“A lavaliere, also called a pussycat bow, is a style of neckwear often associated with women’s and girls’ blouses and bodices. It takes the form of a bow tied at the neck similar to those sometimes tied around the necks of kittens and cats” from Wikipedia. Well, it just makes sense that I am head over heels for the look of the vintage pussy bows at the moment. After all, I am all about kitty cats!
Our beautiful feline is not the only reason I love this darling style of vintage blouse. I especially love the gorgeous feminine touch it brings to a tailored suit or how it looks so sweet under a cardigan.
Women have been wearing bows around the neck for centuries, however the term “pussy cat bow” did not take hold until the 1950s. Prior to that, the style was coined “lavallière” after Duchess of La Vallière (mistress of Louis XIV). The earlier style was a bit more elaborate like a man’s cravat. The more elaborate style was also worn by the Gibson Girl of the 1890s. This earlier style is not what the theme of this post is about, I just wanted to give you a very brief timeline as a “jumping off” point if you are interested in learning more.
What we are talking about today is the 1950s style of blouse with a bow around the neck, the Pussy Bow Blouse. “The pussy-bow blouse was a perfect mix of masculine and feminine—an impeccable wardrobe choice for women laboring in a man’s world” from Paste Magazine. We saw this style being worn by Peggy Olson and Joan Holloway in Mad Men.
I was on the hunt for some cute pussy bow blouses to add to my 1950s/1960s inspired wardrobe and found that Shien had quiet a few to offer. Here is a recent haul I made to help inspire you.
Items Mentioned and featured in this haul include:
Plus Vertical Stripe Tie Neck Blouse
Plus Polka Dot Tie Neck Blouse
Plus Allover Heart Print Tie Neck Blouse
Plus Floral Shirred O-ring Half Zip Blouse
Plus Button Front Drop Shoulder Blouse
Plus Notch Neck Sleeveless Top
Plus Bow Front Flared Midi Skirt: This is the black full / a line skirt I am wearing with the first two blouses. It is so versatile.
135CM Plus 3pcs Leopard Print Croc Embossed Belt: These are the true PLUS SIZE skinny belts that are mentioned in so many of my hauls. The black belt I use with the Heart Blouse is part of this trio.
I hope you enjoyed this blog and got some inspiration to help you with your vintage inspired fashion needs. Finding vintage clothing is a fun, yet challenging endeavor. This is especially true for plus size gals, like me. I will continue to share what I find so that we can all feel and look our best in the decade we all so love!!!
XOXO
Tiffany
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