It can be used as a belt, a bag, a bandana, a bandeau, a wristband, a ponytail scrunch, a napkin and even as a compression bandage. There is nothing more versatile than a scarf, probably the most useful of all accessories in a well-thought-out modern wardrobe. They can add drama, colour, comfort and flamboyance and there are those who know how to make the most of them – the flair of French and Italian men in particular come to mind – and those who wear the wrong colour or pattern for their outfit or skin tone.
A common mistake is for those with tiny frames to wear overwhelming scarves and conversely for tall people to wear skimpy ones. Infinity scarves where ends are joined are best avoided altogether.
Some scarves just catch the imagination, like the skull scarves of Alexander McQueen in 2003 which sparked a buying frenzy, and then there are the classics such as the Hermès Carré silk squares first launched nearly 80 years ago which are still as popular and as fashionable as ever.
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I remember a French friend, whose father gave her a scarf every birthday, trying to teach me how to tie an Hermès scarf the proper Parisian way which involved complicated folding and knotting. Matching textures is important. Uplift plain outfits with pattern and graphic stripes and keep scarf colours plain with patterned outfits. Add oomph to black leather jackets with plaid or polka dots. For example, Irish stylist Lauren McCreery says that she always goes back to the failsafe cowgirl style having struggled with the nifty playing cards that Hermès used to offer with illustrations and step-by-step instructions.
These have now been replaced with a silk knots app showing 19 different ways of tying a scarf via beautiful videos to help diversify scarf styles. Even if worn with slashed denims and trainers, a silk scarf always adds a bit of dash.
Irish designers have winning ways with scarves. Textile designer Susannagh Grogan is now stocked in all of Brown Thomas stores and her current suggested favourite way of tying is rolling the scarf into a tube and wrapping it around her throat in a polo neck manner with a small knot at the front. Alternatively, it can be worn in the classic French side-knot style.
Elsewhere, Lisa Ryder and Martha Lynn have collaborated on a bold equestrian print and others like Dúinn Design and Stable draw from Ireland's heritage and landscape. Peter O'Brien has always used silk scarves imaginatively and his collaboration with Fisherman Out of Ireland will see his chunky cable scarves transform many a fashionable winter outfit for 2016.
Additional research by Lauren McCreery
