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Earlier this winter, BlogHer's very own Denise asked for some scarf tying help, specifically for help wrapping her scarf so that it would cover her neck and face and actually keep her WARM because goodness it's cold in Chicago these days. "I see people do it all of the time in movies and on TV. I’ve read books where people do this. I’ve even seen a few people up here in arctic Illinois do it. But when I tried it, the scarf just slipped down. I am scarf illiterate."
Scarves are perhaps winter's most functional accessory -- they add color and texture and pattern to your outfits, but they ALSO keep you warm and toasty. A big scarf can double as a shawl or wrap, should you need it to, while a smaller scarf can keep basic sweaters looking fresh and new. But tying a scarf can be daunting, under the best of circumstances, and when it's below zero and you're trying to pump gas or walk the kids to school or just get from one indoor place to the next, you want your scarf to work as more than just an accessory.
There are three basic ways to tie a wool scarf; my favorite is the hacking knot, which honestly is more decorative than warm. Fold your scarf in half at the middle, creating a loop (I also like to twist the scarf a little, for good measure); put that around your neck and slip the long end through the loop. This is a good look if you're going to wear your scarf all day, in place of a necklace, for example.
If you're needing to use your scarf for warmth, you can tie it like an ascot: wrap the scarf around your neck once, and then tie a loose loop by threading the end up through the part you just wrapped around your neck. While this won't keep your face covered, it's great for days when you're wearing something that exposes any part of your neck or cleavage (although seriously, if it's five degrees, keep your cleavage covered). This is also a good look with a coat; center the hanging ends of the scarf so they fall straight down from your chin, right where your coat buttons.
But what if it's five degrees out (or COLDER!) and you have to put gas in your car or wait for a train or walk to the bottom of the very long driveway for the mail? And you're not trying to be stylish, you're just trying not to FREEZE?!? Simple. Take your scarf and hold it across your face, covering your nose and mouth (but not your eyes, obviously). Wrap it around your face and return the ends to the front, under your chin; tie a loose knot there and head out. The trick is that you will need a scarf that is wide enough to reach from the bridge of your nose to the top of a crew neck sweater in order to make this really work; a skinny scarf won't stay in place. Once you've got it lined up and tied, though, you can put your coat on and pull the part covering your face down around your neck like a cowl; pull it up again when you're ready to go outside. Pair with a hat that comes down over your ears (tuck the scarf up into the hat, at the sides, for extra warmth and security) and you'll be completely covered.
StyleNosh goes coatless with a chunky sweater and a great scarf.
Lavish & Lime list five good reasons to wear a scarf (other than warmth, although they're Canadian so they know ALL about that).
Finally, the girls at Who What Wear have put together this super-helpful video tutorial on how to wear scarves. Check out all their videos here -- so much fun!
