Bows: British Style on a Budget

July 2, 2008 06:00 PM | Comments (0) | Posted in british style, bows

If you thought bows were just for little girls, think again. Bows are the new, must-have accessory, and British fashion-followers are all wearing comically oversized hair bows in their carefully coiffured manes – just take a look at Face Hunter for proof.

This season, designers reworked the bow: they enlarged it, stuck it to prom dresses, pinned it into renaissance-style hair and even turned it into clutch purses. Aquascutum updated their classic coats by adding a giant bow to a swing coat and looping a trench coat belt into a bow shape. Designers at Gucci also favoured a more grown-up vibe: an off-centre, humbug-striped bow was added to a sporty swimsuit. The look at Moschino was playful, with oversized bows adorning ‘cloud’ hair and prissy cardigans: think a grown-up Wednesday Adams. The must-have accessories? Chanel’s bow-shaped purse and Christian Louboutin’s ‘Very Noeud’ peep-toe platforms.

Most of us don’t have the £1255 ($2477) to blow on a Chanel purse and Louboutin heels, but the British high street has a veritable feast of bow-adorned treats at a snip of the price. Topshop has come over all Chanel with their black and white cardigan (£28/$55), complete with oversized bow. For Parisian chic, pair with a simple black dress and this faux pearl necklace, £12 ($24) from Oasis, which is a dead ringer for the Chanel original. The more daring among us will go crazy for Boo Hoo’s ruby red, Miu Miu-inspired micro-mini dress (£25/$49), which comes with a huge tartan bow.

Images courtesy of Face Hunter, Style Finder and Elle.