This belt is so easy to pull off - and so cheap! Everyone is already of the mentality of cinching their waist, so this is the perfect compliment to what’s already in your closet. If you really want to try to embody the look, pick up some paper bag pants and wear it with a pair of flesh colored heels and a structured, but bare top. I’m placing an order tonight for the Alexander Wang twinsies from the post “Twinsies - Alexander Wang Cropped Trousers” - and because I’m a complete pack rat, I already have a bow belt stashed in my belt drawer (nutso, I know - ask my beau he has no space for clothes). I didn’t think I would fall so hard for this menswear bottom movement, and to some it might be a hard look to achieve - but the girly & fun vibe of the bow belt help to balance the dichotomy and keep it real.
Asos $8
Limited edition Giles Deacon stationary for Smythson. Wishing I had a reason to write letters - actual handwriting is really tiring, and I’m not sure I remember cursive anymore!
Shop Giles Deacon for Smythson of Bond Street $70 at Smythson.com
Bow headbands are nothing new to Gossip Girl, but I especially loved this oversized, floppy top-of-head version seen on Blair in “Oh Brother, Where Bart Thou?”, aka Bart Bass’ funeral episode. It’s very Polyanna, very Little Princess - and definitely a statement piece. I’ve discovered when searching for brand new trends or just weird vintage, i.e. jodhpurs, racers - that most search engines don’t recognize - Etsy is a great resource. Etsy is all handmade and often times custom. The exaggerated red bow below is made to order, so you can have your own little couture headband in any color of the rainbow for only $20 (ish). On the flip side, I was even surprised to see the Jennifer Ouellette headband as only $50 - as I have spent many an afternoon drooling over hair accessories at Barney’s, so the must see costumes on gossip girl have definitely created a saturated bow market - and thank god!
Jennifer Ouellette at Barney’s $50
Top Shop $22
Etsy $20
Shana Logic $18
As a die hard bow addict, I’m on France Luxe’s mailing list and so receive their catalogs (which even if it is a dying business - I really do love getting). France Luxe is a small ecomm/direct luxury hair accessories business based in Washington, which I discovered through late night desperation googling for a bow headband last year (see post: Feeling Girly? Take a Bow). The great thing about luxury anything is that when you are on top of a trend that is hard to find - pretty much the only way to find it will be in its original form and usually not so cheap. At the time I was absolutely willing to shell out $50 for a headband, but then of course got angry when 6 months later there were 5 different versions at H&M. Such is the life of a trend in a modern fast fashion world. And - as I’m on a little punk spree at the moment, flipping through the catalog the studded tortoise shell headbands jumped off the page, I got a little excited, and then looked at the price and my heart sank! So, as always - Forever 21 to the rescue.
If you have more than $10 in your checking account, shop France Luxe
Otherwise, budget friendly Forever 21
I would have died for these. This would definitely be the thing I’d want most in life for a year - and would never have gotten because my parents were crazy frugal and I think they walked like 5 miles to school in the snow or something. One year, I threw a temper tantrum at Christmas because I didn’t get a window box green house I wanted (hippie and un-fashion related), but the point is that teeny boppers are tyrants. Looking back, if it were an option - boarding school would have been my calling. These cutsey charms are definitely worth kicking and screaming for.
Shop Coach.com
