A bow top is a small piece doing a big job. One ribbon at the neckline gives a plain fitted tee or cami a focal point, so everything around it can stay quiet, and that's how I've styled the 25 outfits below. The bottoms carry the mood, from low-rise denim and boxer shorts to satin and tailored trousers, while the top stays the same close-fitting Brandy-style piece. Most of these tops are cut short, so the real styling decision is where the hem meets your waistband. Get that right and the rest is shoes, one layer and very little jewelry.
The One-Size Fit and Where It Lands on You
Many Brandy Melville tops come in a single size, cut small and close to the body, and the bow styles are no exception. One size sits very differently on different torsos, so before you style anything, I'd check three things in a mirror.
- Length. On a long torso the hem can end well above the navel, so plan on high-rise bottoms. On a short torso the same top may reach the waistband on its own.
- The bust. A fitted rib stretches across a fuller chest and lifts the hem at the front. If the bow pulls flat or the front rides up higher than the back, the top is simply too small, and no styling trick fixes that.
- The straps. Thin straps dig into broad shoulders and slip off narrow ones. Lift your arms and turn around; if a strap slides, you'll be pushing it back all day.
The Bra Under a Bow Neckline
A bow top sits close and usually has thin straps or a low scoop, so the bra shows more than people expect. I use a smooth T-shirt bra in a shade close to your skin, which disappears under white and pale pink far better than a white bra does. For spaghetti straps, a convertible bra worn crossed or as a halter keeps the straps out of sight. Ribbed cotton shows lace texture straight through, so save lacy bralettes for darker tops.
1. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Low-Rise Jeans
Low-rise straight-leg jeans give this the clearest early-2000s read, and they're also the least forgiving pairing on the list. With a short fitted top, a low waistband leaves a band of midriff showing, so decide up front whether you want that. Light wash keeps it soft for daytime; dark denim makes a pale bow pop. I'd add retro sneakers, a compact shoulder bag and one pendant, then stop. If low-rise feels exposed, a relaxed mid-rise jean gives the same slouchy line and closes the gap by an inch or two.
2. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Denim Shorts
Denim shorts are the easiest summer partner for a bow top, because cotton denim and cotton rib both cope with heat and constant washing. I reach for high-rise cutoffs when the top is cropped, since the waistband then meets the hem instead of leaving a gap. Longer, looser shorts lean more streetwear. White sneakers and crew socks keep it walkable, and an open cotton button-down adds cover without weight. Skip heavily distressed bags or chunky chains. Frayed hems are already enough texture next to a small bow.
3. Brandy Melville Bow Top With White Maxi Skirt
A white maxi skirt gives a fitted Brandy Melville Bow Top the most romantic setting on this list. The skirt needs movement, so I look for cotton poplin or soft tiers that swing when you walk, which balances how close the top fits. White skirts often turn see-through in daylight. Hold yours up to a window before you leave, and if you can see your hand, wear nude bike shorts or a slip underneath. Flat leather sandals keep it summery, a burgundy or black top gives the sharpest contrast, and a low bun keeps the bow in view.
4. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Pleated Mini Skirt
This is the preppy version, and the pleats do most of the work. A navy or plaid mini adds structure that a soft rib top lacks, and loafers with white ankle socks push it in a schoolgirl direction. Check how the pleats sit before you commit: if they spread open across the hip, the skirt is too small and the top will look even tighter by comparison. In cooler weather I add sheer tights and a blazer left unbuttoned so the bow stays visible. A knee-length pleat gives the same effect with more coverage.
5. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Black Flare Pants
Flares lengthen the leg, which is why they suit a small top so well. The eye runs from a short torso straight down a long hem. The fabric matters more than the cut here: a soft stretch knit sits flat at the waist and drops cleanly over the shoe, while thin, clingy jersey shows every edge of your underwear. Hem the flares to the shoes you'll actually wear, platform sneakers or low block-heel boots, because a flare that drags gets frayed at the back within weeks. If the top is black too, break it up with a pale bag or silver jewelry.
6. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Boxer Shorts
Striped boxer shorts are about as relaxed as this top gets, and the contrast is the point: loose cotton below, a fitted bow above. Blue-and-white stripes are the classic. I keep everything else plain, with sneakers, crew socks, a canvas tote and small hoops. Watch the rise. Boxer shorts sit on an elastic waist that rolls down as you move, so a very cropped top can end up showing more than you planned. For travel days, an open cardigan gives you cover in cold air-conditioning.
7. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Cargo Pants
Cargo pants pull the bow in a sporty direction, and I like that tension. Olive and beige cargos ground a white or pastel top. The cut needs care, though. A very oversized cargo with low-slung pockets drowns a short fitted top, so I stay with a straight or moderately loose leg. Thigh pockets also add width exactly where a pear shape doesn't want it, which is worth knowing before you buy. Retro sneakers, a crossbody and a baseball cap finish it, with a cropped bomber when the weather turns.
8. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Satin Midi Skirt
This is the pairing I'd wear to a dinner or a birthday. A bias-cut satin skirt drapes close to the hip and moves when you walk, and next to a matte cotton top the shine looks deliberate. Satin is honest about what's underneath, so wear smooth underwear, and expect it to crease across the lap and show water spots. If the top is very short, choose a high-rise skirt so the waistband meets or slightly overlaps the hem. Ballet flats or low kitten heels stop it tipping formal, and a cardigan draped over the shoulders covers the arms.
9. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Baggy Jeans
Baggy jeans with a small bow top is the most current pairing here, and proportion makes or breaks it. The top has to be compact, because a loose top over loose jeans erases your waist entirely. Belt the jeans so the waistband looks chosen rather than slipping. Medium wash reads everyday; faded gray is a little edgier. Chunky sneakers balance the weight of the leg, while a delicate shoe gets lost under all that denim. If the hems pool, a small cuff tidies them. For a layer, a cropped cardigan keeps the waist visible where a long jacket wouldn't.
10. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Linen Pants
Linen pants make sense whenever it's properly hot, because linen lets air through and dries fast. It will also wrinkle within the hour, so I accept that and keep the rest smooth: a fitted cotton bow top, leather slides, a woven tote. Drawstring waists are comfortable but bunch under a short top, and a flat front lies cleaner. Oatmeal is the easy shade, while chocolate linen looks richer with a pale pink top. Pale linen can show through in sunlight too, so check it before a long day out. An open oversized shirt doubles as sun cover on vacation.
11. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Denim Maxi Skirt
A denim maxi gives the soft bow top some backbone, and it covers more than any short option on the list. The slit isn't optional. A straight denim skirt without one turns stairs into a shuffle, so look for a front or back split that opens to around the knee. Dark indigo reads more refined than light wash, though new indigo can rub blue onto pale bags and sneakers for the first few wears. Slim sneakers in summer, clogs later in the year. Make sure the top's hem meets the waistband cleanly, since a sliver of stomach looks accidental with a long skirt.
12. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Tailored Trousers
Tailored trousers are how I make a bow top feel grown-up. High-rise wide-leg pants in charcoal or cream meet the short hem and read as one long line, which is what makes the outfit polished. A low-rise trouser leaves a gap that pulls the look straight back to casual. Loafers or pointed flats suit a creative office; low sneakers turn it into a weekend outfit. If you add an oversized blazer, keep it open, because closed lapels cover the bow and you lose the whole point of the top. A pastel top with cream trousers and tan accessories is the softest version.
13. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Tennis Skirt
A tennis skirt with a bow top lands somewhere between sporty and sweet. I'd always pick the skort version with built-in shorts, because a light pleated skirt lifts with every breeze and every time you sit down. A white skirt keeps it clean against a pink or blue top. Add classic sneakers, crew socks and a small zip jacket, plus a canvas tote so it doesn't read as gym kit. The tight top over a flared skirt makes the waist look small, and that contrast is the whole appeal, so don't size up in the top.
14. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Corduroy Pants
Corduroy is my answer for wearing a summery bow top into fall. Brown and burgundy cords bring warmth, and a medium wale shows texture without the bulk of a wide one. Corduroy wears smooth at the inner thigh and knees over time, so wash it inside out and skip the hot dryer. Loafers or ankle boots with ribbed socks suit the seventies feel. I keep the top solid in a muted neutral or pastel, because a print fights with the ridges. Gold jewelry warms the browns; silver sits better with charcoal.
15. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Black Mini Skirt
A black mini is the most adaptable base here, and I could build a whole week around it. An A-line cut forgives a fuller hip better than a tight denim mini, which rides up every time you sit. Ballet flats and ankle socks keep it sweet; knee-high boots add weight and coverage for the evening. A white or red bow top gives the strongest contrast against black, so the accessories can stay small: a black bag and pearl studs. In cold weather, sheer black tights and a cropped cardigan keep it wearable without changing the outfit's shape.
16. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Capris
Capris are the retro pick, and they only work if the hem lands right. I want them ending at the narrowest part of the calf or just above the ankle bone; a hem at mid-calf on a shorter leg cuts the line in half. Slim capris with ballet flats or slingbacks keep that cropped line visible, while chunky shoes or a long coat break it. A white bow top with black capris is the easiest version, and a pale blue top with navy is softer. A cardigan ending at the waistband adds cover without blurring the proportions.
17. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Sweatpants
Can a delicate bow top work with sweatpants? It can, provided the top stays fitted. Straight-leg or wide-leg sweatpants in gray, navy, black or cream are the shapes I'd use, since cuffed joggers make it look like you're heading to the gym. The bow is doing the dressing up, so I keep the rest clean: white sneakers, a compact shoulder bag, small hoops, tidy hair. Brushed fleece pills where a bag rubs the hip, so a smooth French terry pair ages better. Match the hoodie to the pants for a set feel, or contrast it.
18. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Floral Midi Skirt
A floral midi suits the bow's romance, but print scale decides whether it works. Small, scattered florals sit back and let the bow lead; big blooms compete with it and the outfit gets loud. I pull one color from the print and repeat it in the top or the shoes, which ties things together better than any accessory. An A-line or bias cut keeps the waist visible above the flare. Ballet flats in summer, low boots in spring. A solid neutral cardigan is the only layer I'd add.
19. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Leather Jacket
A leather jacket takes the sweetness down a notch, and that's exactly why I like it here. The structured shoulder and hard surface contrast with soft cotton, so the bow reads less girlish. Wear it open. Zipped up, the jacket hides the bow completely and you're left with a dark block. Straight blue jeans keep it casual, while a black skirt turns it into an evening outfit. Real leather stiffens if it gets soaked, so a faux version is the easier choice for rainy seasons, and brown feels gentler than black.
20. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Cardigan And Jeans
This is the outfit for the first cool morning of autumn. A slightly cropped cardigan that ends at the waistband frames the top instead of covering it, whereas a long boyfriend cardigan swallows a small bow top. I often fasten just the middle button so the neckline and bow stay in view. Light-wash straight jeans and white sneakers keep it bright; dark denim and loafers make it neater. Match the cardigan to a shade in the top or go gray. Fine knits pill under bag straps, and a quick pass with a fabric shaver keeps them looking new.
21. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Overall Shorts
Overall shorts are the most playful way to layer a bow top, and the bib is the thing to check. If it rises too high it covers the bow, so I want the bib to stop below the neckline with the ribbon fully visible between the straps. A slightly relaxed denim fit keeps the look from turning into a costume. Fasten both straps for a neat finish or drop one for a slouchier one. Canvas sneakers, ankle socks and a mini backpack suit it. Light denim is easiest with white or pastel tops, and if you need a layer, a plain zip hoodie is enough.
22. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Parachute Pants
Parachute pants bring a lot of volume, so the bow top has to stay tight and short to anchor the outfit. The drawstring hems are useful: pull them so the pants gather just above your sneakers rather than dragging. Nylon doesn't breathe much and it rustles, so I'd save this for cool, dry days rather than humid ones. Black or olive keeps the palette quiet, and the bow becomes the one unexpected feminine detail. A cropped windbreaker matches the sporty mood. If your wardrobe is mostly streetwear, this is a softer swap for a graphic tee.
23. Brandy Melville Bow Top With White Jeans
White jeans give a bow top a crisp base for spring and summer, with one catch: thin white denim shows pocket bags, seams and underwear lines. I look for a heavier denim and wear smooth underwear close to skin tone, never white, which shows through more than nude does. A navy or burgundy bow top gives the clearest contrast. Straight or relaxed wide legs both work, depending on how short the top is. A tan belt and bag warm it up, while silver cools it down. A light denim jacket finishes it, as long as the two washes look intentionally different.
24. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Knit Midi Skirt
A knit midi is the comfortable way to wear a bow top through cooler months, but check it from behind first. A ribbed column skirt clings, shows every line underneath and can bag out at the seat after a few hours of sitting. A softly flared knit is more forgiving. Gray and chocolate brown let the bow stand out. With two fitted pieces, I add a longer open cardigan in a matching shade for balance, plus a small structured bag to give all that softness an edge. Ballet flats or ankle boots, depending on the weather.
25. Brandy Melville Bow Top With Long Denim Shorts
Long denim shorts are the coverage-friendly answer to cutoffs, and my pick for anyone who doesn't like short hems. Knee-length or mid-thigh shorts in a straight, loose leg pair best with a fitted top, but they need a belt, otherwise the outfit drifts toward baggy. Retro sneakers or loafers suit the longer length better than delicate sandals. If the shorts are distressed, keep the top plain. Dark denim makes a white bow top stand out; faded blue softens it for summer.
Caring for the Ribbon So It Doesn't Go Limp
The bow is the part of this top that ages first. A tied ribbon loosens and twists, and a sewn-on bow gets crushed in the machine. A few habits keep it looking the way it did when you bought it.
- Untie a tie-front bow before washing so the ribbon doesn't knot itself or wrap around other clothes.
- Wash cold, inside out, in a mesh laundry bag. Cotton rib can shrink in hot water, and a top that's already short has no length to spare.
- Skip the dryer. Lay the top flat and smooth the ribbon loops with your fingers while they're still damp.
- Press a crushed bow on low heat through a cloth. Satin and polyester ribbon can melt or turn shiny under a hot iron.
To retie, make the first loop, wrap the other end around it and pull both loops even before you tighten. If one tail ends up longer, untie it and start again rather than tugging, which twists the ribbon. When you never plan to untie it, a couple of small stitches through the knot from the inside keep a front bow in place all day.
Why This Small Bow Top Earns Its Space
These 25 Brandy Melville Bow Top outfit ideas all rely on one rule I use with any small, fitted top: let the bottom set the mood and let the bow be the detail. Baggy jeans, boxer shorts and sweatpants keep it casual. Tailored trousers or a satin skirt dress it up. Wherever you start, check two things in the mirror, where the hem meets the waistband and whether a layer is hiding the neckline. Begin with jeans or a skirt you already own and change only the shoes and one layer.
Related posts:
Leave a Reply