011 issue, stating, “The update on the men’s classic bow tie likes it loose, oversize, and unfussy.” Pictured are Shala Monroque in Jason Wu, Liya Kebede in Jason Wu, Anne Catherine Frey in the Kooples, and Janelle Monae in Dolce & Gabbana. All of these looks show black fabric bow ties worn on white blouses.
Black and white is also the theme of the feature “Role Play” in the September 2011 issue of Elle, which does a riff on a French maid theme. The model at right wears a silk velvet dress with lace and tulle detail and embroidered collar from Emilio Pucci. The small runway photo at top right showing a look with a bow tie is from Moschino. The “oui” ring of white gold and diamonds pictured is from Dior Fine Jewelry.
The bow tie look goes beyond black and white, however. A current ad for Born pictures a collared shirt under which is fastened an untied blue ribbon.
An ad for a fall 2011 design from Oscar de la Renta features an ensemble with a bolero jacket that appears to be fastened with a large, multi-colored sparkly bow.
The August 2011 issue of Allure focused on styling sophisticated pant suits rendered in denim. On the upper left corner of the page is a look from the Ralph Lauren Collection Denim Fall 2011 featuring a model wearing what appears to be a tuxedo bow tie. As accents for denim tuxedo looks, Allure suggests a couple of variations of a look combining a fabric bow with a dangling Maltese cross-shaped brooch. The items pictured are a metal brooch with diamonds, rhinestones and denim from Camille K, and a metal-and-resin brooch with crystals and silk from Sequin.
The December 2011 issue of Glamour promotes a “dressed-down evening look” combining a sweatshirt with a frilly skirt and a few key accessories. One suggested accessory is a Dannijo collar-shaped necklace of white metal adorned with a thin metal bow.
The November 2011 issue of InStyle features actress Blanca Suarez in a six-page spread entitled “Black Tie {with a Twist}” focusing on the season’s tuxedo-inspired looks. The opening shot pictures Suarez in an ensemble from Jason Wu worn with a silk faille bow tie from Thom Browne New York. She also wears a stainless steel and sterling silver ring with cubic zirconia from Basile & Pape.
Turn the page to find a couple of looks utilizing large-scale bow designs in jewelry to accent her looks. The first look pictures Suarez in a Thom Browne ensemble accented with a gold-plated pin from Alexis Bittar worn as a bow tie. The shoes are from Brian Atwood.
The second look showcases a bow tie design rhodium-plated necklace from Alexis Bittar worn with a collared dress from Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci.
Bow-shaped brooches have been a popular design over the decades. Don’t overlook the potential for adding a good-sized new or vintage brooch to a collared blouse or dress to create an alluring tuxedo-style effect.
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