Boutique Hairbows - Top to Toe

It is hard to imagine the “Boutique Look” without some great big bows to finish it off.  Once your baby has progressed from Boutique headbands it is time to progress to some great big bows!  Boutique Hairbows have a  long and proud tradition on ebay.
Whilst teenagers today might be sporting a minibow here and there, nothing can compete with the oversized loop the loop hairbows residing in boutique land!

Bows by Bowznstuff

Boutique Hairbows - tips and tricks

There is no denying it, Boutique Hairbows are BIG.  But you can get them to stay put.  You can often choose between an alligator clip and a barrette.  For ease of use and placement you cannot go past an alligator clip BUT at the end of the day if you want to make sure that bow isn’t going anywhere then the barrette is your best friend.  It is important to have tight hair.  You can’t just use the hairbow to tie back the hair.  It is a decoration, not a styling aid.  For best Boutique Hairbow results you need to secure the hair tightly in a piggie, pony etc.  Use a nice firm elastic and then slide the barrette on just in front of the elastic where the hair is nice and tight.  Click the barrette shut and there you have it - the total Boutique look!

Boutique Hairbows - a brief history.

5 years ago the boutique custom landscape on ebay was a TOTALLY different place to the community we know today.  It was a world of Srann , Jzcustoms, Sweetbettyco and Mudpiesnpigtails. Groups were fewer and VERY exclusive - the Stitchinchicks, ODOD, the Jaynes and the Threadin Betties.  Sophie was THE ebay model and we mooned over little Alison, Chloe and Shannon. And when it came to bows who can forget Michelle Carver - of Jacqueline’s Closet.  Boy do you remember those bows - more importantly do you remember those auctions!!  Complete stories all set up with Jacqueline posing with a full array of props…oh they were a site to behold! The lady was even known to paint ribbon to match her fav Oilily lines before the ribbon manufacturers caught up. There are some boutiquers who don’t just make boutique they help create it - and to my mind Michelle is one of these people - helping to define the total boutique look! Michelle had retired from Bow Making but you can still catch up with her on her blogs here.

Do these bring back any memories?

And then of course there was GirlieGirlBowtique - those classic bows - oh how we wondered how she got such perfect loops - her me page was a virtual who’s who of Ebay Big names wearing those fantastic bows.  Shannon was also a pioneer with her M2M Gymboree forum that you could pay to belong to to get the exact ribbon matches for new Gymbo lines.

Here are some examples of Shannon’s Bow perfection!

The very first Bow group the Bowfairies were a force to behold.  A select group that rocked the ebay world - but did not include Michelle or Shannon.  The Bowfairies represented bowmakers from every big name group at the time and pioneered the Bow Challenge  - goodness how exciting they were! Ebay had so much more mystery about it back then - pre blog, very little communication between groups, the guest launch didn’t exist - nope you have to hand it to the Ebay ladies back then, they sure knew how to create an air of mystique.  And then came the blog, the ebook, the guest launch, the second, third and fourth bow groups and so much of that air of mystery was lost.  Early hairbow instructions were offered by Cutey Pie Clips, and the super dooper expensive Lamb Hairbow instructions at 19.99!  When Girlie*Girl*Bowtique first offered her instructions, if my memory serves me correctly I ‘think’ they were priced at $35.

Boutique Hairbows - today.

In 2009 Boutique Hairbows are bigger and better than ever.  To sell a hairbow today for high $$$ ALL the bows and whistles are necessary. Sewn on embellishments, sparkle, maybe even a matching clippie or three!    So what kinds of hairbows are big stuff today.

One lady who started back in the ‘good ole days’ and is still going strong as her original Bow Mates have bitten the dust is the indefatigable EmmaSaxton!  Here you will find a wide range of bows and hair accessories but for my mind you can’t go past her “Classic Boutique Bow” 1.5″ base, topped with V cuts, 3/8″ and or 5/5″ loops, a PERFECT 7/8″ bow with a knotted centre - *sigh* - perfection! When you want classic it does not come any better than this.

And when it comes to big ole fun bows I really don’t think you can go past Jumpin Jilli Bean Baby Bow perfection..her me page also reads like a who’s who of the Boutique world.

If its a mismatched look you are after, then Bowznstuff is your girl - with bows made mainly to match her own sets here you will find bows quite unlike any other. Instructions are also available

One realtive newcomer to the Boutique Hairbow world yet like applique, revived from the 80’s is the loopy Bow.  Brought back by DoodlesBowtique here is a classic example of a loopy bow by The*Fun*Fairy*Boutique.

Today the aspiring Hairbow maker is spoiled for choice with instructions readily availble from individual sellers and from You Can Make This

Have fun with your Hairbows - and if you Princess is still little- pop em in while you can!  The Big Hairbow phase is regreattably, short lived!