Bows and Ribbons

When this year’s warm summer temperatures subside and a fall chill enters the air, the best trend to be prepared for is bows on absolutely everything.

January 2023 saw a resurgence of bows in fashion that took the season by storm. Winter was filled with pink hair ribbons, oversized cardigans sewn with knit bows, and black evening dresses dolled up with black hair bows. This fall, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them resurface.

Historically, bows and ribbons were worn as early as 2600-2500 B.C., but mainly for practical purposes like pulling hair back. It was not until 1680s France that they were adorned as high-status symbols when the Marquise de Fontange, one of Louis XIV’s mistresses, tied her hair back with a ribbon from her dress while horseback riding.

Following this display, both men and women wore ribbons in their hair, but men wore them in a style called a “lovelock” to show affection for their lovers. When it became trendier for men to cut their hair short in the 1700s, bows evaporated from masculine fashion.

Today, bows and ribbons are staple pieces of a modern day princess aesthetic and balletcore, but they have also been claimed by the grunge aesthetic. Depending on how they are styled, bows can have a softer or harder edge, making them one of this fall’s most versatile trends.

The reclamation of bows in fashion is a consequence of booming hyper-feminine culture. Women of all ages are embracing traditionally “girly” styles for self-empowerment.

Jojo Siwa was a pioneer of self-empowerment from bows, wearing them to signify her self-confidence. When she eventually shifted away from the hair accessory, an older demographic adopted the symbol for their own self-love.

Now, bows are just the tip of a corset-mania, cottagecore iceberg — a cherry on top of the “hot girl summer,” “brat summer,” and “#girldinner” trends.

The best thing about bows and ribbons is that they can be glued, sewn, or tied on anything. They’re an easy and inexpensive trend to fall head over heels for. This fall, girly is back and cuter than ever with a knot and two little loops.

Denim and Corduroy

The era of coquette bows and ribbons has been ongoing since early 2023, and that style is starting to wane. With the skyrocketing popularity of “brat summer” and “hot girl summer” trends, it’s likely the fall will hold a more
subdued vibe.

The ‘90s have been slowly reappearing in fashion for a couple of years now, and that trend is only going to gain momentum this fall. Wide-cut denim pants and soft-tone corduroy jackets, specifically, are coming back.

We have reached a time when millennials are beginning to feel nostalgic for their ‘90s roots. The 2010s were filled with ‘80s music, callbacks, and reboots across mediums, so it makes sense that the 2020s are being defined by a reverence for the ‘90s.

Preppy clothes and boatware were huge in the ‘90s, leaving behind a louder era of fashion and settling onto warmer tones. Traditional prep attire received the baggy ‘90s makeover, though, with pants getting wider and shirts becoming less fitted.

What didn’t change was the massive popularity of denim and corduroy. This fall, men’s clothes reflect this popularity with tweed button-up corduroy jackets over T-shirts and baggy wide-cut jeans making a comeback.

The less flashy vibe of denim and corduroy acts to balance out the bright tennis aesthetic that dominated the spring. This evolution of prep clothes was due in large part to the popularity of Luca Guadagnino’s film “Challengers” specifically the attire worn by Zendaya in the film.

In the months following the release of “Challengers,” designers such as Tory Burch and Thom Browne unveiled multi-layered, pastel-colored tennis attire, featuring skirts and vests. Essentially, the virality of “Challengers” inspired an active-wear crossover with the traditional prep style.

Corduroy and denim act as a softer parallel to the bright blues and greens that “Challengers” inspired. With how viral that film and aesthetic became, it’s unclear if denim and corduroy can sustain the same level of popularity for as long, but this ‘90s trend will rule the fall.