From Lady GaGa to the shows of the most famous designers, bows are a constant these days. They’re placed high on hats or low on shoes and anywhere in between, from gowns, pants and tops, to accessories such as bracelets and bags. It’s pretty clear by now that bows are a must this season, and the bigger the better is what fashion insiders are telling us. At the same time, though, they’re also warning us that bows do know an age boundary, which means that, past a certain threshold, women should steer away from the latest trend.

Big bows require a big personality to work, which is clearly illustrated by the case of the singer Lady GaGa. She is not only the woman known for her penchant of stepping out in public without wearing pants, but also as a genuine “promoter” of bows. For her, stylists say, the look works wonderfully because it comes to make her fierce image all that much fiercer. Either with giant bows of shiny material placed on the head just like that or with a Minnie Mouse bow made of her own hair, Lady GaGa seems to have been born to rock them.

Sadly, not the same can be said about the regular woman out there, especially if she’s past her late ‘20s. In her case, stylists stress, it’s best if she keeps bows down to a minimum, both in size and use. A tiny such “accessory” on a delicate shoe or an oversized bag can, indeed, make for a lovely, chic addition, but not the same can be said for headbands or dresses with large bows, they warn. If we’re looking to be chic this season, stylists add, it’s best if we just kept the bow trend down to a minimum, should our age no longer allow us to go for the faux girlish look anymore.

What with the temptations that the ‘80s powerdressing is throwing in our way – which means oversized everything, from accessories to sleeves and even hair – it’s easy to fall in the trap of choosing an extravagant-looking bow just because it seems awesome in the shop window. In such a case, stylists point out, we should always consider the purchase from a different perspective, namely, how would we react if we saw a woman our own age donning it? If our first thought also comes with a superior smirk, then it’s perhaps recommended if we just chose a headband with the tiniest of bows instead of the Lady GaGa-type of hair accessory we initially wanted.

An age limit for this latest trend does not mean, though, that we’re to avoid it completely. As is always the case, with bows too, there are plenty of ways in between – it’s all a matter of choice and taste.