Pussy What?

I confess, I was a bit offended when one of the characters on my favorite television show walked on scene wearing a pussy bow blouse recently.

The show – Grey’s Anatomy – has long been known for putting women front and center. Strong female characters on screen, important topics like abortion rights and domestic violence, and women in roles from producers and directors, to writers and camera operators.

So the pussy bow surprised me. I’ve always thought of the fashion as something women had to wear in the 70s and 80s; a requisite corporate uniform to simulate the male necktie. Right?

Wrong.

Not a euphemism – originally anyhow – the pussy bow “tied high under your chin” was named after a ribbon one might tie around a kitten’s neck. It first appeared as a design in the early 20th century, and was considered highly feminine. It was a favorite of movie stars in the 1940s and 50s, and later picked up by designers like Coco Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. But, “over the years the pussy-bow blouse has evolved into a symbol of power for women in popular culture,” writes Bethany Armitage from CraftWorld.

“In the 1960s and 70s, as new opportunities began to grow and develop for working women, so did the popularity of the blouse. Trailblazing women who led the way to the top of their corporate careers had no established examples of how to dress and so looked to their male counterparts for cues. The blouse emulated an alternative to the traditional suit and tie, combining masculine work wear with a frill of femininity which made it an ideal choice for women who were looking to stand out and make an impact in a male-dominated environment.”

Fast forward a few decades, and apparently, the pussy bow blouse is making a big comeback. Again. It’s considered retro and vintage. A fashion statement. It’s a sign of female power, as well as a humble nod to the women who boldly stepped into the workforce and never, ever, looked back.