What simple but significant accessory can make your outfit go from good to glamorous in seconds? The pussy bow. No matter if you wear it over a blouse, shirt, top, dress or coat, a silk or satin pussy bow can make you look effortlessly fabulous and sophisticated. If you are wondering what a pussy bow (formally known as a pussy cat bow, inspired by our four legged feline friends) is, the accessory is a bow that is generally used at the neck base of a piece of clothing for women. You can purchase blouses that directly have a pussy bow incorporated in their design (like the ones ASOS sells), or you can make one on your own to wear with your outfits. The most popular tones for pussy bows are cream, pink, white or black, but you can venture into creative patterns for a beautiful contrast. While the possibilities for mixing and matching a pussy bow with your outfit are endless, you might enjoy some inspiration from our Ultimate Guide on How to Wear a Pussy Bow. Read all about it and dress up with style below!
Black and White Bliss
You really can never, ever go wrong with black and white. It is the classiest and sharpest color combo you could ever incorporate into your outfit. If you want to wear a pussy bow with your perfect outfit, all you have to do is get a loose fitting white blouse, a pair of black pants and carelessly tie the pussy bow at the base of your neck. You can get creative with patterns on this one, mixing and matching soft, delicate, light and airy fabrics with attitude materials like black leather. In 2015, the best idea for bottoms that you can go for is a pair of leather pants or leggings, or at least a material that imitates leather pretty well. Lay low on the jewelry for this combo; opt for some chic earrings and maybe a ring or two, but nothing else.
Chic Cape
Remember Gossip Girl, the TV show that girls from all over the world were obsessed with? We know because we were part of them, and most likely so were you. Blair Waldorf, the Queen Bee of almost anything you could ever imagine, had an amazing sense of style in the show. Her character, as well as actress Leighton Meester who played the role, developed into a genuine trendsetter both on and off set. One of her most memorable fashion staples was the pussy bow, which she wore flawlessly on every occasion. In this case, she took a dark grey cape coat and added a large, mustard-colored pussy bow to the base at her neck. ‘Stylish’ would be an understatement when describing how awesome this looks.
Business Casual Beauty
Alright, alright, we love being girly and all, but many of us are business women who have to take office manners into consideration when picking out our outfits. The good news is that you can use a pussy bow for a gorgeous business casual outfit that you can wear at work and on girls’ night after hours. Choose a soft, pastel shade like powdered pink or beige and use that color for your blouse, pants and, of course, your pussy bow. Contrast it with a deeper shade like navy blue (we love black, but it won’t have the same impact in this situation) and use it on a jacket, your footwear and belt. To top the whole look off, grab a crisp, white handbag for extra elegance.
Colorful Contrast & Pretty Pattern
Have we ever told you how much we love patterns? If you are the outgoing, fearless and young-wild-and-free type, you can easily go with a pussy bow that has a sweet pattern on it. Take this pussy bow, for example; it is all decorated with a beautifully intricate floral print design. As vintage flowers are all the rage once again, you can rock a rose-print pussy bow with a minimalistic blouse. If you’re pondering on colors, try a bold contrast like gold, for instance. The two pieces will complement each other more splendidly than you could imagine.
Sweet and Sassy School Girl
You don’t even have to be a student for this super cool outfit idea; you just have to be brave enough to wear a school girl inspired attire with the ultimate dose of class. Pull out your favorite red, plaid, uniform-style skirt out from your closet, making sure that it’s the perfect length (a couple of inches above your knees should look fine). If you don’t already have a plaid skirt in your closet, you should really run out and buy one. To continue, get a simple, white blouse that fits you loosely (like the one described for the Black and White Bliss outfit) and nonchalantly tuck it in your skirt. Take a black piece of wide ribbon and tie a pussy bow around your next, right under the collar. Finish it off with a classic black clutch. This bow tie look will guarantee all eyes on you when you go out.
Tips for Pussy Bow Blouses / Shirts / Tops
Pussy bow blouses, tops or shirts look simply sublime when matched with the right pieces. Most of all, pussy bow tops work the best with dressy pants, inspired by men’s trousers. Drape a large blazer over your shoulders, add your favorite clutch to the combination and you will literally shine with refinement.
Tips for Pussy Bow Dresses
Heels, ladies, heels. The key to rocking a pussy bow dress like an impeccable fashionista is to wear heels. No matter if you choose straight up sky high stilettos or some conservative heels, you have to boost your femininity with the bit of edge that heels offer. Don’t be afraid to make your inner beauty glow outside as well.
Image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.