If At First You Don’t Succeed, Tie, Tie Again

By Nancy K. Crevier

When the north winds begin to blow, fashion takes a turn for the cozy. One of the easiest ways to do so is by adding a scarf. Easy, that is, if you have the know-how.

Area wardrobe consultant Pam Friedlander of Positive Reflections has that know-how and believes that anyone, with a little practice, can learn to wear the right scarf to add flair to anything from casual wear to wedding wear.

“A scarf gives an outfit polish, even if you’re wearing jeans and a shirt,” said Ms Friedlander.  For daytime wear, scarves made of cotton, linen or silk that are light in weight work best. Knitted scarves, even the narrow styles, are meant for outdoor wear. The embellished, sequined, and glittery scarves are fun, but should be saved for after office hours and special events.

Color does not have to be set aside during business hours, though, and bright scarves are a terrific way in which to add color to a neutral wardrobe. Cheery  scarves can serve as a stepping stone for those who find color intimidating.

Not knowing how much is too much is a conundrum for some would-be scarf wearers, admitted Ms Friedlander. Because a scarf about the neck adds a lot of punch to an outfit already, use it instead of a necklace, she suggested.

“A necklace and a scarf will fight each other,” she said. But big, beautiful earrings and even a vintage pin attached to the scarf can provide a finishing touch.

Think proportion when selecting a scarf length. A taller woman can get away with wearing a longer scarf more easily than a petite woman can.

A tiny woman or a tall woman can look attractive in a small scarf folded into a rectangle, wrapped once about the neck, and tied jauntily to one side. It provides a very finished, clean look, ideal for the work space. But too short of a scarf tied close to the face can make some uncomfortable, and an untidy knot can look bulky and distracting, Ms Friedlander cautioned.

Look in a full length mirror when adding a scarf as an accessory to judge what is working visually with an outfit, she said. Ultimately, it is a matter of personal preference as to how snugly or loosely a scarf is worn, and in what setting.

Currently, very long, narrow scarves are in fashion, easy to find, and relatively inexpensive. But the traditional square scarf made popular in the 1960s can still work with a modern look. Folding a square scarf on the bias gives it length and versatility, Ms Friedlander pointed out, and offered several suggestions for using the square scarf in an updated way.

Toss the scarf, now folded once into a triangular shape, over the shoulders, point in the back. Even the ends in front, and loop them once. Pull tightly up toward the neck, and then fluff the thickened loop over the knot to hide it.

Or, with the point of the triangle held in front, cross the ends over behind the neck once, bring them to the front, and simply let them hang loose. Either of these scarf fashions will work with a turtleneck, v-neck, or scooped neckline, and are a perfect starting point for the “scarf impaired.”

With a buttondown shirt, try an ascot. Place the point of the triangle in front, bring ends around back and tie into a square knot — left over right, right over left — in front. If desired, the knot can be tucked under the front of the ascot.

“This gives you a polished look, and it’s warm, too,” said Ms Friedlander.

Those who do not feel comfortable with knots or having scarves at the throat can still accessorize with a scarf. Lay the square scarf on a flat surface and fold on the bias. Then fold the triangle from the long side toward the point of the scarf. The scarf can drape about the neck, held in place beneath a shirt or blazer collar. Tie a slip knot very low, or tie a knot into each end.

With printed scarves, said Ms Friedlander, make sure that the scarf is folded carefully so that only the “up” side is showing when the scarf is tied.

The very long, light scarves are best draped loosely two to three times about the neck, then finished with a low knot at the front. Two scarves of complementary or contrasting colors can be twisted together, as well. Or pull one end part way through the loop to create a fluffy, half-bow look.

Select cotton or cotton blend scarves of this style for casual and every day wear. The ephemeral, gossamer scarves embellished with rhinestones or velvet are perfect for turning a little black outfit into elegant evening wear. Look for scarves with tones of gold, silver and copper to accent holiday or wedding outfits, suggested Ms Friedlander.

“Don’t hesitate to wear color, don’t be afraid to experiment. You can have a lot of fun with scarves,” said Ms Friedlander.

Newtown Middle School teacher Tina Welsh has been in love with scarves for 30 years. Just about every size, shape, color and pattern is represented in her collection of more than 40 scarves.

“What I was attracted to initially was how beautiful they were, and how nice they made my neck feel, and how warm they are in winter. I think I started wearing scarves before they really became fashionable with young women. I think there was a time when I wore a scarf every day,” said Ms Welsh.

She loves the challenge in developing new ways to wear a scarf, and finds that other scarf wearers are more than happy to share the trick of tying a scarf that she admires.

“People who love scarves will undo the whole thing just to show you how to tie it,” she laughed.

Many of her scarves serve as mementos of the places to which she has traveled.

“It was my real passion for a while to get a unique scarf wherever I went. They’re fun, they’re pretty, and they are easy to pack,” she said. Wherever she goes, she keeps an eye open for a special scarf. Street vendors, art and museum shops, and quirky out-of-the-way stores are a wonderful source for memorable scarves, she said.

“I look for scarves with colors that I wear. And if I’m wearing a solid color, a patterned scarf just pulls the whole thing together. It can make a whole outfit feel brand new.”

Pulling the scarves from the belt hoop or tie rack on which the rainbow of scarves are clustered in her closet, she reminisces about a few of her favorite neck ties.

A scarf made up of rabbit fur pom-poms came from Quebec City several years ago when she traveled there with her daughter’s Girl Scout troop. “Everyone thought I was a little kooky, but then they became popular here in the next year or two,” said Ms Welsh.

A deep maroon scarf consisting of hundreds of small, knit loops came to her as a gift from her husband Ted, purchased when he visited Holland.

“I love this. It is light, but each little loop works to keep your neck real warm. I like wearing scarves in a way I haven’t seen before, or of a type I haven’t seen around. I think it was about three years before I saw one like this in the United States,” Ms Welsh said.

A tube scarf picked up in Vermont can be worn simply draped around the neck, she said, or because both ends are open, one end can be tucked all the way through to the other end, allowing her to wear it as a cowl neck. Another favorite is a colorful handmade scarf from California woven from recycled silk, and yet another was a gift last year when a teacher from China stayed with them.

One of her more unusual scarves is made of several strands of copper, gold, and brown glass beads strung in long rows. It is more like a necklace than any of her other scarves, and quickly converts a simple look into a dressy one.

Ms Welsh has developed a system for keeping track of all of her scarves and keeping them handy, as well. When she buys a scarf, she asks to keep the plastic loop on which it is usually displayed in the store. These loops slip nicely onto a belt hoop hanger in her closet. Other scarves are stored on a hanging tie rack. Both methods, she said, allow a scarf to “hang out” any creases after it has been worn.

The only other criteria she has for her scarves is that they be washable. When a scarf is inevitably dribbled on, a light hand washing with Woolite detergent, and a little time to allow it to air dry is all that is needed to revive it, she said.

She shared one of her favorite scarf tying tips, picked up from a small booklet she bought when she first became enamored with scarves. Fold a narrow rectangular scarf two or three times the long way and put around the neck with the ends hanging evenly in front. Twist the ends together twice, then bring each end up behind the neck and tie in a knot. Long hair will hide the knot, or tuck it under the back collar. “It’s so simple, and looks so neat,” she said.

The north wind will blow. That is a New England guarantee. But “tie, tie again” if scarves have been the nemesis of your closet. And when all else fails, utilize the last of Ms Welsh’s scarf tricks: “They make great table runners, too.”