
Here in the South, Fall arrives later than in other regions. We do our back-to-school shopping with thermometers reaching triple digits, so we buy shorts instead of blue jeans. Boots, blue jeans, and jackets are articles of clothing my children receive for Christmas. We do not purchase stuffed-animal-like or furry Halloween costumes for our children because we’re afraid they may suffer heat stroke while trick-or-treating.
Enter my favorite article of my Fall wardrobe: the lightweight scarf! It’s the perfect accessory to keep you warm on those cool mornings, but it can easily be removed when the afternoon heat becomes too much to bear. I have quite a collection of lightweight scarves I wear throughout the fall and even into our mild winter. They add color, pattern, and texture to almost any outfit. Choose a bold pattern to make a plain-jane t-shirt come to life, or a solid color to accent a busy print. The easiest outfit is a solid color t-shirt or tank with skinny jeans and flats or booties. Add a printed scarf to match, a blazer or cardigan if you need it, and you look like fall even if the weather around you doesn’t feel like it!
Many people are intimidated by scarves because they don’t know how to tie them. There are many complicated ways to wear a scarf, but I usually stick to a couple of basic and easy-to-wear methods, depending on what type of scarf you are using.
- Infinity scarf - Easy-peasy, don’t even have to think about it! Simply place the loop over your head, twist in front, then put second loop over your head. Done!
- Long rectangle scarf - Probably the most common style of scarf. Place scarf behind your neck with 1/3 hanging on one side and 2/3 on the other. Wrap long end around your neck, then adjust both ends to look even. Or, fold scarf in half lengthwise. Place behind your neck with ends on one side and fold on the other. Pull ends through the fold in front of your neck. Voila!
- Large square scarf - A little more involved, but very cute. Fold scarf in half to make a triangle. Place center point of triangle in front. Wrap both ends behind neck, then pull in front of shoulders.