Those of you hoping that Carrie Symonds’s public declaration of love for the Alice band may kill the whole trend in its tracks should prepare for further despair.
There’s more infantilising headwear to come this winter. And it’s just as sickly sweet — more so, in fact: the bow is back.
The crown of choice for a host of grown women right now, the playground look has touched down on a high fashion plain, with everyone from Paloma Faith to Laura Bailey to Kelly Osbourne a fan of the look.
For some, the velvet ribbon, tied with precision, is the bow of choice. For others, it’s a bow transplanted on to a headband for doubly twee effect (providing delight for some and a pass-the-sick-bucket moment for others).
With the potential to become a Christmas party regular, the bow is outfit tinsel for those seeking new ways to jazz up their look. Much like the headband, adored by big brands and celebrities alike, the trend is undeniably divisive. Truly, one woman’s treasure is another’s tween-inspired tat, but where does this bow obsession come from?
The most legitimate bow fans have youth on their side. A friend of mine took her daughter to see JoJo Siwa at the O2 recently (nope, I’d never heard of her either: turns out we’re not the vlogger’s target audience) and found the occasion to be a spiritual meeting of bow-wearers with the star’s staple piece of headwear worn like a uniform by her 17-year-old fans.
Cute, right? Less aww-inspiring is an adult in that very same look.
For those whose age is in double figures, the bow joins frilly collars and buckle-up Mary Jane pumps in attracting fashion fans with Peter Pan syndrome. For some the hair bow is a way of suggesting sweetness and innocence — Symonds is a fine example.
