“Whatever the outfit, a beautiful bow has the power to provide instant, pulled-together polish,” says Mother of Pearl’s creative director Amy Powney. “A bow is a quick fix to elevate an outfit.” Drawing inspiration from the Pre-Raphaelites, Victorians and 1920s and 1930s couture, if Powney were to have a muse she would most likely be topped and tailed with bowknots and ribbons.
Recent catwalk presentations suggest Powney is not alone. A ladylike bow in black has long been a brand staple at Prada and Miu Miu; bigger, blousier creations have tied up the latest Valentino couture, ready-to-wear and pre-fall collections. At the Spring shows in September, Erdem offered a scholarly vision of Victorian cross-dressing, resplendent with back-skirting bows; Rodarte’s were romantic, scattered over tulle dresses awash with bowknots and rose blooms. They were strung around the waist at Gucci, and tied at the nape of the neck at Saint Laurent. Thankfully, though, this is not a trend we need to wait for until next year. Fashion-savvy souls are already hitting up the haberdashery in search of festive silks. For gentlemen, too, the most stylish accessory this season is an oversized bow-tie in midnight blue.
“Bows are all about playing around with masculine and feminine details,” says Powney. “Add a giant bow to a tailored suit and it brings a hint of femininity to the mix.” Powney’s own work uniform sees her dress up jeans and sweatshirts with a decadently oversized bow and pearl embellished flats. The shoes, which will arrive in stores soon as part of a see-now-buy-now AW18 collection, have the added benefit, she says, of seriously slimming the calf.