Oxford shirts, dickeys, pants, brogues ... and the pussy bow. These basic staples of the modern working woman's wardrobe were once the domain of menswear – only.

The pussy bow may have started as a response to menswear, but over the years women have made it ALLLL our own. Below: (left) Lady Gaga walks the runway at Marc Jacobs; (top center) DIY pussy bow on Man Repeller, inspired from the Gucci runway; (right) Le Cou Olympia bow in Midnight; (bottom, center) Vogue's look at ways to wear the pussy bow. 

Menswear inspired pieces have made their way into women's fashion for over a century now, but the 1970s and 1980s were especially notable for menswear-as-womenswear looks for professional women. "We used to dress in suits, with a skirt and a jacket, with button down shirts and a bow tie. That was sort of our interpretation of the man's tie. I look back at those pictures today, and I think 'What were we thinking?!' – but it was our attempt to be feminine, but to fit into what was then a male world," says Meg Whitman, CEO of Hewlitt-Packard, in the documentary on the history of modern feminism, Makers: Women Who Make America.

In the 1980s, Whitman was in good company as far as pussy bows go.. like Linda Alvarado, badass entrepreneur (not to mention co-owner of a baseball team), or Senator Elizabeth Warren owning the room, and a pussy bow, in 1986. For more inspiration about glass-ceiling-breaking women, check out the documentary.  

Pussybow Trifecta, from left to right: Meg Whitman, Linda Alvarado, Elizabeth Warren

And what about the name? In this piece on the pussy bow, Jezebel writer Tracie Egan Morrissey sums up her take on the less-than-conventional garment name: "Since pussy bows were invented to be a sort of 'girlie tie' it would appear that the name actually refers to the euphemism for female genitalia. Frankly, I think that makes it more awesome." 

Nowadays, do we wear ties because men wear ties? Nope! Personally, I love a good lady bowtie because THIS:

Check out our Know Your Bows video tutorials for tying the perfect pussy bow. Pictured below: Le Cou Olympia in Black & Cream Gingham. 

Looking for a pre-tied bow option instead? We've got you covered. Check out or Anika Bow – surely Senator Warren would love this update, right?

Le Cou Know Your Bows video credits: Photography: Jacob Hinmon at Four + One Photography / Model: Skye Welten / Hair and Makeup: Jodi Vaughn

(Le Cou photo credits from collage above: Photographer Evie McShane / Stylist Pauline Kim / Makeup Monica Ninh / Model Melonie Mitchell)