It’s pretty cold here in the south of England at the moment. I mean, not as cold as some places, for sure, but cold enough to wear coats, hats, gloves and scarves.
Now scarves, I have always thought, were worn by wrapping them once or more around the neck - with the ends either tucked into the coat, or jauntily tossed across the shoulder.
But suddenly (or I have only just noticed) everyone is wearing them differently - they fold them double, wrap them from back to front of the neck, then pull the loose ends through the loop - wearing it more like a tie - as in this picture:
Am I right in thinking this style has become quite suddenly popular?
I first saw it done before Christmas a year ago on some talk show or morning news program in a segment about scarves. It is nice for longer scarves, and I find that it keeps the scarf secure on windy days and keeps my neck warmer. What I hate is the trend of wearing a scarf in this manner with a sweater, after the coat has been removed. I’ve been seeing that a lot lately.
If you just drape or wrap the scarf the wind can blow it loose. Tying the scarf like a giant loose cravat keeps your neck warm and the scarf from blowing around.
I think its been done in the US for a while now. The first time I ever remember seeing someone wear a scarf like that it was Rachel and Monica on Friends. And then it did prompt a discussion in my house “Why are they wearing their scarfs that weird way?” But now it is pretty much accepted. I think it is actually easier that way, you don’t have the ends flopping all over the place.
I started trying it this winter. It really is a superior method. The ends don’t get tugged on or sat on and start choking me, it doubles the layers and therefore the windscreen and insulating effects, and it doesn’t blow itself off over my shoulder like the Tom Baker style.
It first came to my attention three years ago in Britain when it was referred to as the “Hollyoaks” way – Hollyoaks is a British teen soap. I’m pretty sure they didn’t invent it though. And I’ll confirm that it is very warm, which is great with the weather we’re having.
Yeah- I wear my “serious” scarves like that all the time (“serious” scarves are the ones worn for warmth, as opposed to the ones that serve as a mere accessory).
About 5 years ago, I left my beautiful warm sunny home and moved to a place with winters. When it got cold, my friends taught me to put my scarves on with the loop method. Over time, I’ve found I like the wrapping method better since it lets me pull a layer up over my mouth and chin when I bike.
I still prefer the wrapping method, mainly because my big scarf is long enough to go around twice and still leave long tails that I lay flat down my front, under my coat - acts like an extra layer there.
I learned it in Florence (the one in Italy) from a fine leather goods guy, and a year later I started to see it everywhere. I felt fashionable for once in my life.
Isn’t it odd how such a small thing can be so noticeable? The women reporters on various TV station news shows are always standing outside in the freezing cold. Each and every single one of them has tied her scarf in the new way. I’m going to try it myself.
I saw the loop method either on TV or or on campus: either way, on someone I didn’t know, but the idea seemed useful. I use it for some of my thinner (less wide, not less thick) scarfs- the loop makes them cover up more of my neck, which is nice. Wide scarfs still get wrapped around in the older style. The widest get wrapped over the top of my head, and then around my shoulders.
I find it nicer because it goes on faster. I hang my scarf on a hook so it’s already doubled, I just grab it from the middle where it goes over the hook. Sling across the shoulders, tuck the ends, and go. As opposed to sling across the shoulders, and wind the ends around and around the neck and possibly also tying a half-hitch at the end anyway so the ends don’t get tugged or windblown and start unwinding themselves.
So I get two “wraps” with one simple motion, instead of having to wind the thing twice (or more) and mess with the ends to prevent unwinding.
Following an evil thought, I tested an old scarf several years back and found that it could easily hold my weight. Probably two of me in fact. Now I never wrap one all the way around my neck. I just fold it in half and then tuck the ends down inside my jacket. No need to present a handy grab handle to everyone behind me.
