It's an oldie, but it's a goodie. The bow, in all of its various incarnations, will never die.
This time round, the simple knot of fabric is enjoying a rebirth in the form of oversized froth - these bows aren't designed to hold anything up, of course, but they make an attention-grabbing decorative splash and look as pretty as can be.
They were all over the runways at spring summer 2011 shows last year, and the look has filtered onto red carpets and into parties from Italy to California.
Two takes on a trend: Gwyneth Paltrow, left, wears her bow behind, while Kate Moss goes for a décolletage tie
Ms Paltrow never seems to tire of a large bow. The Contagion star wore a gargantuan one on a short pink Gucci frock in 2008 - and reinvigorated the look this summer at the Venice Film Festival.
Her blushing nude Prada gown was the height of elegance, completed with the icing-on-the-top silk bow.
More playful, but equally chic, was Kate Moss' cleavage covering number. The newlywed's black bow topped a slinky playsuit at Stella McCartney's 40th birthday party in London over the weekend.
Julianne Moore looked as ladylike as ever - fresh from her Talbots campaign and rushing to a special screening of Big Lebowski in New York last month, the classic beauty kept things monochrome with a sharp white number brightening up her simple black shift dress.
Chalk and cheese: Julianne Moore channels monochrome elegance in her bow, while Nicki Minaj goes for a babydoll baker look
For every couple of simple takes on a look, there's always one that is anything but. Nicki Minaj looked like she had had a run-in with a candy store when she graced the front row of Prabal Gurung's show - pity those who sat behind the obstruction - at New York Fashion Week on Saturday.
The pop singer's massive head bow matched her pink hair extensions as well as her giant pretzel necklace, her trademark Mac Pink 4 Friday lipstick - and half of her bizarre bra.
Then there was, of course, the great Kardashian wedding bow. Kris Jenner, never one to be upstaged, garnered almost as much attention for her enormous Vera Wang-designed bow as her daughter Kim Kardashian did on her special day.
White, strategically placed and wider than her shoulders, the detail was a touch on the excessive side - giving even Nicki Minaj's pink spectacle a run for its money at the Montecito nuptials last month.
Kardashian Knot: Kris Jenner's bow at daughter Kim Kardashian's wedding stretched oversize to its very limit, stealing the limelight somewhat
Meanwhile, Cheryl Cole, ex-X Factor U.S. host, hit two birds with one stone by combining polka dots with her fashionable detail in Chicago.
Thankfully, she wore the look in black and white, steering clear of bright colours that would have taken the outfit straight from playfully demure to clown-like odd.
As much as her bow attempted to distract attention from her exposed décolletage, Courtney Love's take on the trend remained overshadowed by her flash of breast.
Full-marks to the Hole rocker for originality, though: The positioning of the off-white gown's midriff bow is a statement in itself with most oversized bows appearing around the shoulders and neck.
Pop princesses: While Cheryl Cole, left, mixed the look with black spots, Hole singer Courtney Love admirably managed to make a girly bow look grungy
She's also the only star we have spotted who is able to make a bow look edgy, and, dare we say it, faintly grungy.
Besides the stars, bows are everywhere on the high street, too. Forever 21's Fall line is full of the feminine design - as decoration on shirts, around necks as motifs. They aren't as pumped-up as those on some A-listers' outfits, but they are possibly more wearable come this autumn.
Urban Outfitters has a range of headwraps and hair clips and Topshop is replete with large head bows and bow detail shoes, dresses and shirts. It's enough to make anyone look good enough to unwrap.
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