A designer silk head scarf is a symbol of luxury perhaps because it is worn by celebrities and royalty alike. Typically, it’s a medium or large silk square scarf that is folded or wrapped around the head. Headscarves have been a versatile accessory for decades and no one wore them better or enjoyed them more than the late Queen Elizabeth II. They were also worn to great effect by Hollywood doyennes Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn to society queens Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy, to today’s models – such as Gigi Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski, making heads turn with this timeless cult accessory.
Vintage scarves or artist scarves are getting more scarce and highly collectable. In 2011 a scarf designed by Henri Matisse fetched £3m at Christie’s auction house. Executed in 1946 – 1947 in a signed edition of 30, number 26 came from an art collector. It was Czech émigré Zika Ascher a textile manufacturer and fashion guru who made the artist scarf desirable by numerous collaborations with famous artists. It was part of a project called ‘Ascher Squares’. Since then, scarves have been an alternative canvas for artist collaborations, some worn but more often framed as artworks.
A luxury printed headscarf worn well has a WOW factor. Fashion is in love again with silk head scarves, especially the vintage-inspired ‘granny chic’ look adopted by millennials who raid their mothers’ and grandmothers’ wardrobes for vintage pieces.
A headscarf has a strong visual look, it makes a real statement and a patterned one can liven up your outfit in an instant. It can be worn classically or tied in ways to add attitude and a bit of fun, so they appeal to a wide spectrum of age ranges.
Owning a designer silk scarf is the most versatile accessory you can have in your wardrobe. Certain high-end fashion brands such as Gucci, Hermes, Dior, Alexander McQueen, Maxmara produce Silk scarves each season in signature prints that are a great way to buy into that designer’s look without breaking the bank. For the brand it’s a way to convey their brand identity
Top Designer scarves come in luxurious and eye-catching prints and colours with obvious logos, all finished beautifully and packaged in branded presentation gift boxes. Once you have acquired a designer silk scarf then there is a myriad of ways to style them, not only around the neck but on the head, draped softly over the shoulders, or tied to a favourite bag.
There are numerous looks you can create with a scarf. From a practical point of view a headscarf is perfect for bad hair days and a quick post-beach makeover. The main fashionistas of the 1960’s, for example Jaqueline Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe preferred to go out in trouser suits, tying a silk scarf on their heads in babushka style (tied under the chin) and complementing the elegant image with large sunglasses. Brigitte Bardot and Jane Fonda liked to carelessly wrap a headscarf around their heads and throw the ends of the silk accessory behind their backs. A silk scarf is a perfect accessory to add a touch of elegance to any hairstyle. Here are some headscarf styles you can follow:
logo and brand-style. Wearable work of art so the designers name printed on the scarf is an endorsement of the originality of the design, like an artist’s signature on a painting. Every aspect of a designer scarf in seen in the detailing, from the quality of the silk to the unique design, the finishing in the hand rolled edges and finally the presentation in a bespoke gift box.
The perfect summer getaway accessory has gained popularity again in the 2020s, so are headscarves still cool? The answer is – absolutely! Recently headscarves have been spotted at some of the biggest fashion shows (think Prada, Marc Jacobs, and Gucci), plus they’re constantly being worn by all the coolest Instagram influencers too. Designer scarves for women can help you create loads of different headscarf styles such as pony tie, twisted headband, bandanna, bandanna cap, babushka, etc. They don’t have to be silk, a headscarf in super-soft wool blends is ideal for lightweight warmth in between seasons.
Laslett England has a collection of vintage-style head scarves that are designed to be worn in the hair as well as around the neck. The ‘Solitaire’ collection is retro in feel printed with large Polka Dots in eye-catching brights, orange and coffee, violet and lemon or teal and chestnut brown, all finished with contrasting coloured hand-rolled edges for the perfect finishing touch when it’s tied. The 70 x70 size square is ideal for wearing neckerchief style around the neck and just the right proportions to tie as a headscarf. Wear this silk square tied under the chin to up-style your autumn coat, or bandana style for the summer with dresses, shorts or dungarees.
A Laslett England Silk Diamond scarf works brilliantly to achieve this look. Fold in from the centre to make a long narrow scarf, place the scarf under the hairline, bring the pointed ends up above your head, twist over to create the hairband and bring the long ends back down to tie underneath with the points of the diamond hanging down at the back.
HOW TO WEAR DIFFERENT HEADSCARF STYLES?
Shape. There are two shapes you can choose from: square headscarves or rectangular headscarves. Square headscarves are the easiest to work with for the greatest variety of hairdos but make sure you’ve selected a scarf that’s big enough for your chosen style. If you want it to cover all or most of your head, it should be at least 70 x 70 cms (28 by 28 inches). Rectangular head scarves, oblong or long scarves are not quite as multipurpose as their perfectly square cousins, but they do offer other benefits. In particular, you’ll probably want to use a rectangular style if you like the look of excess fabric hanging down, or if you’re interested in doing a full headwrap or turban.
Fabric. Depending on the style you’re going for, you also want a scarf made of fabric that’s going to stay on your head while still being stylish and washable. Fabrics such as cotton or lightweight wools are some of the best because they stay secure. Silk and satin fabrics are great for protecting your hair and keeping you comfortable.
Here are some headscarf styles you can follow:
Headband
Fold the two edges of a square scarf inward & continue to fold it evenly until you can’t go further. Then, gently twist your scarf a couple of times & place the centre of the scarf on the back of your head, underneath your hair, and pull it upwards towards the middle, on top of your head. Twist the two loose ends around each other once and take these ends & pull them down underneath the head and tie a knot at the back.
Ponytail
The simplest & quickest way to flaunt the headscarf trend is in a ponytail. Take a silk square scarf and fold it in half diagonally to make a triangle. Then, roll the scarf from the pointed side of the triangle towards the straight edge on the opposite side until you have a long, even band. Place the centre of the folded scarf under your ponytail and tie it in a knot or bow with two loose ends hanging down.
Bandanna
To get one of the trendiest headscarf styles, fold your scarf half diagonally to make a triangle. Then, hold the corners and drape the scarf around your head with the two loose ends tied down at the nape of your neck. You can wear a bandanna headscarf style with straight hair or loose curls. Fold the scarf in half so it forms a triangle, and tie it over your head with the long, folded edge on your forehead.
Babushka – a classic styled head scarf
Babushka, meaning grandmother in the Russian language, is an effortlessly chic & super easy headscarf style. Fold a scarf in a triangle and make a band by folding it once from the longer side. Then, wrap it around your head by twisting the two loose ends & tying them into a knot under your chin. That’s it, voila!
Old Glamour Styles
To accomplish the old glamour 60s style, fold your scarf in half and place the folded edge at the front of your head. Tie the ends under your chin, and you’re done! This is a great style to accessorize with earrings – the bigger, the better for a 60s style.
Scarf Braid
Fold a scarf in a triangle and keep it aside. Take a section from the crown of your head and tie it with an elastic. Now, take the folded scarf and wrap it around the elastic in the back. Split the rest of your hair into three sections and braid down normally taking both sides of the scarf. Once done, put an elastic at the end.
A great way to keep the headscarf fashionable is to buy matching accessories. If you can, having a bag or a pair of shoes that match the scarf in colour or pattern can look on-trend. This shows you’re conscious about fashion and care about your style. This was very popular in the 60s, so if you opt for the tie under the chin, style matching shoes and purses are perfect!
Coordinate It with Your Outfit
Once your beauty and accessories are all planned, it’s time to match the style to your clothes. When you’re playing around with bold, printed accessories, there are two options for clothing. You can either go big and bold and clash your colourful/printed clothes with the headscarf or, you can go wholly minimal and let the headscarf do all the talking.
Wearing black and white with a colourful silk scarf is a very fashionable style and can be translated into office/workwear too. Who says the headscarf is only for the weekends? Incorporating accessories into your work wardrobe can be a great way to express your style subtly and without breaking any dress codes.
So, designer silk scarves and in turn headscarves can certainly command status and value for the owner and collections can ensue. It is important that these silk beauties are looked after, and therefore those with a rarity are sometimes never worn to retain that value. Silk is very durable if it is looked after. It’s recommended to keep it gently folded and untied in its box.
For the person who has everything or has very discerning taste a silk scarf makes a wonderful and lasting gift. The ultimate accessory, a designer silk scarf is a chic addition to any look. A silk scarf is a perfect accessory to add a touch of elegance to co-ordinate with an outfit or hairstyle.
