The modern scarf, in its myriad of designs and styles, can be traced back to ancient Egypt, when True Fashionista Queen Nefertiti was said to have worn a “tightly woven scarf topped with a conical headdress” in 1350 BC. Scarves made of cloth went all military under Chinese Emperor Cheng around 33 BC, where they were used to mark rank. Same goes for Croatia, where high rankings meant a silk scarf and the grunts wore simple cloth ones. In fact, for hundreds of years, scarves were pretty much synonymous with the handkerchief, used to wipe sweat and grime and no doubt stuffed into a back pocket. (Can you even imagine doing that to your prized Gucci shawl?)
It wasn’t until the 19thcentury that fashion designers saw the potential for scarves to be used as a fashion accessory, capitalizing on the fabrics and designs coming out of regions such as India. (Skarfe.com). In 1837 French designer Hermès created the first ready-to-wear graphic silk scarf, then England’s Queen Victoria was seen on the throne rocking silk cravats adorned with beautiful graphic prints. And the custom printed scarf was here to stay.
When it comes to how you’re going to wear your scarf, how are you NOT going to wear it is more the question. Put that scarf anywhere, baby! Roll tight and wrap it around your head, do the French knot with even ends around your neck, wear it loosely wrapped around your neck resting comfortably on your shoulder. Make a knotted necklace out of the thing; sky’s the limit here. Many online sites like helloglow.co have easy-to-read tutorials, and there’s always YouTube for a more involved step-by-step approach to the versatility of scarf-wearing.
Maybe its time to reassess your scarf-hoarding, and scale down the collection a bit. Before you purge, think about some of these uses for your old scarves, thanks to The Fashion Spot:
- Blanket scarves and winter scarves are great for layering in cooler weather.
- Put them on the wall! Use them as decoration inside a frame.
- Use them as a camera strap or handbag accessory.
- Fold up and use as an eye pillow.
- Two words: Pajama shorts!
Scarves come in all True Fashionista sizes, fabrics and prints. More than likely silk is the first fabric that comes to mind; its smooth feel is a natural for the piece. However, scarves can also be found in wool, cashmere and pashmina, a fine cashmere wool courtesy of the Himalayan mountain goat. (Yes, we said that.) Cotton, acrylic and viscose are also common fabrics for scarves. And the prints! Easily discover your dream design in a scarf, be it handpainted, embroidered or even beaded. There’s a scarf for virtually every ensemble these days.
Winter 2018 fashion shows featured scarves from most designers, Vogue reports. Céline highlighted a deep-green tulle maxi scarf for cold, snowy days, while Prada did up its cable knit scarf with swinging feathers. Burberry attached brooches to its signature plaid, white Ralph Lauren ran with houndstooth.
Don’t be afraid of that scarf you haven’t worn in ages. There’s a use and/or a look for it. Go scarf or go home. That’s the True Fashionista way!
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