Tie one on
One of the most defining hallmarks of a pretty, feminine mood is the bow.
My suggestion for do-it-yourself ribbon chic:
- Head for your favorite notion shop, where they sell velvet, satin, and grosgrain ribbon in every imaginable color.
- For just dollars a yard, you can buy an assortment of ribbon in different lengths and widths in your favorite shades (don’t forget black and white of course) and simply add on as you desire.
- Use them narrow or wide to replace the belts on your favorite jackets or coats (which will instantly soften them up).
- Stitch one on a t-shirt (a la Dolce & Gabbana, who designed a white man’s cotton tank top with a wide black satin bow stitched across the bodice for resort, which was selling for about $175).
- Take a length of satin ribbon (for this I recommend a width of at least three to four inches), and tie it around your neck to make your own pussycat bow.
- At Greenberg & Hammer, the vast assortment runs from about 45 cents to $4.75 a yard (for the highest quality imported satin).
All things in moderation
By the way, I am not suggesting that you to emulate Lara Flynn Boyle, who took the whole bow thing to a new level at the Golden Globes. Pink satin bows tied her hair in back, a pink satin bow streamed down the back of her pale pink tutu, and pink satin ribbon attached to her dyed to match pink satin pumps traveled up her legs ending in bows at her knees. Yikes!
Keep in mind that a little goes a long way!
Marilyn Kirschner is a New York-based fashion editor with a distinctive personal style -- and affinity for vintage -- that has landed her many times in Bill Cunningham's acclaimed "On the Street" feature for the New York Times. Her impressive knowledge of the fashion industry is culled from her extensive editorial experience, primarily as senior market editor at Harper's Bazaar. Currently, Marilyn is the editor-in-chief of The Look On-Line.
