Scarf du jour

Another Paris scarf. I bought this one from one of those touristy shops on the Rue Rivoli near the Louvre. I love the colors, and it's a very lightweight scarf, but not one meant for daily wear. The tassels on the end are coming unravelled, and the threads in the shirring snag on everything and get pulled loose. Like a chain-smoking debutante, this one will go downhill quickly. Still, it's one of my favorites.

Don't be shocked, but une femme is a bit of a late bloomer; it's only been in recent months that I've become comfortable accessorizing with scarves, and it's taken a good bit of practice and time for me to get there. I've never been one for adornment that requires much fussing; "slap it on and go" tends to be more my inclination. Combine that with living in a climate where scarves are rarely a necessity, and you have the makings of a scarf klutz. While achieving a chic effect is more of an art than a science, repeated experimentation is the key to making it look effortless. After much trial and error, I've found a few trusty ways to tie and wear my scarves that feel comfortable and don't make me look like the Queen Mum.

Long rectangular scarves tend to be the easiest to work with. For square silk scarves, I've relied heavily on the Hermès tutorial booklets, tips from the ladies at The Purse Forum, and doing Internet searches on scarf tying (which incidentally, is one of the most common searches that leads visitors to this blog). I've also collected a few scarf rings, which expand the options, and make it easy to create the illusion of a v-neck and a more vertical line. I still tend to stay away from the knots that would qualify one for a Girl Scout merit badge, however!