If you like it then you should’ve put a ribbon on it

We never really stopped playing dress up, did we?

Sure, maybe we’ve been stripped of the title and the playground cred that accompanies it, but Gen Z fashion is championed by a two-fold, delicate balance: the youthful nature of experimentation and the cool-factor of nostalgia from decades past.

As a generation widely known for our prioritization of sustainable fashion practices and mental health, the therapeutic buzz of “healing your inner child” has not only threaded its way into the fabric of our beings, but also the clothes that we choose to dress ourselves in.

So, here we are. Samba shoelaces, silk camisole straps, cowboy boot tassels, hair elastic decorations  — you name it. Ribbon-made bows are adorning just about every article of clothing imaginable, and this trend is certainly here for the long haul.

It would be remiss not to mention that bows have been a prominent motif throughout fashion history. A longtime symbol of femininity and status, ancient Sumerian hair ribbons previously displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art date back to as early as 2600-2500 BCE.

Granted, these ribbons were made with gold, but it’s arguable that the societal value they currently hold is even more esteemed than their socioeconomic symbolism throughout history.

Now, ribbon or similar narrow fabrics might find us before we even think to seek them out. Everything from hanger straps of summer dresses to gift bag closures have been used as bow-fuel for the sought after fashion detail.

Bows have effectively infiltrated the growing list of Gen Z dominated digital subcultures — coquette, balletcore, cottagecore and other hyper feminine aesthetics — early on, and have since made their way onto pieces as casual as oversized sweaters and denim.

But still, one might pose the question: Why ribbon and why now?

Ribbon is an accessory that’s, well, accessible. With greater access, there is room for more creative freedom. And after the summer of girlhood, ruled by Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” takeover, it was only a matter of time until the colorful material answered the call to this rekindling of childlike crafts.

There’s a freedom in embracing the individualistic essence of the ribbon-to-bow process, a familiar but often discouraged sense of creativity in fashion that women face as they enter adulthood. But particularly for Gen Z women, there is a simultaneous recalling of the “internet big sister” figures that encouraged DIY culture, but were momentarily lost in the shuffle of growing up.

Commonly known as “lifestyle YouTubers” during their 2015-2017 viewership peaks, this female-dominated niche produced countless videos featuring picturesque daily routines made aspirational through practical, yet trendy arts and crafts.

Some of the most well-known creators included Lauren Riihimaki (LaurDIY), Eva Gutowski (MyLifeAsEva), Alisha Marie, Meredith Foster, and Meghan Rienks — with the latter four creators traveling across several states to host the “Girls Night In Tour” in 2015.

DIY flower crowns and Halloween costumes ring a bell, anyone?

But as these creators and their viewers aged up, so did the content made and consumed. The inevitable style shift, both literally and figuratively, became less saturated and more serious.

However, as the notorious year of 2020 came along, lockdown restrictions brought about an ample amount of downtime to reconnect with the crafty habits so many of us subscribed to during those formative years.

With less money to spend and little else to do, upcycling thrifted clothes or what was already hanging in our closets became an increasingly popular hobby. Plus, many of those same YouTubers expanded their reach to the short-form world of TikTok.

Whether they are reacting to their old videos, reintroducing themselves or offering more creative life hacks, just the resurfacing of their profiles alone have inspired Gen Z viewers to lean into do-it-yourself glory once again.

From bows to beaded friendship bracelets, there is a collective sense of creativity that unites and empowers us as young women. These vivid, youthful displays of style offer a rather blunt statement of modern femininity: I will wear what I want, and I will be taken seriously regardless.

That wraps things up quite nicely. But hey, don’t forget to add a bow.