The Art of Scarf Wearing

In women's fashion, there is one accessory that is often completely overlooked, yet can offer endless possibilities for changing the look of many different pieces in your wardrobe. That accessory, of course, is the scarf. Scarves have been a part of women's fashion for many decades, in fact there are representations of fringed rectangles of fabric found in Chinese sculpture dating as far back as 1000 b.c.

In the 1950s wearing a scarf was something that evoked an air of Hollywood-style glamour, and sophisticated elegance. Film stars such as Lana Turner, Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly wore scarves in the same way that stars today wear fake tan. They would walk from planes with sunglasses and scarves on looking amazing and mysterious and created a whole following for the garment. Scarves are worn less in this way today but are still an important part of a woman's wardrobe.

Scarves are made from a variety of fabrics and also a variety of styles - traditionally scarves were made from silk or wool but the advent of man made fibres have made scarves a bit less likely to be made from natural fibres. Scarves come in many sizes and shapes, and many are designed for specific uses. There are bandanas, large shawl-like scarves, square scarves, rectangular scarves, and triangular scarves. Some scarves have hemmed edges, some have fringed edges, and others (mainly those made from man made fibres) have fused edges.

Scarves can be worn in a variety of ways: you can wear them as head coverings, shawls, accent pieces, belts, and even as garments. They can be tied, pinned with a piece of jewellery, or secured with specially designed scarf pins. Below are several ways of wearing scarves.

Covering the head is one of the traditional purposes for which scarves have been used. This can be for traditional or cultural reasons, to protect the head from the cold or to protect a new hair do from the ravages of the wind.

One of the less traditional ways of wearing scarves is to use them as garments. A scarf can be used as skirt or even as a blouse. It is also a great thing to wrap round your shoulders if you are a little bit chilly

Perhaps the most popular use for scarves is as a fashion accessory. A scarf can completely change the look of a plain garment, and can add a touch of softness and femininity to a suit. They are versatile because they are available in many colours and shapes and also because they negate the need for jewellery.

By Fiona Neo Muler