How wonderful it is to be in the midst of the season for scarves (as if there’s only one season… but we’ll get to that)!
I recently made a major house move, so had to go through my closet to reorganize my clothes. I had a hard time making decisions on what to throw out, as I’m still working on losing those last 15 pounds of baby weight – (eek – baby is actually 18 months old)! As a result, I ended up bagging and boxing some items, and putting them in storage for when I do shed those last couple of inches around my middle.
Having said that, I’ve actually come to terms with my new curves and I’ve purchased a few new wares in my lovely, current, baby hip-holding size, and (luckily) a good portion of my tops fit me once again. Being a designer and a fashion lover, I have actually figured out a way for my new wares to stand up to the wardrobe I had pre-baby.
I’ve never been the person who buys a new wardrobe every year and donates last season’s garbs to charity. I’m actually someone who shops for items here and there, buying a garment when I fall in love with it, or when I have an occasion and need something new.
I tend to keep my clothes and wear them for years, restyling them as the seasons and the trends change. Some items I have had long enough to see them go out of style and then come back into fashion.
I’m also a huge advocate of layering – probably because I hail from New York, a place with a harsh winter and four full, glorious seasons.
Why toss that glittery, gold tank top from your college clubbing days away when you can layer it under a classy, fuzzy ivory cashmere sweater and get a peek of shimmer at the waist and at the shoulder straps?
But I digress, as this article is supposed to be about scarves, and I am just preparing you for the other topics in my series, so watch this space because there is a lot more to come.
So back to the scarves. As I embark on another autumn/winter with this new limited wardrobe at my disposal, I am faced with the eternal question… how do I liven up my closet without spending a fortune? Luckily for me, I’ve accumulated quite a collection of scarves in my time. Scarves are a true wardrobe workhorse. They’re the ultimate article of clothing that should stay put in your wardrobe.
They do not have to be replaced during pregnancy, and though the chillier months are known to be “scarf season,” they actually have such versatility that you can use them as a lifesaving accessory all year long.
Keep your hair up and out of your face in summer with a light silk scarf. Channel your inner Audrey Hepburn and cover your head in the storms of spring. In colder autumn and winter days, you can wear them in the usual way, around your neck for warmth, but there are endless ways to wear a scarf that can liven up any outfit, any time of year. And you can wear them anywhere you please, as well! Use scarves as a necklace, as a hair band or tie. As a bracelet, a belt, a head cover, a shawl. Tie one around the hips to accentuate a skirt. Even when worn traditionally around your neck, there are countless methods of securing them. Their uses are endless, as are their abilities to transform an outfit. The scarf truly does take a drab, boring look and make it exciting. You can add a pop of color to an otherwise monochromatic look. Bring in a pattern to offset solids, or – if you’re daring enough – mix and match different patterns by adding a wild scarf. Wear a scarf up by donning a fine-fabric one with beaded embellishments, or wear it down by using a well-loved cotton voile paired with jeans.
What I’m trying to say is simply this: Move your scarves to the front of your closet. Mix and match them. Wear them in whatever way strikes your fancy. Expand the options that exist for you without shopping for whole new outfits. Get creative with your wardrobe, and have fun while doing it. I know I will! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go dive into a big pile of scarves…
French Knot: my favorite.
This is a classy, beautiful and timeless look that never goes out of style.
1.Take a long scarf and fold it in half lengthwise
2.Drape it around your neck so loop and ends are at your front
3.Take one part of the loose end and put it through the loop, over one side and under the other.
4.Take the other loose end and put it through the loop in the other direction – under the one side and over the other, then adjust to desired tightness and length.
The Belted Scarf: a wonderful way to show off your favorite scarf.
I love it now, in my current post-baby state because some of my tops still fit a little snug, but not enough to retire, so wearing a scarf in this way hides some of those unwanted creases and bulges (no need for that shaper underwear here)!
1.Start with a long light to medium weight scarf that has a fringed edge
2.Drape over shoulders, and adjust length so both edges are even
3.Take a belt and secure at the natural waistline
4.Tug scarf to tighten beneath the belt
The V-Neck Front Knot: if a cowgirl went to Paris this is what she’d come away with.
A chic and fun way to wear a scarf that also keeps you warm.
1. Take a medium to large square silk scarf and fold in half diagonally, to form a triangle
2. Wrap it around your neck with the fold at your chin and the tip of the triangle pointing down
3. Take the other two corners around your neck and bring back around to your front
4. Tie the two corners in a double knot slightly to one side, then fluff for desired fullness
The Infinity Necklace: a flirty, fun and oh-so-easy look.
This may be the scarf combination I get the most compliments on. Simple, different and playful.
1. Take a medium to long rectangle scarf and tie the ends together
2. Put it over your head with the knot at the back of your neck
3. Loop the scarf around your neck again
4. Leaving the knot at the back of your neck, adjust one part to be tight, like a choker (but not too tight!) and the other part loose, like a long necklace
Stay tuned for more of Emily’s Fashion Hacks on GloTIME.tv
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