Bow Blouses and Tie Neck Blouses: 18 Designer Picks and How to Tie Them

Bow blouses and tie neck blouses each draw about 6,600 Google searches a month worldwide, and gingham blouses another 4,400. A bow at the neck is the oldest trick in tailoring: it softens a strict suit and gives a plain skirt a focal point. This edit separates the pussy bow, the tie neck and the bow tie, explains how to tie each one, and picks the 18 best designer bow and tie neck blouses at Coveti, led by the new navy gingham bow-tie blouse from Dice Kayek.

Key facts

• Demand: “bow blouse” 6,600 searches a month worldwide, “tie neck blouse” 6,600, “gingham blouse” 4,400.
• The edit: 18 blouses from 15 houses, $410 to $4,310.
• Best fabrics for a bow: silk twill and poplin hold a knot; chiffon and georgette give long, soft ties.
• Peak season: searches for tie neck blouses are highest from October to January.

Pussy bow, tie neck and bow tie: what is the difference?

A pussy bow is a long scarf-like tie sewn to the neckline and knotted into a soft, floppy bow. A tie neck uses the same ties but can be worn knotted, bowed and left loose. A bow tie blouse has a smaller, firmer bow, sometimes fixed, often in a stiffer cloth. The Dice Kayek gingham blouse has an oversized bow in silk organza, which stands up instead of falling.

How to tie a bow blouse

1. Cross the ties at the neck, with the left one longer.
2. Make a loop with the shorter tie and wrap the longer tie around it.
3. Pull the longer tie through the back of the knot to make the second loop.
4. Even out the loops and leave the tails a little uneven; it looks less stiff.

For a softer look, knot the ties once and let them hang. For a sharper one, tie the bow to the side.

How to wear a bow blouse

• With a suit: a bow blouse under a dark blazer is the classic office look. See peplum jackets and blazers.
• With a knit: wear a crew neck jumper over a bow blouse and pull the bow out at the neck.
• With jeans: a printed bow blouse, straight jeans and a loafer.
• For evening: velvet and chiffon bows with a satin skirt.

The 18 best designer bow and tie neck blouses

1. Dice Kayek Navy Gingham Bow-Tie Blouse, $2,170

Navy and white gingham in silk organza with puffed sleeves and an oversized bow. The most graphic bow in the edit.

2. Dice Kayek Polka-Dot Silk Blouse with Bow Tie in Black and White Dots, $1,930

Black and white polka dots with a bow tie at the neck. The classic secretary blouse, done in silk.

3. Dice Kayek Silk Blouse with Bow Tie in Brown Stripe, $1,930

A brown stripe with a bow tie, very good with camel trousers.

4. Dice Kayek Polka-Dot Bow-Tie Shirt in Black and White Dots, $1,620

A polka dot shirt with a smaller bow tie. Neater than the blouse, and easier under a jacket.

5. Carolina Herrera Chiffon Pussy-Bow Blouse, $3,260

A chiffon pussy-bow from Carolina Herrera. Soft, long ties that fall to the waist.

6. Dolce and Gabbana Chiffon pussy-bow blouse, $2,720

A chiffon pussy-bow blouse from Dolce and Gabbana, the house that made the shape its own.

7. Max Mara Zattera Silk Georgette Pussy-Bow Blouse in Black, $990

Black silk georgette with a pussy bow, and the best value designer bow blouse here.

8. Oscar de la Renta Argyle Tie-Neck Silk Twill Blouse, $4,310

An argyle print on silk twill with a tie neck. Twill gives the bow body, so it holds a knot.

9. Alexander McQueen Wallpaper Floral Tie-Neck Shirt, $2,880

A floral tie-neck shirt from Alexander McQueen. The print does the talking.

10. Viktor and Rolf Pussy Bow Poplin Circle Blouse in White, $1,040

White poplin with a pussy bow. Poplin makes the bow crisp and graphic.

11. Zimmermann Echo Tie Neck Blouse, $1,130

A Zimmermann tie neck blouse with a long, soft tie.

12. Zimmermann Ascent Pussybow Blouse, $1,210

A Zimmermann pussybow blouse, romantic and feminine.

13. Toteme Ribbed Bow Blouse in Black, $680

A minimal black bow blouse from Toteme. The bow is the only decoration.

14. The Frankie Shop Peri Tie Neck Shirt in Navy, $410

A navy tie neck shirt, and the most affordable piece in the edit.

15. Ulla Johnson Vesa Long Sleeve Velvet Bow Blouse in Jadeite, $1,020

Velvet with a bow, in a deep jade. The bow blouse for the party season.

16. Needle and Thread Wisteria Pussy Bow Blouse in White and Pink, $660

A pussy bow with embroidery from Needle and Thread.

17. Leo Lin Cora Bow Blouse in Serene Print, $980

A printed bow blouse from Leo Lin, ties at the neck.

18. Scanlan Theodore Gingham Shirt in Honey, $490

A gingham shirt in honey from Scanlan Theodore, for the gingham without the bow.

Shop more

All designer blouses and designer shirts, plus puff and balloon sleeve blouses and sheer and organza blouses.

Frequently asked questions

What is a pussy bow blouse?

A blouse with long ties sewn to the neckline, knotted into a soft, floppy bow at the throat.

What is the difference between a tie neck and a pussy bow blouse?

They use the same ties. A pussy bow is worn tied in a bow, while a tie neck can be worn bowed, knotted and loose.

Are bow blouses in style for 2026?

Yes. Bow blouses and tie neck blouses each draw about 6,600 searches a month worldwide, and the houses showing them this season include Dice Kayek, Carolina Herrera, Zimmermann and Toteme.

How do you wear a bow blouse without looking too formal?

Wear it with straight jeans and a loafer, untie the bow and let the ties hang, and choose a print instead of a plain colour.

What fabric is best for a bow blouse?

Silk twill and cotton poplin hold a crisp knot. Chiffon and georgette give a long, soft bow.

Can you wear a bow blouse under a jumper?

Yes. A crew neck knit over a bow blouse, with the bow pulled out at the neck, is one of the easiest ways to wear it.

Sources and method

Checked on 26 October 2026 by Gemma Deeks, Fashion Editor at Coveti. Prices and stock are the live Coveti catalogue on that date and move with stock; only full-price pieces in stock were included. Search demand figures are worldwide Google monthly averages from DataForSEO and Ahrefs, read the same day.

• Coveti live catalogue, 26 October 2026: prices, sizes and stock
• Coveti, logistics and returns protocol

Gemma Deeks is Fashion Editor at Coveti.