Beauty Tips for Ministers

Scarves, Scarves, Scarves!!

September 16, 2008 on 7:16 am | In Accessories |

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!