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Neck scarves bring dash to the blandest of outfits

August 23rd, 2011 Leave a comment Go to comments

Whether you knot it, bow it, cord it or wind it, the neck scarf is one of the best accessories to sass up an outfit, says Josephine Newman, a Toronto fashion and lifestyle consultant. A former modeling school director and international model, Mrs. Newman owns an abundance of scarves which she changes to suit her mood and occasion. From her long fashion experience, she offers this advice: Neck length and height are determining factors for scarf length, she says. Short-necked women “should never wear a scarf tightly around the neck. Rather, it should be loosely draped in a gentle cowl neck.” Women with a long neck can wear a tight scarf.

For an elongating effect, a short person should drape a scarf so it is at least two or three inches above the waist; a tall person can wear a scarf that reaches the waist.

While a woman of average build can wear flimsy chiffon scarves with dash, larger builds should stick to heavier silks, Mrs. Newman says. “It’s basically a question of balancing proportions.” A tailored suit in neutral tones takes on dash with the touch of color a neck scarf adds, believes Betty Kennedy, public affairs editor for CFRB radio.

Mrs. Kennedy possesses a variety of silk scarves in multi-toned prints and solids, with one in aqua being a particular favorite. One of her preferred ways to perk up an outfit is to take “a comparatively small square and fold it into a diagonal, wind it into a cord and knot it at the neck.” This gives the appearance of a silk neck cord.

It’s best if the color of a scarf re-appears somewhere else in the outfit, in the shoes, stockings, belt, or the basic blouse and skirt, says Mrs. Newman. For example, a grey skirt and pink blouse go from ho-hum to dynamic with a scarf patterned in pink and grey.

For some people, scarves are sources of consternation: they twist and turn around the neck, always in an inappropriate direction. For these people, Mrs. Newman suggests a method guaranteed to keep a scarf in place. “Tie it around the neck. Fasten the buttons on the suit, but leave the second button undone. Bring one end of the kerchief out of the jacket at the second button area and secure it to the outside with a stick pin.” Evening attire requires a special technique. Mrs. Newman updates a time-honored cream-colored dress with a chiffon neck scarf twined with pearls. She also suggests braiding pearls together with two or three scarves, all variations of the same color (for instance, midnight blue, light blue and green-blue). For a more flamboyant look, vivid contrasting scarves can be braided with a hammered gold-leaf necklace.

This coming season we can expect to see the muffler, the bow and the bandana taking precedence in scarf styles, says Claire Goodman of Echo Scarfs in Toronto.

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  1. Purple Box Jewelry
    November 23rd, 2011 at 23:35 | #1
    Reply | Quote

    I love the quote “one of the best ways to sass up an outfit”

  1. March 7th, 2012 at 00:30 | #1
    {wednesday wishlist: scarves} « eternalvoyager