Feminine Menswear: A Guide to Bow Ties for Women

Crossover styles from menswear to womenswear has been ever-present in past and current fashion trends.  An element of menswear style, the bow tie, was adapted since the early 20th century by fashion conscious women who gave it a feminine twist.  Follow below for the unraveling of the women's bow tie throughout history.

FLOBELLE FAIRBANKS

Flobelle Fairbanks, an American actress in the 1900s, was the catalyst for crossover style.  At a time when long hair was cut short, Flobelle embraced the currents of the fashion waves, and wove this powerful symbol into her personal style.  Her feminine styling of the bow tie implicitly stated freedom and power.  Her original style is still referenced today by fashion stylists.

YSL 

During the 1970s, Yves Saint Laurent, made a silk bow tie that transformed a simple piece of silk into a powerful fashion accessory.  Accompanied by an over-sized menswear suit, YSL  discovered a way to transform this look with a simple yet bold bow tie for women.  Even today, YSL still uses variations of their signature bow tie look.

CHUNG ERA

Alexa Chung is one of today's most admired millennials' fashion icon.  Her employment of different bow tie looks has captured and inspired fashionistas to balance the feminine and the masculine.  A modern-day Audrey Hepburn, Alexa Chung is a true advocate for bow ties for women. 

THE TUX

For the brave and bold fashionistas, a tux is the clearest example of menswear making its way into females' closets. A tux can make you stand out when you are confident about your femininity.  Perfect for formal events, the tux is a bold way to announce your bold and transformative fashion style.  

STEAL THE LOOK