bow talks

Anyone besides me old enough to remember the year actress Sharon Stone ditched her gown in favor of wearing a Valentino skirt and Gap tee shirt to the Oscars? Coolest move ever, in my book. And not just because of the serious I-don’t-care-what-anyone-thinks-aura that it gave her, but also because she looked, possibly, hotter than any other belle at the ball.

And designers have been dressing up the old tee shirt ever since. Interestingly, this year, it’s with bows, which I’m seeing on EVERYTHING—not just tee shirts, but secured to necklaces, handbags, shoes, even rainboots. (Just bought this pair by Kate Spade at T.J. Maxx.)

My Kate Spade rain boots--$79 at T.J. Maxx ($125 everywhere else).

But I digress. The bow tee is decidedly cute; it adds a dressed-up, feminine touch to a hardworking wardrobe staple, and elevates it to something almost dressy. What I cannot understand, however, is how any designer–thank you, Mr. Valentino–can justify adding hundreds of dollars to the price of a small cotton garment, just because he or she has also added a certain satin or leather enhancement. (Actually, I can understand that. What I can’t understand is why anyone would fall for it.)