BOWS: STILL HOT OR NOT?

Wardrobe | Trending

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2024

I love bows, but I think I may have some bad news...

I have definitely noticed a decline in the number of bows on outfits on social media. With the move towards the mob wife aesthetic, and summer aesthetics like last year's ‘Tomato Girl Summer’, fashion seems less concerned with having dainty bows on everything, and more concerned with the man-eater look of red lipstick and faux fur coats. Whilst I love the more allusive vibe of the mob wife aesthetic, and am actually a big fan of the move as it has brought about a host of amazing new outfits and styles, I do have a special place in my heart for the use of bows in fashion.

Christmas 2023 saw people decorating their Christmas trees not with baubles, but with giant bows. Whilst I didn't take things that far, I am partial to a bow or two.

One influencer that I really thinks optimised the use of bows in fashion is Lindsay Voitton. She's an influencer based in Singapore, and even now she still adds bows to her outfits, hair and just lifestyle in general. Her feed really shows the internets’ love of ribbons and bows. Lindsay adds bows into her outfits so beautifully, that even as the trend decreases in popularity, she still manages to make the subtle bow additions look trendy and effortless. Lindsay also highlights the 'girly' aesthetic that is often conflated with the use of bows in fashion.

There's a love for the pretty bows adorning outfits and these bows were often seen in whites, pinks and reds. However, I do think that the decline in popularity might not all be down to a loss of interest. In the Winter, it was easier to add bows to outfits, as there were more clothing items to find creative ways to adorn. However, as we enter SS24, we shed a few warm layers in favour of more floaty fabrics and lighter outfits.

However, I am sad to say that I don't really wear bows as often anymore. I too have fallen victim to the, ever-faster, moving trends. Bows were a really lovely time in fashion trend history, and I can't see them disappearing forever, or at all actually. But they have definitely lost their status on our For You pages. As soon as I sense Summer coming around the corner, bows and florals are out, and white cotton dresses and straw bags are in. My brain switches from dopamine dressing in the dark of the Winter, to dressing in comfy, gorgeous, Summer-y outfits, in the most care-free way possible. We often see this switch from carefully curated Winter-fits that rightfully-so dominate our Pinterest feeds, to the more effortless chic summer fits. These see lots of floaty fabrics and honestly just any clothing that doesn't make you feel so hot that you will combust at any moment. Even the style of photo taking changes in the summer. People often come across as more photogenic, with our feeds filled with more photos of people enjoying their holidays and sunny days than ever. However, and I'm sure it's not just me, the effortlessness of the Summer 'vibe' just leaves you feeling more relaxed and happy. It's easier to smile in photos and generally appear more effortless, when you're happy and smiling in the sun.

It’s also easier to find nicer lighting.

Obviously in some aesthetic subsections, namely the coquette fashion aesthetic, bows will quite possibly always be in. However, generally speaking, across the world of influencers and fashion, there has been a noticeably huge decline.

And so, yes, bows may be out, however we have a new wave of aesthetics coming our way very, very soon. But don't throw out that ribbon yet, because I doubt bows will disappear altogether, and with the way that fashion works, give it six months, and they'll probably be back in again.