Ruffles, Bows, Flounces, Flare & Fringe

Angie

As much as these design features stir up a myriad of emotion - they do look fresh to my eye. Perhaps my Retro Futurism mood is in over drive, but that's my take on this season and seasons to follow.

9 years ago

Inspiration

69 replies

Latest reply was from E

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I am totally on board with this change. I appreciate the lady like feminine vibe if it isn't to excess - and sometimes even if it is!

9 years ago

Peri

Veteran

As long as the futurism is stronger than the retro. References to the 70s do not make me happy!!!

9 years ago

Anonymous

Hmm. Flare, yes. Maybe the odd fringe on a bag or leather jacket. But the others still leave me cold. It'll be interesting to come back to this thought in 5 or 6 months and see if my eye has adjusted

9 years ago

donnat

Veteran

I think it will look fresh. I do like a well placed ruffle.

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

I love fringe. Not sure about bows or ruffles.

9 years ago

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Totally totally on board! And I'm going to wear it ALL with a huge smile on my face and a liberal spritz of my favourite Chanel scent.

9 years ago

always trying

Veteran

I too am not into the 70's. been there done that!..But Am really loving flares. since I found my old ones and my old fav olive ones are a bit big, am going to be looking for another pair -perhaps olive..and will be getting a lot of wear out of my black cord ones. Just bought a hi low olive sweater at Zara, and am looking at other tops for them. but at my age bows look silly. Love fringe as long as it is not too hippie looking, and ruffles are too over the top feminine for me.

9 years ago

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I'm with Lisa. Flare, sure. I can take a well placed ruffle, if it's not too ruffly, but the idea of bows and flounces... nope, not for me. Too much movement. But I AM a slow adopter/adapter, so we'll see, once my vision has been flooded, I may start liking them on others

9 years ago

Eliza

Veteran

For me, it's all about the context. Pussy bow blouses still haven't found their way back to my heart (perhaps because they were an office uniform for me decades ago), but some crisp ruffles, subtly added to a more structured piece, maybe. Big gear shift in progress.

9 years ago

Dee

Veteran

I'm also mostly with Lisa. Flare is great, maybe an odd ruffle or two, but everything else still looks and feels too busy for me. I'll check back and see how I feel in six months.

9 years ago

shedev

Veteran

I'm feeling a little left out in the cold right now.

9 years ago

Anonymous

I'm right there with you, shedev. No flouncing etc. for this chick!

9 years ago

viva

Veteran

I think it's about styling. I'm neither all-in nor all-out. I have a ruffled shirt and a peplum sweater and I plan to enjoy the heck out of both. I'm very much loving bringing the pretty back, and there are aspects of the 70s - the long leg, the sexy prettiness - that I am happy to embrace, alongside the boyish pretty of the mod 60s that has been more typical for me. I'm definitely game for some of this, styled right.

9 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I agree. Although I never got rid of all my ruffled things, I haven't been wearing them as much. But I'm feeling a pull to dig them out and see what happens. I think this time around (as opposed to 5 yrs ago) I want my ruffles to be more dramatic and architectural rather than too twee or retro. I guess that's the futurism bit.

9 years ago

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Yay! Good to know that Viva and Diana are also on board. It seems like Cheryle and I will be your Ruffles and Everthing-A-Bit-Too-Pretty mascots this winter!

9 years ago

Anonymous

I think I've been traumatized by too many bad bridsmaid dresses -- bows give me nightmares!

9 years ago

Carole

Veteran

Some of the trends from the 70's are starting to appeal to me; flares, flounce and ruffles...I'm not sure about fringe or bows.I hope the colors stay fresh and bright!

9 years ago

Elly

Veteran

I agree that these features look fresh-- they just don't fit my personal style. I will wear the more masculine parts of the retro trends and leave the ruffles to the overtly feminine ladies.

9 years ago

Susie

Veteran

I am with Elly....they may look fresh but don't fit my style. I have learned to never say never but I don't see myself embracing ruffles, flounces or bows. I do like flares and would consider wearing a bit of fringe.

I feel torn sometimes, between wanting to embrace trends- to remain current- and wanting to have a defined style that remains consistent despite fashion trends. Perhaps picking and choosing like this (yes to flares, no to bows) is the happy medium.

9 years ago

Word Lily

Veteran

I like flares, but I've never really liked ruffles, flounces, bows, or fringe, on me. Well, there have been a few romantic blouses in my past, and I might embrace them now, too, if I found them, but they're not calling to me.

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm. I will have to deliberate on this.

A flared trouser, certainly. A peplum? Yes. A restrained bow blouse....perhaps, with some reservations; I don't want to be fussing with it.

Some lace at the sleeve cuff? Sure...there's my Romantic Dandy Poet coming out. I can even envision a jabot...with the right equestrienne accoutrements.

But most ruffles look ridiculous on me. And fringe, except perhaps on a tassel, leaves me cold.

9 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Your eyes are going to adjust to these design details - even if it's just in small doses - mark my words.

A few further thoughts, ladies:

No need t follow trends that you don't like. It's all about FILTERING. The Personal in Personal Style is the operative word.
No need to wear all these design details at once. It's ALL in the styling. As Peri puts it - add a good dose of Futurism, or Modern as I would say.
Ruffles, bows and flounce are not created equally. There are countless options for all sorts of style personas. Those of you into avant-garde drape are actually "flouncing" (some of you already ruffle-ling!) so try to keep an open mind. Bet that caught you off guard.
Ties are a type of bow.
Fabric is key, and creates different integrities for these design details.

Viva, high fiving you on your comment. I am right there with you. Go Team Pretty.

Shedev, don't worry. Your hard edged look is still in style. You can high five Greyscale and Debs from Oz.

Elly same goes for you and Tomboy. Still in style.

Always Trying, I've done the '70s thing too, and we can absolutely do these looks again - with a good dose of Modern - if they tickle our fancy. Bows and ruffles can look architectural and crisp.

Cheryle, Maneera and Diana, I can see these fab design features come through in your styles already. Diana is Queen Flounce.

9 years ago

Alassë

Veteran

I haven't stopped wearing mine, so I'm definitely in.

9 years ago

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

To Angie's point: There are so many ways to do ruffles and bows. Some have architectural detailing and can be so modern.

For example, I love these dresses with bow-back detailing. The 'bow' is so understated; yet hard to miss! They look modern to my eye...and oh-so-fabulous!

9 years ago

Anonymous

I would definitely give all these features a go Angie!

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I like the reminder that one detail at once is fine. For me, that is enough -- load them on and I begin to feel in costume -- give me an otherwise streamlined outfit with a peplum or a simple ruffle like on Viva's and Cheryle's Zara blouse, and I am in.

9 years ago

merwoman

Veteran

I'm all for adding a bit of volume to my silhouette so am looking forward to trying on strategically flounced and ruffled outfits!

9 years ago

deb

Veteran

I have never cared for bows nor ruffles, even as a child. They scream girly to me and I have never been girly. The fringe I might be able to do again. And as you know, I am already on board for the flares. Currently I am looking for a second pair.

9 years ago

Anonymous

Normally I'm a late adopter and as Rliza points out, I should also be feeling traumatised by all those pussy bow blouses that were the office uniform when I started work. But I'm surprisingly on board for all of these--as long as the bows are soft and drapey, not little girl. And you're right Angie, I'm already ruffling: can't wait for the heatwave to abate so I can break out my ruffle-hem skirt. These features are all very ladylike to me.

9 years ago

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