Bows & Beaus

There’s something that has always enchanted me about the word bow. Maybe it’s not simply the word that’s enchanting, but what it entails. Visions of pretty things flood my thoughts when I hear it, much like when “South”, “Lilly Pulitzer”, or “Seaside, Florida” arise in conversation.

When a young girl, bows take form in hair accessories and dress sashes. However uncomfortable the clip, however tight the sash, I would always grin and bear it whenever my mother adorned me with a bow. Bows were pretty. I liked pretty things. So I’d tolerate it

The bow of younger years - loveandallthingspretty.tumblr.com
The bow of younger years – loveandallthingspretty.tumblr.com
Monica of Girly Girly Bows dresses her dolls in bright hues.
Monica of Girly Girly Bows dresses her dolls in bright hues.

As us girls grow up, and we start to demand creative rights to our own wardrobe, bows often get kicked to the back of the closet. Smocked dresses turn into sparkly tops and training bras. Afternoon playdates turn into big-girl sleepovers. And before you know it, the only bow on the teenage girl’s mind is spelled a little differently… beau.

That’s right. Beau as in the “rich, fashionable young man” defined by the Oxford Dictionary.

Mr. Darcy of BBC's Pride and Prejudice. The epitome of the word beau: jo-stophaveachat.blogspot.com
Mr. Darcy of BBC’s Pride and Prejudice. The epitome of the word beau: jo-stophaveachat.blogspot.com

While Mr. Darcy will never go out of date, I thought I’d provide you with a look at a few modern beaus. (Forgive me for only picturing BEAUS in BOW ties… I couldn’t help it.)

Photo courtesy of gridiron belles.com
Photo courtesy of gridiron belles.com
Photo courtesy of southernproper.com
Photo courtesy of southernproper.com

Lately, however, I have begun to see a re-emergence of the hair bow in the  attire of Southern belles.

Photo courtesy of sororitysugar.tumblr.com
Photo courtesy of sororitysugar.tumblr.com
Photo courtesy of trendylisbon.com
Photo courtesy of trendylisbon.com
Bows reemerge in Southern fashion - prettyinprep.com
Bows reemerge in Southern fashion – prettyinprep.com

I have tried my hardest to bring this look to Texas, but to no avail. Apparently, if it’s not a cowboy hat.. don’t bother.

UT Kappa's pose in cowboy hats after being selected as "Cowboy's Sweethearts" - Photo: Olivia Turgeon
UT Kappa’s pose in cowboy hats after being selected as “Cowboy’s Sweethearts” – Photo: Olivia Turgeon

Fortunately enough for me, bows are found in the vast array of all things fashion, and while I might have to confine my hair bow collection to the dress-up box, these items satisfy my bow-obsession while meeting the unique Texan style defined by Texas’s young women:

1. These neutral sandals provide the perfect dosage of “dainty” with a simple ribbon bow.

craftgawker.com
craftgawker.com

2. A simple bow-inspired ring can make a subtle statement.

anthropology.com
anthropology.com

3. Throw on this Lilly Pulitzer belt to give any dress an extra pop of femininity.

lillypulitzer.com
lillypulitzer.com

4. Take bows to the beach in this adorable swim bandeau.

etsy.com
etsy.com

If I had it my way, a burnt orange bow would become just as important to any UT girl’s game outfit as a pair of cowboy boots. I’m all for takers if anyone wants to join me in this (would “movement” be too strong a word?) Oh well. I suppose part of what makes Texas’s unique style so… unique is that it doesn’t copy every Southern trend. But I wouldn’t mind an exception in this case.

All I can say is future daughters, beware.

Join in on the fun!