Because you can't have depths without surfaces.
Linda Grant, thinking about clothes, books and other matters.
Pure Collection Ltd.
Net-a-porter UK

Monday 30 June 2008

Scarves yet again


I have a mini-obsession with scarves at the moment. Last week I bought a Gucci scarf on ebay for £37. It arrived in a condition as close to new as I could make out, having been bought in Gucci's Bond Street shop, by a woman in Bayswater selling designer accessories and buying designer baby clothes (wonder what the story is there?) I've seen a sample of Jaeger black winter coat which I'm pretty much decided on buying. Around the neck of which one of my growing collection of scarves will be worn to keep black away from the face.

The designer scarf is an interesting phenomenon. I am not crazy about vintage Hermes designs, with their bridles and horseshoes, but other designers have some brighter ideas. I bought scarves by Dior and Lacroix at Le Bon Marche in Paris last Autumn and have worn them constantly. Not to mention the winter staple, the Etro I got in Hong Kong. Compared to the designers' other accessories they are quite inexpensive, given that they ought to last a lifetime and aren't subject to our old favourite, wardrobe shrinkage. I see that Vogue is predicting the return of the scarf, even suggesting one should knot it under the chin, like our dear Queen. As if.

Scarves really are a good bet to buy on ebay. If you carefully vet the seller, they're unlikely to be fakes, more probably an unwanted present, bought by a weary husband at duty free.

8 comments:

Disneyrollergirl.net said...

This is a really good point and I wholeheartedly agree with you. You can wear scarves a million ways, they don't have to fit, and they can be inexpensive. Hmmm, Wonder how long it will take for an It Scarf feature to appear in Grazia?

Susan B said...

That's a beauty, Linda. I'll confess I do have a soft spot for the equestrian-themed stuff having grown up with horses, but my primary comsideration is choosing colors that are flattering with my skin and hair color.

Don't think I'll be wearing head scarves either, unless I decide to go as HRM this Halloween.

Duchesse said...

Knotted under shin, no- but tied under chink, then tails to back of neck and knotted- "the vintage-convertible" style- charmante.

Duchesse said...

Sorry for typo, that is "chin"- or you have a very long scarf!

Anonymous said...

Duchesse - but you have to have the right sunglasses, then..the big bug-eye white ones should do it.

Anonymous said...

scarf is the best accessory to brighten up an outfit. and a 36" Hermes scarf makes the most beautiful halter top.

Anonymous said...

Given the mythic status of scarves in French dress culture, among Frenchwomen from the conservative dowager to the street rebel, it does seem odd that President Sarkozy presented all the French MPs - male and female - a sleek case containing a pale grey necktie to celebrate France's turn at the EU presidency!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7475764.stm

StyleSpy said...

Don't forget Ferragamo -- lovely, lovely botanical prints and (my favorite) lots of prints featuring big beautiful jungle cats. And they're always the loveliest, floaty-est silk, they're like wearing a cloud.