Confession time: I spent four years attending classes, listening to professors lecture, diligently studying, completing assigned tasks and cramming thousands of facts into my head that seemed to vanish the moment the exam was over, but I learned shockingly little about life. Until I went abroad that is. That is when I learned what I was truly capable of and how to be on my own. Never before had I appreciated alone time, but after many many solo cafe lunches, I quickly discovered the joy of not talking for an hour or so and contenting myself with people watching. And it was during one of those seul lunches that I realized how much I could learn from the women parading in front of me- these incredibly put together, chic women. Of my many observations of these glamazons I took away three main things:
1. European women live in heels. And not only heels, but sky high heels. They walk everywhere in the towering beauties and look amazing doing it. I credit them with my commitment to wear heels as often as possible, because i desperately wanted calves like theirs!
2. European women can work the layered look like no other. They never come across as frumpy,but rather as perfectly coiffed.
3. And thirdly, European women are the masters of that ever so elusive accessory, the scarf.
Yes, they know exactly how to tie the perfect knot, select the perfectly patterned silk and use them to style up their outfit to perfection. They make it look like an art form, and perhaps a little too complicated for mere mortals. But in reality, they are elegant, simple and the perfect way to accessorize any conservative outfit. If you merely want to add a pop of color to your look try tying your favorite gem through the handles of your most beloved bag, or around your delightful little waist to give it a boost of definition. Or you can drape it in the more traditional locale of your dainty neck.
The best scarves pick up on the hue of the colors in your outfit and come complete with a fun pattern. While there are hundreds of ways to tie scarves these days the best knot is one that looks natural and not stiff. Avoid the "I spent hours staring into the mirror perfecting this knot" vibe and try to achieve the "I just threw it on as I was leaving" look. Leave your collarbone exposed for a sexy, playful look. I personally love scarves and wore one just about everyday while I was in France, in the beginning because it was the best way to stay warm and increasingly as a fashion statement. If the scarf I am wearing is chunky, I prefer to fold the scarf in half, make a loop, throw it around my neck and pull the ends through for a chic but warm fit. Or if I am donning a lighter version for purely aesthetic purposes I will simply loop the scarf around my neck twice and let the ends dangle. Remember when choosing a scarf to keep the rest of your accessories muted. Eschew your statement necklaces and long, dangly earrings for the day and let the scarf be the center of attention. Give this fabulous accessory its day in the sun!
So, kitty cats, are you a fan of the scarf? How do you style yours? Do you wear them for warmth only, or do you have faith in their aesthetic beauty too? Speak up dolls and share your take on the scarf!
Bisous!
