If there's one accessory that's quietly stealing the spotlight this holiday season, it's the bow. Yes, the humble bow is experiencing a full-blown style renaissance for Christmas 2025. And honestly? I'm savoring every fluttery, oversized, velvet-draped moment of it.
As I dream up this year’s holiday moodboards and curate collections for the store, one thing keeps reappearing: bows are no longer just accents. They're statements. They're styling heroes. They're woven into every part of the season, and I couldn't be more thrilled.
So, what's happening with bows this year? Why are we all suddenly obsessed? Let’s dive into the season’s biggest bow trends and explore how to infuse your home, gifts, and gatherings with a touch of festive magic.
🎀 The Rise of the Unkept Bow
This year, we're witnessing a significant shift from the tightly tied, overly crisp bows of holidays past. Welcome to Unkept Luxury, where bows are at the heart of it.
- Imagine wide velvet ribbons casually looped and trailing.
- Loosely tied satin bows resting gently on wreaths.
- Silk ribbons that look like they've been dancing in candlelight.
This look is romantic and effortless. It feels like the party has already started, and the bows are just doing their thing. These “unkept” bows are:
- Soft rather than structured.
- Tied by hand, not pre-formed.
- Letting their ends trail and drape.
- Often layered with other ribbons or textures.
The best part? They're incredibly easy to style. You don’t need perfection. In fact, the more relaxed, the better. It's about mood over symmetry, feeling over formality. Unkept bows make a space feel lived-in and loved—like a beautifully wrapped gift you've yet to open.
🎀 Go Big or Go Home: Oversized Drama
Christmas 2025 is about turning up the volume—especially when it comes to size. This year’s bows are BIG. I'm talking oversized tree toppers, sweeping staircase swags, and massive garlands anchored with bold, plush ribbons. These are not just embellishments—they're focal points.
- Double and triple-layered bows mix different widths and textures.
- Wide wired ribbons create sculptural shapes.
- Bows serve as backdrops, styled behind ornaments or gift tags for added flair.
- Statement toppers replace the traditional star with a striking bow.
One of my favorite places to use oversized bows? On door wreaths. There’s something so welcoming and cheerful about a wreath finished with a dramatically long, flowing ribbon. It sets the tone before you even step inside.
🎀 Placement Is Everything
Bows used to be the final touch—pinned to the top of a christmas tree, stuck on a wrapped gift, maybe tied onto a garland. But this year? Bows are going everywhere. And I mean everywhere.
Here's where we're loving them:
- On dining chairs, tied with a simple velvet ribbon or layered over a mini wreath.
- In centerpieces, layered into floral arrangements or candle displays.
- Hanging from curtain rods, paired with ornaments for an elegant window moment.
- Dangling from chandeliers, adding sparkle and softness to lighting.
- Wrapped around napkins as sweet finishing touches for your holiday table.
- Tucked into the Christmas tree, layered in at different depths for texture and surprise.
They add softness, movement, and a sense of intention to every corner of your home.
🎀 Color Stories That Feel Fresh
While traditional red and green bows will always be timeless, 2025 is pushing the palette. This year’s bow colors draw inspiration from nature, vintage toys, and winter sunsets. It's all about emotion: What do you want your holiday to feel like?
Here are the color stories we're loving:
- Fairy Pastels: Blush, lavender, powder blue, pale mint—soft and whimsical for a dreamy Fairy Wonderland look.
- Moody Neutrals: Moss, stone, ivory, chocolate, and matte black—perfect for an organic, earthy vibe.
- Retro Brights: Cherry red, teal, goldenrod, bubblegum—evoking the Playful Vintage Circus trend.
- Gilded Elegance: Champagne, antique gold, burnished copper—rich and classic with a twist of luxury.
- Deep Jewel Tones: Velvet plum, midnight navy, forest green—sophisticated and timeless.
Whatever your style, there’s a ribbon for that. This year’s bows are as expressive as they are beautiful.
🎀 A DIY Moment: Create Your Signature Bow
One of the most joyful aspects of this trend is that bows are endlessly customizable—and people are getting creative. I'm seeing more customers mixing and matching their own ribbons, creating personalized bows for trees, gifts, staircases, and even hair.
If you want to build your own bow, here are my go-to tips:
- Start with a structured base: Use wired ribbon (2.5–4 inches wide) for the main shape.
- Layer in personality: Add a second ribbon in a different texture or color—think sheer organza over velvet, or plaid mixed with metallic.
- Let the tails trail: The longer, the better. Let your ends cascade off a mantel or down a tree branch.
- Secure and fluff: Use floral wire to secure the bow, and don't be afraid to fluff and adjust until it looks just undone enough.
Need help? Our Bow Bar in-store lets you try different combinations, see them in person, and even get hands-on support from our stylists.
🎀 Bows as Gift Wrap, Reimagined
Gift wrapping in 2025 is all about intention and layers. Bows are no longer tossed on last minute—they are the wrap.
- Fabric-wrapped gifts tied with layered bows.
- Monochromatic packages with tone-on-tone ribbon for a minimal look.
- Playful patterns like stripes and gingham mixed with solids.
- Mini bows on ornaments, christmas gift tags, or advent calendars for a touch of magic.
Adding a beautiful bow to a package says: This was wrapped with love. It’s thoughtful, tactile, and totally of-the-moment.
🎀 The Bottom Line: Bows Are Back—and Bigger Than Ever
What's happening with bows this Christmas 2025? They’re having a major style revival—and it’s long overdue. Bows are no longer just accessories; they're tools for storytelling, style statements, and little pockets of joy you can weave into every space.
Whether you’re going moody and minimal or full-on festive and fabulous, bows are your secret weapon this holiday season. Soft or structured, oversized or sweet and subtle—there's no wrong way to use them.
This season at Joy By, we’re ensuring bows are front and center. From our curated ribbons and pre-styled accents to our in-store Bow Bar experience, you’ll find all the inspiration you need to bring your holiday dreams to life—one loop at a time.
