OK, that was very strange - it’s like you read my mind! I agree 1000% with you! Especially because I have Electrique and love it!
Scarves MYH's Scarf Showcase - and philosophical ramblings about how I built my collection
- Thread starter MYH
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I love this discussion! Colliers de Chiens is my top pick followed by Fleurs.
Love the discussion too!
I have a place in my heart for Pique Fleuri , if it had been the lime yellow version it would be my numero uno.
I tired this at the Montpellier boutique , one I've always regretted passing on. IMO a case of the colours circumventing any chance of dowdiness. It's all about colour for me..
However , I'd turn the pullover round with the V at the back and wear the scarf tight round the neck with the tails at the back .
Faced with these c'ways:Collier de Chiens , Fleurs Indiennes, Pique F , Chasse en Inde.
I'd be careful how I'd style these , probably would choose different ways for each pattern.
I have a place in my heart for Pique Fleuri , if it had been the lime yellow version it would be my numero uno.
I tired this at the Montpellier boutique , one I've always regretted passing on. IMO a case of the colours circumventing any chance of dowdiness. It's all about colour for me..
However , I'd turn the pullover round with the V at the back and wear the scarf tight round the neck with the tails at the back .
Faced with these c'ways:Collier de Chiens , Fleurs Indiennes, Pique F , Chasse en Inde.
I'd be careful how I'd style these , probably would choose different ways for each pattern.
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Your post not only gave me several chuckles, it also has many thoughtful points.Delurking to say that while I was already enjoying reading along before, I find the conversation so much more fun and relaxing when the goal is to avoid "frumpy" and "dowdy," which anyone can be at any age.
Except maybe Lupita Nyong'o. Put her in that outfit with any of those scarves, and she looks great. And even if most of us aren't Lupita Nyong'o, there is a right person and a right look for every scarf.
That said, I like very much to look for principles that work for certain groups of us. That is a huge part of the fun of talking fashion! My mom thought I looked great in everything (or at least, that I would have looked great if only I would smile and get my hair out of my face and not wear so much black all the time), which was very sweet and dear of her but not always useful.
Almost all the principles MYH proposed in her first post on the topic apply to me--right now, anyway (we all change, of course)--and I appreciate her articulating them. Thank you, MYH, for this extremely interesting discussion.
On to the poll. All these scarves are risky for me: florals and jewelry and small patterns on scarves tend to be my one-way ticket to Dowdyville. However:
My #1 is also FdI, for the 70s-vibe described above. Though there could be some risk of fussy-floral, the larger pattern with gentle lines can be worn to look retro-chic and modern. I am wary of gold for MYH's reasons (and because I learned the hard way), but pale yellow and brown are kind to me, and there is energy in the blues and the stripiness.
Chasse en Inde would have worked with my boho, unstructured, I-love-India-so-much-except-I-don't-really-know-anything-about-it look in college. I remember that look fondly but do not need to revisit it (and especially not the clove cigarettes). Someone of any age who does that floaty windswept Far- and Near Eastern accented look could do a good job with this outfit and scarf and some chandelier earrings, in my opinion. No clove cigarettes required.
I see what folks are getting at with the CdC, but on me, scarves with any kind of jewelry (whether for dogs or people) look frumpy, and I stay away. PdF becomes a tablecloth pattern on me, sad to say. It is the chic-est little thing in gavroche format on bunnycat, but it takes a surer, hipper hand than mine to make it work.
For myself, I have a white-and-black-and-beige Onde de Chic plisse that is my favorite thing in the world right now. With the outfit in the poll, I would wear it wrapped once or twice around and tied very casually, with some oversized but minimalist wire earrings.
oooo - I would pick Collier de Chiens!Hey scarfies!! Happy New Year!! Hopefully, you are not nursing a hangover from last night. Luckily, I am not even though I had a few drinks so I am a happy camper.
So....I have been asked by quite a few people if we could circle back to the “aging scarf” topic because they find it fascinating and want to learn and hear others opinions. I’m willing to give it a try but thought some ground rules might be good? I think the discussion can only be honest and frank if everyone feels comfortable sharing their true opinions without fear it will cause animosity. So here’s what I was thinking....I’ll try not to be too verbose.
1. Please don’t take every word literally. We are not professional writers and for some of us, English is not our first language. So if someone uses the word “old”, it doesn’t mean they are ageist or prejudice against someone because of their age. Perhaps a more accurate word could be older, mature, matronly, oldish, frumpy, etc. Just read for the general gist the writer is trying to express. Quick example, I have a male friend who loves Hermes scarves. When we go scarf shopping together, he will ask me “Does this make me look girly?” He does not mean he thinks girls are ugly, he doesn’t think it’s inferior to be a girl vs a boy, he does not hate girls, he doesn’t think it’s wrong to look like a girl, and he is not sexist. But I know what he means. Does this make sense?
2. Can we not post pics of scarves tied on ourselves and then ask everyone if the scarf looks aging? I would say most of us would not feel comfortable giving our true opinions because it’s now become too personal. If you really want an honest answer, I would suggest laying the scarf flat on the floor, tie a knot and lay it on the floor, or take a screen shot from google images.
3. Let’s not turn this into a debate about who’s wrong and who’s right. If some people engage in this discussion with the goal of only proving their point, I don’t think it will be productive. I dont’ think there are any right or wrong answers and we may all have differing opinions. But as with any discussion, I think there will be a majority and a minority. If you’re in the minority, that’s ok. Your opinion doesn’t have to be the same as everyone else’s.
4. If this is a really sensitive topic for you or if you know you will get upset if some people say some negative things about scarves in your collection, then please skip this thread for the next couple of days. Know yourself and what you can handle.
I myself am curious to learn too!! I have my own opinions but they are not set in stone.
OK to kick off the discussion, I thought we could do a poll. Let’s play stylist. You have been invited to a casual birthday party. This is your outfit (I hope most of us agree this is a good outfit). Do keep in mind the jeans can be blue or another color. But this is the general look. If you hate this outfit, perhaps it’s better to not participate in the poll.
You want to wear a 90cm Hermes scarf but want to keep your look “fresh” and not “frumpy”. Rank the following scarves in order of favorite to least favorite. Which scarf would you choose and why? If you really dislike all of the 4 options, please post a pic of a scarf you like better. After we get some responses on the scarves, we can talk about which scarf knots you think would work.
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MYH,
Thank you! Mao Mao would be grateful if he knows so many people care about him.
That Astrologie Nouvelle 90 was bought in NYC a few years back. It was re-issued that year in original CWs (3-4 CWs) along with Tiger Royal and Bolduc au Carre, only available for sale in NYC, Tokyo and Paris at the time. Customers could request initials to be embroidered at one corner of these special edition scarves (fees involved). The scarf would then be sent to France, embroidered and sent back to US. I did that, so this is a very special scarf in my collection. I should have also bought Tiger Royal. I still regret today.
This is fun! Below is my preference.
Fleurs d'Indiennes
Colliers de Chiens
Fleuri de Provence
Chasse en indie
I actually like Fleuri de Provence, because it's folklore in nature. I love anything that has cultural elements behind it. I have this print in one CGSM and one 90 silk, and the latter is a find on sale. The particular CW you posted would probably look better with a grey sweater.
Fleurs d'Indiennes
Colliers de Chiens
Fleuri de Provence
Chasse en indie
I actually like Fleuri de Provence, because it's folklore in nature. I love anything that has cultural elements behind it. I have this print in one CGSM and one 90 silk, and the latter is a find on sale. The particular CW you posted would probably look better with a grey sweater.
Why thank you for those kind words -- I'd have settled just for the chuckles.
(It was aaaaaalmost worth smoking those clove cigarettes just for the ability to make fun of myself for it now.)These responses are all fun to read -- I can't wait to see how it all plays out. I'm glad to see Pique Fleuri has some champions: I was starting to root for it as the underdog. Though while I can root for it all I want, I still can't wear it, so my vote stands as is.
Twinsies, @frou frou. This woman looks amazing in it too and I don't think it ages her at all. She totally influenced me to get it: https://passionforelegance.com/portfolio/jardin-a-sintra/
I have to work on scarf knots and outfits too. I tend to be a bit complicated with my knotting and definitely look a bit 'aged' by the time I'm done sweating over a knot. Need to experiment more.