The hair bow proves to be beauty's version of a little black dress or ballet flats; a perennial favourite that moves with the times without ever falling out of favour. No one knows this better than the Princess of Wales.
She brought out all the sartorial classics for her appearance at the 80th Celebration of VE Day yesterday: an impeccably tailored ensemble from Self-Portrait, pearl necklace, and yes, an oversized black velvet bow as a cherry on top.
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For the formal affair, the Princess elevated her bow by keeping the rest of her hair immaculately polished with a voluminous bouffant along the crown and tumbling, glossy S-waves. Her lengths also appear to be in a lighter, more sunkissed brunette hue compared to her previous appearance just the day before.
The Princess' take on the black bow proves that it's truly the one accessory that stands the test of time. Bow placement and the finish of the hair is key to ensuring it looks grown-up.
'On the Princess, we see it styled with a slightly loose hairstyle, which works beautifully. It complements both straight and wavy textures, but also looks really effective with a tighter, more snatched style, too,' says hairstylist Dalibor Vrtina.
Fasten it on the back of the head - around the same level as the top of your ears - for a sophisticated vibe. Any higher can feel coquettish and trendy, while a lower placement risks appearing busy when there's a necklace present. Adding a soft bouffant ala the Princess' creates a silhouette that feels a little more dressed-up than just a flat finish, too.
This isn't the first time she's turned to the bow. She's previously worn smaller versions of them in varying ponytails back in 2018.
'For those over 40, the bow is a very practical option. Many don’t have time for regular salon visits, and a bow offers an easy, stylish twist they can do themselves at home. It instantly adds elegance and a touch of personality to any look,' says Vrtina.
Proving that it's a style that works across ages, 10-year old Princess Charlotte is also a big fan of the bow.
A style staple both on and off the runways (see: Chanel, Giambatistta Valli and stars such as Brigit Bardot, Margot Robbie and Zoë Kravitz), the black hair bow continues to be one of the most elegant and versatile hair accessories around. Long may it reign.
ELLE Edit: Black Hair Bows
Braid and Bow Black Hair Bow
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Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.
![jodie turner smith new bob met gala new york, new york may 05: jodie turner smith attends the 2025 met gala celebrating superfine: tailoring black style at metropolitan museum of art on may 05, 2025 in new york city. (photo by dimitrios kambouris/getty images for the met museum/vogue)](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-2213610212-688772f19e73e.jpg?crop=0.500xw:0.750xh;0.257xw,0.0204xh&resize=360:* "Jodie Turner-Smith new bob The 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" - Arrivals")
