From @andicsinger to the Chanel runway, bows are having a moment. The bow in knitwear is far more than a decorative detail. Across centuries, it has carried meanings of femininity, status, romance, and craftsmanship.
Schiaparelli's bow sweater, 1927
One of the earliest iconic examples is Elsa Schiaparelli's bow sweater, designed in 1927 for what Paris fashion press called "sport types." The trompe-l'oeil design, a bow knitted directly into the fabric rather than attached, gained immediate attention, appearing in Vogue and worn by Glenna Collett, winner of the 1929 US Women's Amateur golf championship.
Schiaparelli's genius was structural: the bow was not an add-on but integral to the knit. That distinction, ornament versus construction, is still relevant to how designers approach the motif today.
The design quickly gained popularity, featuring in Vogue and famously worn by Glenna Collett, winner of the 1929 Women’s National Golf Championship. Bows have long been associated with elegance and charm, their influence extending beyond fashion into interior design, transforming spaces into havens of style.
Bows on the modern runway and in street style
Elle Fanning wore a prominent bow at the Gucci Cruise Show in London, and again in a casual Gucci look reminiscent of Schiaparelli's original sweater. On the red carpet, Michelle Williams has demonstrated that a well-placed bow can function as a primary accessory rather than an afterthought.More recently, bows have appeared on the modern runway and off-duty street style.
And again, in a casual Gucci look reminiscent of Schiaparelli’s original sweater.
Even on the red carpet, bows remain a subtle but powerful accessory as Michelle Williams show us, a simple bow is the best accessory.
The Maxted bow cardigan
Our Bow Cardigan offers a contemporary take on this motif. Softer and more relaxed than past iterations, it features a relaxed neckline and three delicate bows along the centre placket. Layer it over tailored trousers for a polished look, or with denim for an off-duty feel.
"We kept coming back to the bow because it works at every scale — as a single detail on a placket or as the concept the whole garment is built around." — [Caroline, Head of Maxted]
Crafted in a brushed yarn developed through many rounds of sampling, the cardigan sits close without pulling. We rejected early versions because the brush obscured the bow definition. The final construction keeps the halo effect in the body while the bow retains its crisp edge.
The Bow Cardigan is available now in chocolate and charcoal. Shop it here.
