Wednesday, February 8, 2012

How to wear a scarf with your suit

Posted by Bobby Humphrey On August - 26 - 2009

How to wear a scarf with your suit

This week I noticed that a lot of stores already received their new winter collection. Beautiful materials and colors this winter, but I get hot just looking at the bristly, wintery fabrics such as flannel. It seems that retail keeps on dropping the winter collection earlier and earlier. The first one that introduces the winter collection has the first pick by the consumers? However, I believe that there is a phase between the summer and winter, where you can keep warm and stylish with just a scarf: easy and breezy in autumn equinox.

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From the winter collections I have seen so far, the new leading color for the winter seems to be grey. So when we are talking about a color for your new scarf, grey is an excellent choice. Whether you like cotton, silk or wool, that is your own decision. These days, you will also find a lot of fabric combinations. Wool keeps you warmer and fits more in the winterly background, but I know a lot of Suitorialists have trouble with the prickly fabric. Perhaps you should invest in a cashmere scarf to get rid of the prickliness?

scarf_suit_650x400

Wearing a scarf in plain black is both practical and boring. Try and match you scarf with something (anything) from your outfit to make your appearance complete. Don’t forget: it’s all about the details surrounding your suit. So be as creative as you can be. Think about matching your scarf colors with your tie, vest, jacket, shoes or even cufflinks.

scarf_suit_brown_650x400

Perhaps it isn’t such a bad idea to wear your scarf as a second tie. The French word for tie is ‘cravate’, which actually stands for both tie and scarf. The necktie started as a scarf, worn by Croatian mercenaries in France during the 17th century. But that is a whole ‘nother story. My point is this: a tie not only has the option to be matched with the colors of a suit combination, but it also has the freedom of independence: you may wear any color tie you’d like with a plain suit. Just like this, you can also match your scarf with your suits: wear any color scarf you’d like with your plain suits.

Do not hold back on creativity when it comes to scarves. You will notice that the scarf will be the most busy accessory you will wear, so checks, lines, a-symmetrical prints: they are all just perfect.

Keep warm,

Bobby

Related posts:

  1. How to wear a hat with your suit
  2. The Wool Tie
  3. How to wear the right socks with a suit
  4. Suit Fabrics: The Pinstripe
  5. How to wear a cardigan with a suit?

Featured, How to

10 Responses

  1. Noena Said,

    One question: does this rule also apply for females?

    Posted on September 24th, 2009 at 10:33 am

  2. Bobby Humphrey Said,

    Great question… The answer is YES!… women have more ‘freedom’ in what to wear to work. So you will probably wear your scarfs on the job, while men will take of their scarfs.

    Posted on September 24th, 2009 at 10:53 am

  3. Karl Said,

    The next days will be quite cold, so a few more questions about scarves:
    When wearing a scarf in the winter you will pick one of the mentioned materials, but what about linen? Or a cotton-linen mix? Is it only for summer or also for fall/winter?
    Do I take off the scarf indoors or am I allowed to keep it on (given the fact it is not TOO warm inside ;-) )?

    How do you like to wear your scarf: under the collar or above the collar?

    How to tie the scarf?

    What I like is matching the scarf with my shirt, the cufflinks (especially with bachelor knots) or when wearing jeans even with my shoes.

    Posted on October 12th, 2009 at 6:50 pm

  4. Lance Miller Said,

    Hi Karl!

    A thin linen scarf is more a fashion item to cover the bare neck than an item to keep you warm. This type can look good when worn under the colar of the shirt, if at least two buttons are undone. I think such scarfs look really good when you’re not wearing a tie..

    Linen-cotton mixed could keep you warm, providing that the scarf is very thick which is often not the case in this combination. I would rather go for a woolen-cashmere, or woolen-silk thick scarfs that ought to be worn over the collar. You could try and tuck in the scarf in your closed jacket.

    Matching: COOL nice job :)
    Thinner scarfs, like those worn during the summer that are made from linen can be worn inside as well!

    There is only one appropriate way men ought to tie the scarf: wrap it around the neck ones and tuck it in the loop that is already around your neck. Have one piece hanging down.

    Have a good evening and I will drink a Swinkels bio-beer on your health (in these west-European temperatures…)

    Cheers

    Lance

    Posted on October 12th, 2009 at 8:44 pm

  5. Karl Said,

    Lance, thanks a lot for your answer!
    What you say about tieing the scarf is right, I know what you mean.

    I don’t know Swinkels bio-beer! Seems I have to try that one out! I’ll have a beer on your health too! I’ll have to wear a scarf tomorrow, I think! ;-)

    Greetings! Karl

    Posted on October 12th, 2009 at 9:49 pm

  6. Lance Miller Said,

    Swinkels is a new beer that just came out here in the NL. It’s biological which means that it’s made from fresh products basically. This also means that if it’s not cooled it goes bad. So drink fast ;) It tastes very good actually. If you are ever in the Rotterdam area I will organize a box (24 beers) for you that comes from a very cold catering fridge. That is the only address where I can get it so far since it’s not out in the shops yet :)

    Tomorrow scarf, good! Me too! I wanted to get a Profuomo cashmere scarf but my beard hairs are too hard, I would ruin it in a day.. So I will have to stick with my SuitSupply woolen one, which is good enough for now..

    Cheers!

    Posted on October 12th, 2009 at 9:57 pm

  7. Bobby Humphrey Said,

    @ Karl: matching your scarf with your shoes is very nice, I can picture some dark brown leather shoes with a dark brown scarf… nice combinations, great idea!

    @ Lance: I thought you didn’t drink beer anymore? :P

    Posted on October 13th, 2009 at 11:16 am

  8. Karl Said,

    @lance: Haha! Great! Would love to try that beer! :-D

    I do also have a “normal” woolen scarf, but I really like it. At the moment I’m looking for another one! Maybe SuitSupply? ;-)

    @bobby:
    Right! Brown shoes and scarf! :-)
    Or maybe on late summer/early fall days relaxed and not formal: blue scarf, blue bachelor knots with a simple white shirt, jeans and blue AllStars! ;-) A little bit more formal: same scarf, same shirt, black shoes and a navy blue jacket.

    Posted on October 13th, 2009 at 10:29 pm

  9. Lance Miller Said,

    All stars are great!!! If and only… worn with extra support. I take out the inner sole from another sneaker and lay that in my all stars. This makes the walking a but more comfy…

    Cheers!

    Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 12:07 am

  10. Karl Said,

    :-)

    Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 1:15 pm

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