You may have noticed that summer-weight scarves were very in fashion this year, and I think they’re a great way to add some interest to the typical T-shirt and skirt warm weather outfit. But it occurred to me as I fiddled with my accessories a few times this summer that I was going to have to pack up or give away a whole collection of scarves because they’re just really dated and/or they age me.
Square scarves worn knotted at the neck? Out. Nothing says dowdy faster or more completely. Sorry!
Long, skinny scarves are where it’s at now. Here’s a student type wearing one:
I don’t like the color of the scarf, but the texture and length are interesting and if she brushed her hair, upgraded her jeans to a dark denim, stood up straight and added a bit of lipstick or blush, that would be a perfectly appropriate look for a minister. Earrings would also be a nice touch.
I don’t know why this girl doesn’t own a hairbrush or who just insulted her mother, but her cashmere scarf is lovely. This is just the thing on a chilly day — and projects much more energy and vitality than wearing it granny-style as a shawl:
This is a classic 1980’s scarf. If you KNOW that it’s an 80’s scarf and can balance the vintage feel with something intentionally more 2008, great. However, if you wear it with a blazer you got in 1997 and never had tailored (jackets were far less shaped then than they are now) and a big ole A-line skirt, you’re going to look very dated, and, I’m afraid, possibly quite frumpy:
But you’ll still look put together and professional and nowhere near as awful as if you actually wore this in public…
… thinking that it communicates color! and life! and cool symbols! and flowy goddess energy!
That scarf communicates one thing and one thing only: Harmonic Convergence, 1984, and crystal readings with Shirley Maclaine. Use it as a beach sarong, use it as a dog blanket, wear it in private for your old hippie lover, but please do not wear it unironically in public.
A final word on scarves: they need not be matchy-matchy and in fact should not be. Use them to add texture, movement and color to your outfits and have fun with them!
Pack those old scarves up, don’t toss them! Before you know it the Ally McBeal neckerchiefs will be back in style and all the long stringy scarves will look da frump. Such is fashion.
Of course scarf #4 might make a lovely altar cloth. Not a garment to be worn, though.
m
[That was a joke just to torment me, wasn’t it? Please tell me it was! – PB]
Actually, believe it or not…square scarfs tied at neck are back in. I’m currently working part time at a mall clothing store, and we’ve definitely got ’em. Also we promote them tied around the wrist as a cute bracelet-type accessory. However, I agree that they need to be in updated colors/styles to work. And, um, no animals. Seriously.
But of course.
m
OK, I’m not trying to be a pill here, I am truly wondering: what is the difference between wearing a scarf ironically and unironically?