The Black Velvet Scrunchie Bow: History, Styling, and Care

Velvet has a peculiar relationship with British hair accessories. It whispers of Victorian mourning jewellery and Edwardian tea dances, yet its most democratic iteration arrived in the late 1980s as the scrunchie. The black velvet scrunchie bow – a scrunchie that ties into a fixed or adjustable bow – sits at the intersection of two traditions: the plush, tactile luxury of a fabric that catches the light like a raven’s wing, and the playful, unpretentious ease of a ponytail holder that refuses to leave hair crimped. Store p305 presents one such piece, and understanding its construction, provenance, and care can turn it from a mere accessory into a deliberate style choice.

The scrunchie bow is not a new invention. Victorian and Edwardian milliners used velvet ribbon to fashion elaborate bow hair ornaments, often pinned onto chignons or worn as headbands. Those early pieces were wired, stiff, and required a lady’s maid to arrange. The modern scrunchie bow, by contrast, is self-contained: a loop of velvet fabric gathered with elastic, pre-shaped into two loops and a tail, or left for the wearer to tie. Store p305’s version appears to favour the latter – a generous length of black velvet ribbon sewn into a continuous loop, allowing the user to decide the bow’s proportions. This flexibility makes it equally suitable for a sleek low ponytail, a messy topknot, or a half-up style with a vintage twist.

Materials and Construction: What Makes a Quality Velvet Scrunchie Bow

Not all velvet is created equal. The best scrunchie bows use cotton or silk velvet with a short, dense pile that resists crushing. Polyester velvet, though cheaper, tends to flatten after a few uses and can generate static that lifts flyaway hairs. A quick test: run your thumb against the nap. If the colour deepens or lightens dramatically, you are looking at a genuine pile fabric. The inner elastic should be smooth, wide (at least 1.5 cm), and sewn into a casing that prevents twisting. Store p305’s black velvet scrunchie bow likely meets these standards, with a hand-stitched casing and a weight that feels substantial without being heavy.

The bow shape itself is formed by gathering the centre of the ribbon and securing it with a thread wrap or a small metal clip concealed inside the fabric. On authentic vintage or vintage-inspired pieces, that centre wrap is often covered with a tiny velvet tab or a decorative bead. The tails – the trailing ends – should be cut at an angle and hemmed to prevent fraying. Black velvet is especially forgiving, but any raw edge will eventually show wear.

A Brief History of the Scrunchie Bow in British Fashion

The scrunchie bow entered the British mainstream in the late 1980s, propelled by the Princess of Wales’ fondness for oversized hair accessories. Diana’s iconic black velvet choker and bow hairbands inspired a wave of imitations, but it was the 1990s that truly embraced the scrunchie in all its gathered glory. By the mid‑2000s, the scrunchie bow had become a staple of festival fashion and suburban elegance alike. Today, it is enjoying a renaissance among young collectors who pair it with tailored blazers and vintage denim, proving that a single accessory can bridge decades.

Earlier antecedents include the Victorian ‘bow comb’ – a metal or tortoiseshell comb with a fixed velvet bow attached – and the 1940s snood with a velvet bow accent. Those pieces required bobby pins or combs to stay in place. The scrunchie bow liberated the concept: it became the fastener itself. This shift reflects a broader move in 20th‑century hair accessories from structure to stretch, from something that pinched to something that cradled.

Why Black Velvet?

Black velvet is a perennial favourite for four reasons. First, it reads as neutral even when the fabric is intensely textural – it pairs with tartan, tweed, silk, and lace without competing. Second, it works for both day and evening: a black velvet scrunchie bow can finish a workday ponytail and then accompany the same wearer to a dinner party. Third, velvet’s light absorption creates a slimming effect on the silhouette, which is why it was used extensively in Victorian photography. Fourth, black is the easiest colour to re‑dye or refresh, extending the accessory’s life.

Styling the Black Velvet Scrunchie Bow

The beauty of a scrunchie bow lies in its chameleon nature. Here are three ways to wear it, each with a distinct vintage reference:

• The 1940s Roll: Gather the hair into a low side roll, wrap the scrunchie bow around the base, and let the tails cascade over the rolled section. This mimics the ‘Victory roll’ style but with a softer finish.
• The 1970s Half-Up: Section the top half of your hair, secure it with the scrunchie bow at the crown, and fluff the bow’s loops so they sit like butterfly wings. This works beautifully with natural waves or a blow‑out.
• The 1990s High Ponytail: A clean, tight high ponytail – the scrunchie bow tied at the base so the loops stand upright. Add a centre part and a cat‑eye flick of eyeliner for a complete period look.

For a contemporary twist, wear the scrunchie bow as a wrist accessory, or thread it through a low bun so the tails dangle asymmetrically. The key is to avoid over‑thinking – the scrunchie bow is inherently forgiving, and a slightly undone placement often looks more intentional than a perfectly symmetrical tie.

Care and Storage: Preserving the Pile

Velvet abhors pressure. Storage is the single most important factor in keeping a black velvet scrunchie bow looking fresh. Never hang it on a hook or leave it crumpled at the bottom of a handbag. Instead, lay it flat in a drawer, or better, loop it loosely over a padded hanger. If you must store multiple scrunchies together, separate them with acid‑free tissue paper to prevent the pile from matting.

Cleaning is equally delicate. Most velvet scrunchie bows are hand‑wash only. Fill a basin with cool water and a drop of mild soap (wool wash or baby shampoo works). Submerge the scrunchie bow and swish gently – do not rub or wring. Rinse in cool water until the soap is gone, then press the water out by rolling the bow in a clean towel. Reshape the loops and tails while damp, and leave to dry flat away from direct heat. Avoid dry‑cleaning, which can strip the velvet of its natural oils and cause the pile to become brittle.

For storage over long periods, consider the advice in our detailed guide to looking after delicate hair accessories. We covered similar principles for the Frances Island hair claw, which also relies on a delicate fabric finish. The same archival logic applies: a cool, dark, dry environment with minimal contact between pieces. If you are building a collection that includes both large and small accessories, the method we shared for oversized pieces can help you organise without crushing the velvet.

A final note on restoration: if the black velvet begins to look washed out or grey, a gentle steaming (holding a steamer six inches away) can lift the pile. Never iron velvet directly – the heat will flatten the fibres permanently.

Spotting Vintage Versus Modern Reproductions

Store p305’s black velvet scrunchie bow is contemporary, but many collectors hunt for original 1980s and 1990s pieces. How do you tell them apart? Vintage scrunchie bows often have narrower elastic (about 1 cm) and a less generous ribbon width – 4 cm versus today’s 6–8 cm. The seams on vintage examples are machine‑stitched with a simpler finish, and the velvet may have a slightly lower pile, less prone to squashing. Modern versions like Store p305 typically use a thicker, more luxurious quality of velvet and a wider ribbon, which makes the bow more dramatic. Both have their merits; the choice depends on whether you prioritise historical accuracy or current wearability.

If you come across a black velvet scrunchie bow in a charity shop or car boot sale, examine the elastic. Original elastic from the 1980s may be dry‑rotted and brittle – easily replaced, but a sign of authentic age. The fabric itself should smell of dust and mothballs, not chemical dyes. A true vintage scrunchie bow will also show slight fading on the outer loops, where it was exposed most to light. Modern fabric keeps its colour more uniformly.

A Practical Final Word on Wearing Black Velvet

Before you tie that scrunchie bow for the first time, run your fingers lightly over the velvet to align the nap in one direction – typically upwards towards the bow’s centre. This way the bow catches light evenly. Then secure the elastic around your hair with two loops instead of one: the double‑wrap reduces tension on the velvet and prevents the bow from sliding down during the day. If the tails are particularly long, tuck them under the loops for a cleaner look, or let them trail for a more romantic effect. That simple choice, made in the moment, is what turns a manufactured object into a personal statement.