A full-blown romantic detail, the bow elegantly completes any wedding dress. Sì Sposatalia Collezioni talks to exhibitors and buyers to understand how big a role the bow has played, and continues to play, in the female imagination come the big day.

The bow: evergreen, great classic or trend?

"In my opinion, the bow is one of the most important elements when it comes to giving the wedding dress character and vitality" comments Antonio Riva, Owner & Designer at Maison ANTONIO RIVA MILANO. "It is always present in my collections and is one of my distinctive traits".

"A real classic, an evergreen" - responds Giuseppe Papini, designer at Giuseppe Papini Atelier- "Then if we want to talk about a trend, that’s what determines the size"

"The bow is a real classic in our collections. We play with fabrics and styles to create unexpected looks that can shock and amaze our customers" - underlines Michela Ferriero, designer for the Avellino-based brand of the same name.

What is your bow? Any hallmarks? Is it recognisable?

Antonio Riva: "My bow is not just an accessory but an integral part of the construction of the dresses. It changes with each collection, getting an update in its style and shape to take on a true ‘scenographic’ structure".

Giuseppe Papini: "The Giuseppe Papini bow is extremely recognisable in that it is always a half bow, whatever the size".

Micro or mega? Where to position it?

Antonio Riva: "I prefer oversized bows that are generally positioned on the back of the dress. I construct and model them thanks also to the fabrics - like mikado - which allow me to transform them into sartorial sculptures". 

Giuseppe Papini: "Depending on the inspiration and the lines of the dresses, a bow can be of any size. For the purposes of comfort, it’s often positioned on the back, where a belt fastens".

Michela Ferriero: "The size of our bows varies depending on the line of the dress, as it is a very versatile detail able to bring new light and character to a design".

And what do buyers think?

Do brides love a bow? "Not all brides" comments Andrea Majorca, buyer for Le Spose di Majorca Showroom. This is also confirmed by Grazia Innao from Kartika Sposa who explains: "Generally, brides choose it as a detail on simpler dresses".

A simple or precious detail? "Simple" according to Andrea Majorca while Grazia Innao thinks that "on simple dresses, it’s a precious detail but I wouldn’t suggest it on a more structured dress".

A great classic or fashion? Andrea Majorca has no doubts: "The bow definitely belongs to the world of fashion and trends" and Grazia Innao confirms: "The bow is fashion, perfect if created in mikado, beautiful if positioned at the waist".