Pussy-Bow Blouse Pattern

Pussy Bow Blouse

Where did the name for this blouse come from?

The pussy-bow blouse dates back to the early 20th century when in 1934, the St Petersburg Times advertised a pattern for a collar that could be worn in four different ways, one of which included an ‘intriguingly feminine pussy-cat bow tied high under your chin’. Named for its resemblance to the traditional bow that would be tied around the neck of a kitten, the blouse found its way into popular fashion and in the 1960s, pussy bows became a fixture in American fashion houses, having been featured by designers such as Coco Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent.