STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Take A Bow

This Fashionista is one that always seems to be smiling across campus amongst the gloomiest of days. I ran up to her and immediately asked her to back away and shouted “Fashionista alert” repeatedly until she agreed for a photo (I secretly, knew she couldn’t deny me).

From afar, her mint blouse totally blew me away. Its unique pussycat bow (untied, of course), really caught my eye. It truly adds an Oscar Wilde element to the outfit. Absolutely perfect! Though she completely pulls it off, many struggle with this detail. When we were younger, bows were always a part of our wardrobes, whether they were in our hair, on our shoes, our purses or elsewhere. While we may not wear them in the ways we did back then, bows are still a favorite among women of all ages.

Yves Saint Laurent and Jason Wu featured a set of silk and sheer blouses with bold bows, which was completely brilliant. The key to wearing a bow blouse is to keep away from chunky necklaces and to focus on little details such as rings, bracelelets and headbands that add an extra pizzazz to an outfit.

This Fashionista paired her bow with just the right attire: her pants, which are to die for! Cobalt blue is a color that will never go out of style because of its rich tone and versatile use. So, make sure to sneak it into as many outfits as you can! She also mixes neutrals in the trend with a pair of comfy suede moccasins and a lightweight khaki jacket. Last but not least, my favorite element of her outfit is the nostalgic touch of her two-toned teal Danish backpack that she purchased during her study abroad.

Though this outfit is meant for colder days, you can transform it for the warmer weather as well. Many are trying white bows, a necessity for coming summer months, because of its undeniable versatility. For those of you that might be interning in an office, the bow adds a touch of classy fun with professionalism to any work outfit. You can also pair it with dashing velvet peg leg pants. For days when the hot sun keeps you from wearing pants, try tucking it into a pencil or leather skirt.

So please, whatever you do, don’t forget to bow.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Take A Bow

Youthfulness appears in a variety of fashion forms: peter-pan collars, shorter hemlines, pale colors and particular hair accessories. Because the days of elementary school were some of the happiest, and certainly some of the most fun, it can be difficult to let go of those memories filled with play kitchens and fort building using colorful cardboard “stones.” The days of wearing skorts, high pigtails and purple shirts adorned with butterflies and puppies, as fashionable as we all probably thought they were, are free to stay in the closets of our past. This is why pulling certain youthful accessories into a college-aged outfit can be the perfect touch.

This Fashionista did just that with an adorable plaid bow, which is not an accesory I can say that I see much of on campus. Maybe people forget about the bow worn as an accesory, or bows remind them too much of their fifth grade yearbook. This Fashionista's cute hair piece, however, only inspired me to use one myself. The rest of her ensemble was mature enough to balance out the playful memories that come with a bow. She layered a white button-down over a striped shirt and blue pants, along with a dark blue sweater and a blue-checkered scarf. Her feet, which initially caught my eye, stole a lot of attention with a pair of bright green satin flats from Express, which would be a great addition to any spring wardrobe. Through her look, she accomplished an updated, more fashionable, schoolgirl look that can easily be recreated by Fashionistas on every campus.

If you are feeling sprightly today, or wanting to remember those kindergarten days dedicated to playtime, put on an old plaid skirt, tie a ribbon in your hair, pop in some polka-dot bow hair clips, or rock some high-knee socks. For more of the updated schoolgirl look, take a look at this Fashionista in Manhattan and this University of Deleware Fashionista.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Take a Bow

Spotting a guy wearing a bow tie is quite an unusual experience, especially on a college campus. So you can imagine how surprised I was to see this stylish Fashionisto rocking a bow tie as he was walking out of class. I found myself chasing after him, determined to snap a photo for this week’s STYLE ADVICE post. This Fashionisto's decision to wear a bow tie marks him as an individual who is not afraid to show off his personal style and it gets him attention.

This past fall and spring season, bow ties have been making a big come back in men’s fashion. However, they still have yet to become the norm. For those of you who need some help finding the right bow tie, there are three different types: the type you tie yourself, the pre-tied, and the clip on. After doing some research, it seems that the pre-tied ones are the most practical and still look like the classic ones you have to tie yourself. In my opinion, the bow tie is an essential that every real gentlemen should own. Also, good news for you college boys, bow ties are usually on the cheaper side compared to regular neck ties. As we all know, us college students tend to run low on cash flow.

To find the right bow tie for yourself can be difficult. However, you can find a surprisingly good selection online. If you want to try them on before you buy it, I recommend finding a local menswear boutique. The closet one to Denison is Tigertree in the short north district of Columbus; they have a trendy collection of men’s bow ties. To all you gentlemen out there, have fun finding your perfect bow tie.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Take A Bow

Bows are part of a girls’ life from the very start. You learn to tie your shoes when young and for many, tying those first pairs of laces starts a love affair (or addiction) with shoes. I had a friend in elementary school who always wore ribbon bows the size of an orange in her hair and personally I think that Blair Waldrof probably got her trademark bow style from my 7 year old friend. The cheerleaders wore bows in the hair for pep rallys and nothing jazzes up a game day look like a hair bow. As a college student, it can be hard to wear bows without feeling like a collegiate Hello Kitty doll.

Enter the bow tie blouse. Otherwise known as the pussy bow blouse, this look is feminine, mature, romantic and chic. When I encountered this CollegeFashionista at the Kansas City Plaza Art Fair, she pulled off the pussy bow with such aplomb, I wanted to tell her to take a bow (pussy bow pun INTENDED). She paired her sheer white, lace-detailed tunic with a navy cardigan that had rosette shoulder details. Skinny jeans and black leather boots anchor her outfit, while a nude quilted bag with a chain strap added some glitz. Pink nails, a knuckleduster ring and perfectly curly hair complete this CollegeFashionista’s casual artsy look.

This 1970s-inspired look does not have to be juvenile, when paired with appropriate pieces and found in lush fabrics. Silk and satin tie blouses are luxurious and can offer great contrast when matched with chunky knit sweaters. Pair a pussy bow blouse with an oversized bow, cute pattern or lace details with structured shorts or a mini skirt to have a kitschy, vintage feel. Bow tie tops are also perfect for interviews, as they are office appropriate and stylish to boot. Try a neck-tie look in a hip print like doves or horses. Go ultra feminine in light fabrics or sassy in leopard print. Sleeveless tops are great under sweaters and are easy for work in the summer. Be bold with a SUPER oversized bow or a solid dress with a patterned bow. Let the bow be the centerpiece while wearing a dress.

Bows can be floppy and nonchalant, or exaggerated; don’t be scared to take a little bow at your fashionable street-style savvy.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Take a bow!

Remember when you were younger and your mom would always put your hair in a cute little ponytail, complete with a bow, before you went off to school? Well now is your chance to relive the wonder years and wear your favorite bows again!

What I love best about bows is that you can wear them in virtually any context! You can wear them on top of your head, around your waist, or cleverly on your back the way this Fashionista does!