Scarves MYH's Scarf Showcase - and philosophical ramblings about how I built my collection

[HermesHope]

I use an app called Evernote to track all kinds of thing, including my scarves. I add in all of the purchasing details, plus a photo and put them all in order of when they were released. You could of course use any order at all. I find this app useful because I can install it on my iPad and phone and also use the web-based version on my laptop or any desktop PC as well. That way you could take everything with you to a store. As I also have photos of my clothes on there too, I love that I can check what I already own.

https://thelibrainretired.wordpress.com/2017/02/06/wardrobe-planning-05-organisation/

 

[Julide]

I use an app called Evernote to track all kinds of thing, including my scarves. I add in all of the purchasing details, plus a photo and put them all in order of when they were released. You could of course use any order at all. I find this app useful because I can install it on my iPad and phone and also use the web-based version on my laptop or any desktop PC as well. That way you could take everything with you to a store. As I also have photos of my clothes on there too, I love that I can check what I already own.

https://thelibrainretired.wordpress.com/2017/02/06/wardrobe-planning-05-organisation/

That’s brilliant!

 

[imagineme]

I use an app called Evernote to track all kinds of thing, including my scarves. I add in all of the purchasing details, plus a photo and put them all in order of when they were released. You could of course use any order at all. I find this app useful because I can install it on my iPad and phone and also use the web-based version on my laptop or any desktop PC as well. That way you could take everything with you to a store. As I also have photos of my clothes on there too, I love that I can check what I already own.

https://thelibrainretired.wordpress.com/2017/02/06/wardrobe-planning-05-organisation/

 

[momasaurus]

No- I can't go there either!!



You can do a couple of simple lists to keep things "at a glance". I keep track of scarves I collect by artist, so I can see how many of one artist I might have. Also my other important item to track is purchase/acquisition date (so I can hit myself over the head regularly) so I can see what months get a little too crazy versus when things are more in control. December/January was bad because I got the Jaguar Questzal, Iris, a couple for Xmas, and then found a couple more just after the holidays.....

I also add in some other data like price (yikes...that's a real eyeopener) and less used but still interesting for me is format. I have more 90's than I thought (because of Xmas....) but pocket squares still win by a landslide....And then I recently went through and marked off ones that I rehomed but don't delete because I think it still will be good to know what I did have, even if I don't anymore.

Mine is just a "table" in a word document, because I just hate excel. I keep track of where I got each scarf and how much I paid, if and when I wash it, and any problems with knotting it or matching colors, or what I really love about it. Like @bunnycat, I've learned which months I go crazy! And I try not to count the totals...

EDIT: Oh, @HermesHope - I love librarians. This is brilliant to have the picture with the info.

 

[Julide]

Mine is just a "table" in a word document, because I just hate excel. I keep track of where I got each scarf and how much I paid, if and when I wash it, and any problems with knotting it or matching colors, or what I really love about it. Like @bunnycat, I've learned which months I go crazy! And I try not to count the totals...

EDIT: Oh, @HermesHope - I love librarians. This is brilliant to have the picture with the info.

There are months?!? Oh boy scarves are more dangerous than I first thought....

 

[bunnycat]

Mine is just a "table" in a word document, because I just hate excel. I keep track of where I got each scarf and how much I paid, if and when I wash it, and any problems with knotting it or matching colors, or what I really love about it. Like @bunnycat, I've learned which months I go crazy! And I try not to count the totals...

EDIT: Oh, @HermesHope - I love librarians. This is brilliant to have the picture with the info.

I kind of wish I hadn't actually totalled them, but really, I keep a running total in my head anyway so I knew already but to see hard cold figures is another thing entirely....

There are months?!? Oh boy scarves are more dangerous than I first thought....

yaaassss....it is true......

 

[turfnsurf]

No- I can't go there either!!



You can do a couple of simple lists to keep things "at a glance". I keep track of scarves I collect by artist, so I can see how many of one artist I might have. Also my other important item to track is purchase/acquisition date (so I can hit myself over the head regularly) so I can see what months get a little too crazy versus when things are more in control. December/January was bad because I got the Jaguar Questzal, Iris, a couple for Xmas, and then found a couple more just after the holidays.....

I also add in some other data like price (yikes...that's a real eyeopener) and less used but still interesting for me is format. I have more 90's than I thought (because of Xmas....) but pocket squares still win by a landslide....And then I recently went through and marked off ones that I rehomed but don't delete because I think it still will be good to know what I did have, even if I don't anymore.

I use an app called Evernote to track all kinds of thing, including my scarves. I add in all of the purchasing details, plus a photo and put them all in order of when they were released. You could of course use any order at all. I find this app useful because I can install it on my iPad and phone and also use the web-based version on my laptop or any desktop PC as well. That way you could take everything with you to a store. As I also have photos of my clothes on there too, I love that I can check what I already own.

https://thelibrainretired.wordpress.com/2017/02/06/wardrobe-planning-05-organisation/

Mine is just a "table" in a word document, because I just hate excel. I keep track of where I got each scarf and how much I paid, if and when I wash it, and any problems with knotting it or matching colors, or what I really love about it. Like @bunnycat, I've learned which months I go crazy! And I try not to count the totals...

EDIT: Oh, @HermesHope - I love librarians. This is brilliant to have the picture with the info.

Ladies- I bow to your collective brilliance!
I have a written list (Haves + Wishes) and use GlamOutfit app for mobile at-a-glance wardrobe/scarf organization, but will now put together a worksheet to further hone my scarfery skills.
Also, I need to look into Evernote! Sounds like it neatly rolls all my scattered bits of scarf info into one place.
Thank you all SO MUCH!

 

[momasaurus]

There are months?!? Oh boy scarves are more dangerous than I first thought....

I kind of wish I hadn't actually totalled them, but really, I keep a running total in my head anyway so I knew already but to see hard cold figures is another thing entirely....

yaaassss....it is true......

Ladies- I bow to your collective brilliance!
I have a written list (Haves + Wishes) and use GlamOutfit app for mobile at-a-glance wardrobe/scarf organization, but will now put together a worksheet to further hone my scarfery skills.
Also, I need to look into Evernote! Sounds like it neatly rolls all my scattered bits of scarf info into one place.
Thank you all SO MUCH!

I admire those who use the style apps or other outfiit-maker apps. I am too lazy to photograph my clothing. @bunnycat : well, I do *sort of* know how many I have....and now I am starting a purge, especially of 90s.

 

[bunnycat]

I admire those who use the style apps or other outfiit-maker apps. I am too lazy to photograph my clothing. @bunnycat : well, I do *sort of* know how many I have....and now I am starting a purge, especially of 90s.

I tried a style app too once. But it is just way too much work.....so I keep my SOTD archive so I can see what combinations I like and remind myself of what i have from time to time....

 

[FlaTiger]

I use OneNote which is very similar to Evernote. It synchronizes from my desktop to phone. I have a page for current season so that when I get to a boutique (none are local for me), I don't forget what I wanted to see. I have a tendency to get so excited and enthusiastic that I forget if I don't have a list. I know that I've mentioned it before on other threads, but I never seem to walk out with what I thought I was going to buy. Also, I have too many 90's to keep on a list but I do have a list of 140 CSGMs with stock pics. That way I can pull them up and scroll through to make sure that I don't buy the same colors over and over. I live where it's warm so I don't have too many 'warm' scarves.

 

[MYH]

Gosh, there have been so many responses since I last checked into this thread and am so happy to see some of you have shared your rules too.

I’m sure I have more “rules” for myself but these are the ones off the top of my head. I’m curious to hear what rules the more experienced collectors out there have made for themselves?
**I MESSED UP THE QUOTE FEATURE HERE!**


Just finished power reading the thread from #1 over the last 10days and have thoroughly enjoyed your insight &musings @MYH as well as the input from the other amazing contributors here!
After swooning over the magnificent scarf chest (and contents) I wondered if I might contribute my guidelines to look my personal best since I’m definitely not a “more experienced collector” than you? (I’ll beg forgiveness later if not wanted and mods can delete)
1. I need high contrast & pure hues to flatter my features.
2. Knots need to refrain from being too flowy or they make me crazy & I just look silly.
3. Too much fabric does me no favors.
4. I like to have a connection to the subject matter/artwork.

No need to ever beg forgiveness for contributing to this thread. Thank you for your sharing your rules with us. It’s funny how many of us share the same rules but also differ on others. Particularly colors but that’s totally expected since we all don’t look alike. The only comment I have is #3 . I’ve heard from many scarifies that they are frustrated with too much fabric but through some creative tying, and convinced them to give the larger formats another try. I think the trick with all that fabric is that your knots may have to be more deliberate and neat. The causal sloppy method sometimes does not work for petite gals when there is so much fabric.

-----------------------

These are my guidelines too! Although I break the rules a lot, especially with soft and pretty CWs . If I fall in love and *HAVE TO* have a pastel scarf, I wear it with bright or bold colored clothing. And absolutely no "pretty bow" knots.
And because of #4 (history, architecture, Ye Olden Days, scarves with writing on them, anything PARIS) I have a lot of scarves with gold and/or scrolling and/or cherubs, which make me look even older than I am. So I am learning to be careful.

I think it’s interesting that we both came to the conclusion that too many gold scrolls or cherubs may not be doing us any favors. I’m also on the no bow knots bandwagon!

Taking a browse this chilly morning and haven't been in this thread in a long while. I definitely resemble y'all comments.

Moma- I see you more as a sleek and chic, city cool, knot wearer- definitely no bows. I really like your scarf choices, and am in the same boat with pastels. I like them, but have to be really careful as they usually wash me out. (Excepting of course the pastel Iris debacle...now finally sorted out for good....)

Turfnsurf- I too tend to prefer knots that aren't too long or flowy. I just do way too much picking up bending down and carrying things about to have to worry about things getting dirty or otherwise messed up (hence the preference for pocket squares).

lanit- Mademoiselle_Verdier and lanit- I have also had some color changes over the years in term of what (I think) looks good on me. Orange or lime green is not a color I would have ever chosen a decade or so ago in a scarf, but I tend towards brights nowadays, as a great part of my wardrobe is in grey or black in the winter and black, light grey or soft khakis and browns in summer.

I'm on the verge of a collections rearrangement and so am beginning to think through things carefully because I don't want to mistake a temporary lack of interest in a scarf as a permanent one. Kind of like with max purses, I think I may have a scarf saturations point, and am really beginning to home in on what I really like that feels like "permanent" pieces. Sadly, that may mean some more things I have move on, but it may be needed to "clean things up" a bit.

Ah...you’ve made it to the stage of constant curation of your scarf collection. Let me tell you, this is a full time job! LOL. But I had to laugh when I read your rule about limiting the long flows tails. I cannot tell you how many times I bent over to pick something up and I noticed my scarf was sweeping the floor. Eeeeeew!! One time, it was even in a public restroom. Double ewwwwww!

 

[MYH]

Thank you, and yes, gotta love L'arte d'ecrire. The vanilla CW is my second-most complimented scarf (gets many more compliments than the black one, interestingly.)

I share many of the preferences and practices you describe, including the supporting-the-arts rationalization and regretting that the simpler designs give me less to work with on that front. But the reduced opportunity to rationalize hasn't stopped me from acquiring them yet.



Love thinking about this list, thank you. I have only minimal experience collecting, but lots of experience thinking and typing, so I'll weigh in anyway.

List item #4 is me all over, and I wish I'd figured it out a lot sooner. But I cut myself some slack: I had never even heard the phrase "contrast hem" before I started this ride. I'm tickled to see it as somebody else's rule too: I thought I was all special and everything.

I too have a no-more-big-borders rule, for different but related reasons. It turns out there are very few ways I can tie a large-bordered 90 that do show the details but don't draw the viewer's eye to places I'd rather it not go. (All cowboy knots look bad on me unless they're under a jacket, so I have my own rule that says, "If it needs a cowboy knot, it's not for you.")

My personal list of things I wish someone had told me (or reminded me of) when I started is long, but here are two.

1. Remember that you are not Iris Apfel. Or Christine Lagarde or Lupita Nyong'o or MaiTai. What they do will not necessarily (and, in my case, usually won't) work for you . . .

2. . . . But that can be a good thing! I was drawn to the noir-and-argent Vif Argent for a long time, but I knew MaiTai's elegant styling that looks so spare and polka-dot-like wouldn't be right on me, so I hesitated. I finally took the plunge and realized that when I tie it to show off more of the molten silver, all that scarf bling around my neck gives me rush, makes me feel less MaiTai-wannabe and more this.

I hope more people will post guidelines of their own that they use for themselves.

Your rules made me literally lol. Especially your photo of Mr T!

 

[MYH]

I use an app called Evernote to track all kinds of thing, including my scarves. I add in all of the purchasing details, plus a photo and put them all in order of when they were released. You could of course use any order at all. I find this app useful because I can install it on my iPad and phone and also use the web-based version on my laptop or any desktop PC as well. That way you could take everything with you to a store. As I also have photos of my clothes on there too, I love that I can check what I already own.

https://thelibrainretired.wordpress.com/2017/02/06/wardrobe-planning-05-organisation/

Hermes hope - I can only bow down to your thoughtfully organized method to keep track of your clothes and scarves but I know you are a librarian, so it’s part of your personality! I just have random photos all over my phone and have to scroll through them to job my memory when I’m at the boutique. Ugh!!

 

[MYH]

I use OneNote which is very similar to Evernote. It synchronizes from my desktop to phone. I have a page for current season so that when I get to a boutique (none are local for me), I don't forget what I wanted to see. I have a tendency to get so excited and enthusiastic that I forget if I don't have a list. I know that I've mentioned it before on other threads, but I never seem to walk out with what I thought I was going to buy. Also, I have too many 90's to keep on a list but I do have a list of 140 CSGMs with stock pics. That way I can pull them up and scroll through to make sure that I don't buy the same colors over and over. I live where it's warm so I don't have too many 'warm' scarves.

More organized people!! I think I may have to step up my game with Evernote or Onenote.

 

[Mademoiselle_Verdier]

LMAO I really am not an Iris Apfel wannabe..... would never knowingly over accessorize. I admire her courage hugely.