The Prettiest Fall Trend Can Cost as Little as $3 But Looks So Expensive

Maybe it’s just me, but I happen to think that you can throw a black bow on pretty much any article of clothing and it will look instantly elevated. From tops and sweaters to casual dresses and evening gowns, there’s something about the little—or big, depending on the case—detail that just feels fancy. That’s why I was quite pleased this past February when I noticed countless bows in velvet, satin, and grosgrain going down the runways of so many of our favorite brands and on a range of pieces. A memory I recently revisited while doing another deep dive into F/W 20 trends last month.

What’s especially great about this one in particular, however, is that while it does look and certainly can be expensive, it can also cost you as little as $3, as long as you’re not opposed to an easy DIY. All you need to do is buy the ribbon or pre-tied bows—Amazon is a gold mine of them—and sew or simply pin them to any piece you already own. Voila! An instant upgrade awaits. To see the best runway moments featuring the trend and shop ribbons, bows, and clothing that already features them along the way, just keep scrolling.

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Tom Ford F/W 20
(Image credit: Courtesy of Tom Ford)

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Khaite F/W 20
(Image credit: Courtesy of Khaite)

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Richard Quinn F/W 20
(Image credit: Courtesy of Richard Quinn)

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Brock Collection F/W 20
(Image credit: Courtesy of Brock Collection)

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Alessandra Rich F/W 20
(Image credit: Courtesy of Alessandra Rich)

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Giambattista Valli F/W 20
(Image credit: Courtesy of Giambattista Valli)

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Erdem F/W 20
(Image credit: Courtesy of Erdem)

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Chanel F/W 20
(Image credit: Courtesy of Chanel)

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Gucci F/W 20
(Image credit: Courtesy of Gucci)

Next: 42 things you have to see from Shopbop, Nordstrom, and Net-a-Porter right now.

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Editor-at-Large

Since starting as an intern back in 2013, Nicole Akhtarzad Eshaghpour has held several roles here at Who What Wear, and she is currently Editor-at-Large. It was a less expected route, seeing as she was graduating from business school at USC when this all began, but it has turned out to be the best one for her. Fast-forward to 2024, and she's moved to NYC from her hometown of Beverly Hills and spends her workdays a little differently from when she was an intern starting out. Currently, she focuses on a weekly mélange of shopping content. As far as her personal style goes, she's largely drawn to classic pieces and neutral basics but will always make an exception for something colorful, printed, or bejeweled as long as it's deemed worthy enough. After all, the only thing she loves more than a good party is dressing up for one. On weekdays, she can usually be found at home eating something delicious for dinner and trying to force her husband to watch Summer House.