Ribbons tied around a swanlike neck, ribbons encircling a waist, grazing a shoulder, wound around a head of hair, trailing from a sleeve, or fluttering on a skirt; ribbons have been an aspect of fashion since the Egyptians wrapped metal, leather, or ribbon around their heads to hold their hair in place.
My own experience with ribbon began when a length of Swiss ribbon found its way into my repository of “things to be used one day”. Now, there is scarcely a straw hat in the house without some form of ribbon embellishing it and Petersham Gros Grain ribbon from Italy is a frequent online purchase.
One day a photograph of this Roger Vivier Broche Buckle hair clip caught my eye.
A search of the site revealed another in what looked like ramie or straw. The rhinestone clip is a Vivier trademark of sorts.
Other clothing designers adding hair bows to their offerings include Bode…
…and Prada.
Wide gros grain ribbon and a rhinestone button hand stitched to a flat hair claw became a bespoke gift for two of our family members who definitely have the beautiful hair needed for such adornment.
(thegraydetails.com)
As in this image, some are repurposing the ribbons from luxury packages and tying them around their hair. My ribbon from Lucullus, the culinary antiques store in New Orleans, is a yet unused treasure!
As in this vintage fashion drawing, ribbon is often used to accent the waist.
(Getty images)
This tailored jacket tied closed with a hot pink bow is from the Valentino Spring, 2023
collection.
(tag-walk.com)
The ribbon lacing ending at the waist on this corset overblouse in the Simone Rocha Fall/Winter 2024 collection is enchanting.
(tag-walk.com)
The bow closure at the bodice of this chic white suit from the Giambattista Valli Spring/Summer 2024 collection provides a crisp accent to the look.
(tag-walk.com)
Flowered organza is elevated with a black bow just above the waistline. (Giambattists Valli Spring/Summer 2024)
(tag-walk.com)
Christian Dior’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection included this look. A thin black ribbon added to the waist could transform some of the clothes we have in our own closets.
This Vogue cover of October, 2010 stays in my mind and reminds me of what if feels like to stand and gaze out at the Texas Hill country in early spring. Designer Peter Copping featured this photo of actress Carey Mulligan wearing a dress from his collection for Nina Ricci and the photograph of the painting of a woman in a white dress with a dark ribbon around her waist on his Instagram.
(tag-walk.com)
This look from the Victoria Beckham Resort Collection 2024 tempts me to sew some ribbon on the lower edges of one of my black cardigans. There is something about flowing ribbon that is quite appealing. This reminds me of the time I sewed ribbons to the lower edges of the sleeves of one of my sweaters, thus rendering myself helpless to do much of anything but flow. Sadly, the ribbons had to be repurposed.
Belgian designer Ann Demuelemeester frequently accents her creations with strips of fabric or ribbons as you see on this jacket.
As seen in this vintage fashion drawing, ribbon might also embrace the shoulders.
(www.coolchicsthylefashion.com)
Simone Rocha included ribbon at the shoulders in this dress from her Fall, 2018 collection.
(www.coolchicsthylefashion.com)
This dress from the Chloe Spring, 2017 collection falls from two bows, one at each shoulder.
(tag-walk.com)
Carolina Herrera (Fall/Winter 2024) combines sweetness with drama in this short black dress accented with puff sleeves and falling ribbons.
(tag-walk.com)
Brandon Maxwell (Resort 2024) gives us another look at the little black dress. This one with tiny ribbons slipping off the shoulders.
(fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu)
Reminds me of John Singer Sargeant’s painting of Virginie Gatreau as exhibited in the 1884 Salon before the scandal associated with the slipped strap caused him to adjust the painting.
In Sabato De Sarno’s first collection for Gucci most of the looks were accompanied by a gold metal studded choker on a ribbon trailing down the backs of the models.
(tag-walk.com)
Dolce and Gabbana’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection included this lace swing dress tied with a satin ribbon at the neck.
(tag-walk.com)
Designer Huishan Zhang (Fall/Winter 2023) created a full-length black lace dress with a beribboned bodice beginning at the neckline.
(tag-walk.com)
This nearly nautical pantsuit is topped with a pleated and beribboned collar! (Chocheng, Winter, 2023)
(nanathalieamar)
As we celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday (British author of Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and other favorite works) it might be nice to include an excerpt from a letter written by her (Davidson, H. Jane Austen’s Wardrobe, Yale University Press, 2023):
My gown is to be trimmed everywhere with white ribbon plaited (pleated) on, somehow or other. She says it will look well; I am not sanguine (hopeful)…
I, on the other hand, am quite hopeful and looking forward to stitching some lengths of black ribbon to the bottom opening of my black cardigan. Surely this will not impede an ability to get things done and will certainly enhance the beauty of the garment.
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