Foulard de la semaine

Banana Republic sale cotton silk scarf, ends crosswise through scarf ring.

~

Foulard de la semaine

Happy Fourth!

Foulard de la semaine

Above, the same plissé scarf from last week, but this time tied "le fleur" style for an evening at the symphony.

Bonus round: a smaller cotton scarf tied the same way.

Summer Solstice Serendipities

It's pretty obvious to une femme that retailers are a bit nervous, as evidenced by the ubiquitous sales, and not just on dated merchandise. Banana Republic, for one, has lots of great summer items on sale now. Including...scarves! Scarves at Banana Republic? Who knew? I wouldn't have known either, but was standing in line to pay for a t-shirt, when out of the corner of my eye, I spied some flashes of color down near the floor underneath a shoe display. Half hidden there was the motherlode of cute cotton/silk blend summer scarves, all on sale. I picked up these beauties which will soon have their debut as Foulard de la semaine.

The designs in this one are very Art Deco, and the colors are fabulous! Very summery.

Dig the contrasting rolled hem on this one...nice!!! It's 35"x35" size, so can wear lots of ways.

That was cool, unexpected thing #1 yesterday.

Cool, unexpected thing #2: I went for another facial at Bluemercury. Fabulous, as always, and so relaxing! But that's not the cool thing. As I was paying, and picking up some Nars oil blotting sheets, I kept noticing another customer in the store, or more specifically kept noticing her voice. Something about it was vaguely familiar. After I'd paid for my stuff and left the store, it hit me like a lighting bolt. I turned around and walked back into the store, and up to the woman who was now having eye shadow applied by one of the sales staff. "Excuse me, but is your name D----?" I asked. Her eyes got wide. "Y-es." "D---- [Lastname]?" "Yes!" Turns out she was someone I worked with at a radio station almost thirty years ago. Much squealing, hugging, and exchanging of business cards ensued. So now we're going to do lunch and catch up.

Cool, unexpected thing #3, we were able to get a spur-of-the-moment 8pm reservation at Ford's Filling Station last night (patio table!) where we enjoyed a nice bottle of wine and a few appetizers, including charcuterie and cheese platters, and some of the best mussels I've had in quite a while.

Running into an old friend is just about at the top of my serendipity hierarchy. In a day with many high points, that was the best.

Foulard de la semaine

Another warm weather scarf option. Silk plissé (pleated) scarf, worn as a necklace.

(Thanks again to Audi in comments whose suggestion for correcting the color problem with my digital camera did the trick!)

Foulard de la semaine

Oui, Virginia, you really can wear scarves when the weather gets warmer.

This is a "Liberty of London" very sheer silk scarf, probably at least 50 years old, one of the few I inherited from my grand-mère that's actually a color I can wear. (She was very fond of blue-reds, which make me look jaundiced.)

See? Very sheer.

Edited to add: if anyone can give me some tips on indoor digital photography to eliminate the pernicious yellow tint, I'd be much obliged. I've done some color correcting on the computer, but it only goes so far.

Foulard de la semaine

This is the same scarf that I wore knotted a couple of weeks ago. This time I crossed the ends through a Chain d'ancre scarf ring and knotted in back.

Foulard de la semaine

"Jardins d'Hiver" scarf with scarf ring. Jacket is J.Crew navy linen, purchased recently. Because the collar has ruching detail, I wanted to keep the scarf simple.

The gold scarf ring is a horse bit design. I've had it for some years and don't remember where I purchased it, but recently dug it out and put it back on active duty. I keep getting asked if it's Gucci. (It's not.)

Embracing Your Inner Bourgeois*

Or, What's So Bad About Looking Respectable?

*Title inspired from this comment from materfamilias on her post here, (responding to comments from the Scarves discussion at The Thoughtful Dresser), "Personally, I rather think that fighting one's inner bourgeois is a foolish and losing battle, and I'd rather embrace my and give her a bit of funk while I'm at it..."

From Merriam-Webster.com:

Main Entry:
1bour·geois
Pronunciation:
\ˈbu̇rzh-ˌwä also ˈbu̇zh- or ˈbüzh- or bu̇rzh-ˈ\
Function:
adjective
Etymology:
Middle French, from Old French burgeis townsman, from burc, borg town, from Latin burgus
Date:
circa 1565
1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of the townsman or of the social middle class 2 : marked by a concern for material interests and respectability and a tendency toward mediocrity 3 : dominated by commercial and industrial interests : capitalistic

Back in my 20's and 30's, one of the worst insults that could be lobbed at one was "bourgeois." Bourgeois carried the implication of staid, smug, middle class complacency, intellectual laziness, and indiscriminate materialism. Coming of age when I did during the counter-culture years, I fought against that part of myself that craved comfort, stability, and yes, luxury. As an outer manifestation of those values, my friends and I chased a more bohemian aesthetic, while I still secretly admired more classic and quality pieces that I saw on stylish, upscale women. The primary sartorial values my parents had instilled were a) buy quality fabrics and workmanship and b) stick to simple styles as you won't tire of them quickly. Not surprisingly, I've come full circle back to that way of thinking when it comes to style.

In the comments on Linda's Scarves post, a few people described Hermès scarves as looking too "bourgeois." In some instances, I think the word was being used in place of "stodgy" or "matronly," but I think also it was being used to represent that stuffy complacency that we ascribed to it way back when. But thinking about style and how it reflects our values, doesn't it make sense from the standpoint of avoiding mindless over-consumption to have a few good things that will last for decades rather than chasing trends or purchasing cheap throw-away-after-a-few-wearings types of items? Which is more materialistic and "bourgeois": the quiet luxury that an Hermès scarf conveys or the overwrought look of someone decked out in a "J'adore DIOR" t-shirt, huge Chanel logo earrings and a $2K bag splashed with overdone designer logos? (And yes, I recognize that there is a vast universe of middle ground.)

Sure, some of the Hermès scarf designs can be a bit stodgy, and I say that as someone who is nuts for anything with an equestrian theme. But it's all in how you wear it, and even the stodgy can become ironic if done right. To me, the trick is to keep the rest of the ensemble simple and current, and wear with an air of insouciance. Materfamilias gets it Exactly Right.

Stodgy is as stodgy does. A lack of intellectual curiosity, a dour and judgemental demeanor, and a miserly spirit will always appear dowdy regardless of what au courrant garments one wears, whereas a generous spirit, an open heart and a sense of fun will always look fresh. There's nothing wrong with wanting to have some nice, classic things. If that's bourgeois, so be it. And, as my grandmother used to say, "there's no point in having nice things if you don't use them."

Updated to add: I'd missed this earlier, but Duchesse at Passage des perles has some great comments on this topic as well. Another one to file under Great Minds Think Alike! Love this bit especially, "I began to wonder, as opposed to what? Insouciantly bohemian? Stoutly working class? Private-jet megarich?"

Foulard de la semaine

This is a smaller (70cm x 70cm) silk square. Fold diagonally into an oblong shape, then tie a knot in the center, and one on either side of that one. Tie the ends in the back.

Foulard de la semaine

Moreton Bay Fig Morris

Happy May Day! Back in my Morris Dancing days I would have been lacing up my bells about now to dance the sun up per Morris tradition. But today I'm celebrating this dawn more sedately, with a double espresso and a glance at my favorite blogs.


On to this week's foulard: yes, it's the truly gorgeous "Billets-Doux" scarf by Ashley Ashoff, which I first admired a couple weeks ago. Despite my protestations about being over budget for clothing purchases this month, I succumbed to the lure of its pure blue color and words of love. It arrived late last week, but we were having quite the heat wave, and yesterday was the first day it was cool enough to wear it.


I first tried it on tied loosely like a man's tie.
But the fabric is so fluid and drapes so nicely, and the pattern so pretty, I decided to show it off to better advantage: This is another variation on the "bib" with that the ends left hanging loose in front. You can also secure by running both ends through a scarf ring in the back if you don't want to have to continually readjust.

Rethinking Pink

If you aren't watching the Battlestar Gallactica series on the Sci-Fi Channel, you should be.

BG has some of the strongest, most developed and interesting female characters this side of Deadwood. Kara Thrace ("Starbuck"), President Lara Roslin, Six, and Sharon/Boomer are all complex and conflicted, flawed and fascinating. The story lines deal with everything from religion, torture, armed insurrection, Presidential secrecy and limits on power, the urge to reproduce, bigotry, loyalty and betrayal, to the very definition of what being "human" means.

Don't worry if you aren't up on your quantum physics or don't own a pair of Spock ears or get your thrills discussing quarks and wormholes over a bag of stale Cheetos. This more a character and plot driven than tech driven show; other than the obligatory and short video-game-ish battle sequences, there's less "science" than "fiction." In fact, some of the technology seems almost charmingly quaint even by our current standards. (I should confess that I am a bit of a sci-fi geek, but even my non-geek friends are loving this show.)

Anyhow, the humans in this series hate the Cylons (intelligent robots who have nuked most of humanity) with a blinding, burning intensity. Which is how I've generally felt about wearing the color pink. Pink was the color of uber-femininity, of snotty sorority girls and girls who were fine with letting the boys win.* And I hate how pink has been co-opted by every marketer trying to sell some product to women.

But just as some of the Cylons have turned their backs on their own kind and have chosen to help the humans, I've come to realize that not all pinks are evil. Take this scarf, for instance.

It's a wonderful, warm pink (despite how it appears in the photo above) that flirts with the skin tone and sweetly flatters without being cloying. It's a pink that isn't afraid to be pretty, but doesn't care what anyone else thinks. It's a pink that I can be friends with. It's a pink I can trust in deep space as I journey back to Earth.

*I mean no offense to anyone who loves and wears pink. These associations were based on my own experiences, and like any prejudice, I recognize my own as irrational.

Foulard de la semaine

Well, I've been told that the word I learned for scarf back in high school French class, "fichu," is a rather antiquated word, along the lines of "bumpershoot," "pocketbook," or "Davenport" in English. My high school French teacher also had a heavy Korean accent, so my pronunciations were a bit off for a while too. :-)

Anyway, this is a good style to wear with a light, sheer scarf. Fold the square once diagonally, drape in front with the triangle pointing down like a bib. Cross the ends around the back of the neck, then back to the front and tie in a square knot over the top of the "bib".

Une femme Covets...

Thanks to Monsieur Fred the Mole, I am now seriously craving this scarf. And I'm not a "blue" person. On peut acheter ici.

While doing a search yesterday, I ran across the Lafayette 148 website. Now here's a brand that's speaking my language. I so want this jacket!Paris-worthy? Mais oui!

I'm holding off on both for now, but DAMN.

It's Friday...

...and you've worked hard all week. Go buy yourself something pretty.

Fichu de la semaine

It's still a bit chilly here most mornings, and will be up until July. This is a nice way to keep your neck warm without a lot of bulk. Scarf is "Jardins d'Hiver." Fold diagonally into an oblong, drape around the neck with the ends hanging down in front, twist the ends around each other twice, then pull ends to the back and tie in a square knot.

Materfamilias briefly mentioned in a post from last weekend that I don't usually show my face when posting pictures of my scarves or clothes on this blog. This isn't due to any deficit of narcissism on my part, but rather because I tend to freeze up when a camera is pointed in my direction, and the look on my face is strained to the point that a viewer might reasonably be led to believe I'm in thumbscrews. If I try to smile, it's worse.

Fichu de la semaine

Here's one way I like to wear a silk square. (Once again, apologies for the blurry pic; our camera's autofocus seems to not be working well these days.)

Fold diagonally into an oblong, then wrap twice around the neck and tie in a square knot.

Scarf is "Kachinas" by Kermit Oliver.

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!

As Promised...

Pictures of my new Carré Hermés going through her paces. The auto focus on my camera does not appear to be working, so apologies for the fuzzy images.

The scarf arrived this morning and I am thrilled! The colors are even more gorgeous and saturated than the image from the website. The fabric has more body/stiffness than I'm accustomed to, so it will take some practice to get the hang of it. One thing I've figured out is that some of the methods from the Hermés "Playtime With Your Scarf" pdf's require a neck about three feet long to really get the desired look. I'd also hoped to show it with my scarf ring, which of course seems to have vanished today. :-p

1. As tied loosely like a man's tie.

2. Worn closely to the neck; a couple different versions.

3. Loose and casual.

4. But add a trenchcoat, et voila! Instant Parisienne!

Carré Hermés

Sshhh...don't tell le mari but I just bought myself a Boxing Day present. ;-) It's the Brise de Charme shown above. The designer is Julia Abadie, and it was originally issued in 1990. I had wanted to purchase a scarf from the Hermés boutique so that I could get the personalized scarf-tying instruction, but a) I didn't see any there that spoke to me, b) the sales associates were less than enthusiastic about helping me, and c) I thought it might be more fun to find something "vintage."

The scarf above is from Luxury-Scarves.com. I'd seen this website recommended most recently by Style Spy, and have been perusing their wares for the last couple of weeks. The colors of the Brise de Charme caught my eye yesterday, and going on the premise that "She who hesistates loses the treasure," I clicked Purchase. I'll post more pics once my lovely arrives.