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October 1999 Fashion Secret
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The Magic of Scarves
Nothing changes an outfit as quickly and impressively as adding a scarf. We all own them, although you might be like me and have a drawer full of scarves that you open occasionally to admire but rarely wear. Or, perhaps you enjoy them so much that you are never seen without a scarf adorning your outfit. Either way, they can come in very handy and look beautiful.
It never fails, however, that whenever I do a seminar — no matter how sophisticated or well put together the audience is, we nearly always end with the same questions. What is the best way to tie a scarf? How do I tie it so that I don't have to keep adjusting it all the time? The last thing you want to worry about in the middle of an important meeting is if your scarf is coming untied or looking messy.
I have to say that I've never really considered myself to be a "scarf person." Of course, I own an entire drawer of them and enjoy looking at them — they are so elegant — but until now I've rarely worn them. Something has changed in the past month or so, however, and I find myself donning a scarf often and enjoying it. When tied well, people, or women, I should say,
will stare and stare at them — rather like one would a magic trick. Trying to figure out how you got it look so nice and stay so well. I'd like to share a few simple scarf-tying techniques with you that will make you the envy of your friends. I'll try to be as clear as possible (they've been put through test to make sure they make sense) since there are no visual aids here.
- Start with a long oblong scarf (the easiest kind of scarf to work with). Fold it neatly in half or thirds the long way until it's about 2-3 inches wide. Put it behind your neck and hold each of the ends in front of you (one in each hand). Holding the left end straight out, take the right end and drape it twice over the left side. Now you'll have an end in each hand again, but the scarf will be twisted in the middle. Without twisting again, bring the two ends behind your neck and tie them. You'll end up with an elegant drape around your neck. It fits nicely into the neckline of a jacket or adds interest to a jewel neckline. If the scarf is particularly long, you
can add a little extra beauty: Instead of tying the ends behind your neck, twist them once and bring them back around to the front and tie into a neat square knot (remember that girl scout training!). It leaves a small bow-like configuration in the front that is very beautiful.
- Again, begin with a long oblong scarf. Put it behind your neck and hold each of the ends in front of you (one in each hand). Tie a loop in the middle of one side. Make sure the smooth side of the loop is on top and the tied side underneath (does that make sense — if not, don't worry about it). Take the other end and pass it through the loop and pull both ends keeping
the knot in the middle of your chest (wherever you want it to be). You can easily adjust the length so that the ends are even. This is a nice alternative to simply tying it in front — which usually makes the ends hang funny. By making the loop, the ends will lay smoothly and evenly and look perfectly put together. If you are short, be sure that the scarf is not too long for you. If it is, and you LOVE the scarf, check with your tailor to see if s/he can shorten it for you to a more appropriate length.
- Using that same oblong scarf, fold it in half the long way (like before) then in half the other way so that it is now thinner and shorter than it was. Holding onto the looped end with one hand and the two loose ends in the other, put it behind your neck. Then pass the two loose ends through the loop which is in front of your neck and pull gently. Adjust the scarf so that it lies neatly at your neck and the ends hang down gracefully.
- This time, for something a bit different, since I know that you have both oblong and square, let's use a square scarf. Take the scarf and fold it in half on the diagonal so that it forms a triangle. Pick it up by the two ends and hold it in front of you with the point pointing towards the floor. Wrap the two ends behind your neck and cross once and bring them back around. Knot (there's that square knot again) them in front over the top of the scarf. This fits beautifully into the open neck of a cotton or silk shirt.
Remember not to pull so tightly that you can't breathe!
One more quick tip — ALWAYS cut the tags off of scarves. They detract from the beauty of the scarf and always seem to be sticking out in the most unseemly places. They are totally unnecessary — remove them gently!
If you need to secure a scarf, use a decorative pin or toupee tape (very thin, double-sided tape).
As with any accessory or print (see past monthly "fashion secrets" or refer to my book "Fashion Secrets Mother Never Taught You") be absolutely sure that you love the print and that it's of good quality. Any accessory will become the focal point of your outfit so you want it to be beautiful. It's much better to have a few more expensive scarves than a drawer full of lesser quality ones. If you've had your colors done, you'll have no problem choosing a few scarves that will go with nearly everything you own.
As the colder weather descends upon us, you'll find scarves are a great way to keep your neck warm and add interest and beauty to your outfit. If you're traveling, they are perfect for expanding your travel wardrobe — and even covering spots (but don't tell anyone I said that!).
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Sun image courtesy ArtToday.com
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