Scarf chic not bleak
April 13, 2012 6:05 AM Subscribe
FashionFilter! I just bought some large, square scarves and would like to use them to tie around my head during windy times to look like a 40s-50s movie star. Instead, I look like a babushka. Help!
Is there some way of tying or folding the scarf that I'm missing? I'm trying to look like Grace Kelley travelling around in an open car with Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief, and it just 'aint working- instead I look like a cheery chorus member in a Soviet musical about tractors. Your assistance is appreciated.
Is there some way of tying or folding the scarf that I'm missing? I'm trying to look like Grace Kelley travelling around in an open car with Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief, and it just 'aint working- instead I look like a cheery chorus member in a Soviet musical about tractors. Your assistance is appreciated.
Maybe you still won't look like Grace Kelly (few of us do...) but here's how to tie your scarf like she did.
posted by GreenEyed at 6:25 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by GreenEyed at 6:25 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think part of the trick (a part which I have never mastered) is keeping it loose enough so that it doesn't crush down your hair. The part that I don't get is how to keep it tight enough that it doesn't fall off while being loose enough to look cool.
Keeping it tight enough is especially important if you are the one *driving* the open car (not that I ever had a loosely-tied scarf fall down over my face while driving a Mini convertible at highway speeds, oh no).
posted by mskyle at 6:38 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
Keeping it tight enough is especially important if you are the one *driving* the open car (not that I ever had a loosely-tied scarf fall down over my face while driving a Mini convertible at highway speeds, oh no).
posted by mskyle at 6:38 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
I aspire to mimic Keiko Lynn, perhaps as a baby step toward Grace Kelly.
posted by mibo at 6:55 AM on April 13, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by mibo at 6:55 AM on April 13, 2012 [5 favorites]
We have different ideas of what a 'short' youtube video is, but SuperKawaiiMama isn't a badd Lady101 resource.
Three ways to tie a square headscarf.
posted by Trivia Newton John at 7:01 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
Three ways to tie a square headscarf.
posted by Trivia Newton John at 7:01 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think the trick to tying it loose enough not to mush the hair (and provide elegant draping instead of actual warmth, ergo, babushka) but have it still stay on, are carefully placed bobby pins.
That being said some of us (me) just have the sort of face where you look like a little old eastern european lady the second you wrap something around your head like that. Large square scarves are still wonderful though, and have lots of different applications. I like the ones I have for headbands - fold diagonally, roll, tie around hair & fluff the pointed ends like a bow, which you can place to the side or at the nape of your neck. Or tied up like a furoshiki if I don't need my big awesome purse.
If you have your heart set on Grace Kelly, though, maybe also make sure that the scarf you're using is the right fabric for it. I think something really light and airy would work a lot better than something with a heavy drape. And a solid color, instead of a pattern (which again, goes much faster to Soviet fashionplate.)
posted by Mizu at 7:05 AM on April 13, 2012
That being said some of us (me) just have the sort of face where you look like a little old eastern european lady the second you wrap something around your head like that. Large square scarves are still wonderful though, and have lots of different applications. I like the ones I have for headbands - fold diagonally, roll, tie around hair & fluff the pointed ends like a bow, which you can place to the side or at the nape of your neck. Or tied up like a furoshiki if I don't need my big awesome purse.
If you have your heart set on Grace Kelly, though, maybe also make sure that the scarf you're using is the right fabric for it. I think something really light and airy would work a lot better than something with a heavy drape. And a solid color, instead of a pattern (which again, goes much faster to Soviet fashionplate.)
posted by Mizu at 7:05 AM on April 13, 2012
I hope it's not too obvious, but if the rest of your outfit, coat, and shoes don't look like a movie star, the scarf will not look like a movie star, either. The main difference when I compare the two mental images (glamour and babushka) is red lipstick and glitzy sunglasses, as well as the previously mentioned fluffier hair.
posted by aimedwander at 7:15 AM on April 13, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by aimedwander at 7:15 AM on April 13, 2012 [2 favorites]
Mizu is right - light and airy drapes better. Also, I find that scarves in face-flattering colors look much better than darks - especially black. Black tips over to "babushka" or "goth" on most people. Try a solid, light or bright color or light neutral, in a soft fabric. I have a blush pink silk scarf that never fails me whether used as a head-wrap or around my neck.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 7:16 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 7:16 AM on April 13, 2012
On preview: what Aimedwander said - lipstick! Lipstick is crucial for balancing the block of color around your head, and for brightening your skin and giving a finished look. It doesn't have to be red if you don't like red lipstick, but you do need a polished look.
Think of the old ladies in scarves with the classic babushka look - they don't wear makeup, often the scarves they wear are dark, and usually in a cotton or synthetic fabric. Doing the opposite of this will look more movie-star-ish.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 7:20 AM on April 13, 2012
Think of the old ladies in scarves with the classic babushka look - they don't wear makeup, often the scarves they wear are dark, and usually in a cotton or synthetic fabric. Doing the opposite of this will look more movie-star-ish.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 7:20 AM on April 13, 2012
I have read before that silk scarves are ideal for this because they stick to the hair, whereas polyester blends will slide around. Not sure if that's part of your problem, but it's something to consider. Good luck!
posted by onlyconnect at 7:24 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by onlyconnect at 7:24 AM on April 13, 2012
That's something I've never been able to master, either, not in 25 years of trying. Here are some other options, though. Probably it helps to be a tiny, adorable, French woman.
I have found that all my scarf trying efforts go a hundred times better with vintage silk scarves. Thin and wispy, and yes, less slippery, they look much nicer than their relatively bulky, clumsy polyester sisters.
posted by looli at 7:37 AM on April 13, 2012 [2 favorites]
I have found that all my scarf trying efforts go a hundred times better with vintage silk scarves. Thin and wispy, and yes, less slippery, they look much nicer than their relatively bulky, clumsy polyester sisters.
posted by looli at 7:37 AM on April 13, 2012 [2 favorites]
I think it requires makeup for the modern eye to see the image as more Grace Kelly like and less like a babuschka. I can't recall ever seeing Grace Kelly look anything less than flawless in a picture. So I'd do whatever it is that you would normally do to make your skin appear perfect -- and also not monochrome. (So a little lippy, eyeliner, blush, whatever works for you.) In my opinion, the scarf colour/print really depends on your own colouring and "look." I feel like I see older ladies wearing the bright scarves (especially with a print) more often than not.
FWIW, this is a style that generally looks good on me and gets me compliments, but I still don't really achieve the graceful Grace Kelly look. The best I can do is a Rosy-the-Riveter-going-out-to-dance-after-work ... cute, but not exactly screaming a life of ease in Monaco. YMMV.
posted by stowaway at 8:24 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
FWIW, this is a style that generally looks good on me and gets me compliments, but I still don't really achieve the graceful Grace Kelly look. The best I can do is a Rosy-the-Riveter-going-out-to-dance-after-work ... cute, but not exactly screaming a life of ease in Monaco. YMMV.
posted by stowaway at 8:24 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
When I picture this look, it always includes strongly contrasting lipstick and usually dark glam sunglasses.
posted by lemniskate at 8:30 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by lemniskate at 8:30 AM on April 13, 2012
Hmmm ... there's a folding step missing from all these diagrams that I swear I've seen my belle-of-w.va. mom and aunts do ... will try and explain.
So, say it's a square. Fold it diagonal. Find the center point of the long fold, then imagine a segment, 5-6 inches total, spanning to either side. At either end of the segment, give another fold of about 15 degrees so that it looks something like ... the top of an octagon? but very shallow?
The 5-6" flat segment gets placed 1-2" below the crown (highest point) of the head, not at the hairline. The parts where you have folded twice then hang vertically and get knotted loosely at the adams apple (not right under the chin! babushka alert!) or twists then wraps around the neck. Doesn't matter whether you face them in or out, whatever's your fancy. As mentioned, beautiful pieces of silk mean you are done at this point, but with anything else, place bobby pins near the temple/near where the double folds start, to keep it on your head while still exposing the hairline and graceful swan neck. Maybe a couple at the back, behind the ear on either end of the occipital ridge, depending on your hair, if you are knotting not neck wrapping.
The 15 degree folds will work on oblong scarves too. It's not always obvious once it's worn in and the fabric has shifted about the knot, but what it's doing is tailoring the square shape to a round head in the initial placement. Hope this helps!
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 9:27 AM on April 13, 2012 [6 favorites]
So, say it's a square. Fold it diagonal. Find the center point of the long fold, then imagine a segment, 5-6 inches total, spanning to either side. At either end of the segment, give another fold of about 15 degrees so that it looks something like ... the top of an octagon? but very shallow?
The 5-6" flat segment gets placed 1-2" below the crown (highest point) of the head, not at the hairline. The parts where you have folded twice then hang vertically and get knotted loosely at the adams apple (not right under the chin! babushka alert!) or twists then wraps around the neck. Doesn't matter whether you face them in or out, whatever's your fancy. As mentioned, beautiful pieces of silk mean you are done at this point, but with anything else, place bobby pins near the temple/near where the double folds start, to keep it on your head while still exposing the hairline and graceful swan neck. Maybe a couple at the back, behind the ear on either end of the occipital ridge, depending on your hair, if you are knotting not neck wrapping.
The 15 degree folds will work on oblong scarves too. It's not always obvious once it's worn in and the fabric has shifted about the knot, but what it's doing is tailoring the square shape to a round head in the initial placement. Hope this helps!
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 9:27 AM on April 13, 2012 [6 favorites]
A really important issue is to get the scarf to sit at the top of your head, not over your bangs or forehead. If you want to wear the scarf for more than ten minutes without correcting it all the time, you can use a simple narrow and flat headband. You put the scarf on so the four corners are placed at your ears, neck and face. Then you place the headband at the top of your head (a big, hairspray-welded hairbun helps here). Then fold the scarf very sharply an inch or 3/4 inch in front of the hairband. When you get feel of the exact requirements, you can iron a fold into the scarf, but don't do that till you've practiced.
Now you can tie the scarf under the chin or round the neck as your mood carries you.
Use only silk, and preferably very light silks.
I have done this in situations where I needed to concentrate on other things than my scarf, and it works well, but for me, the headband is annoying, so I prefer adjusting continuously.
And of course, lots of make-up and sunglasses. In other words, it takes half a day to look effortless.
posted by mumimor at 11:11 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
Now you can tie the scarf under the chin or round the neck as your mood carries you.
Use only silk, and preferably very light silks.
I have done this in situations where I needed to concentrate on other things than my scarf, and it works well, but for me, the headband is annoying, so I prefer adjusting continuously.
And of course, lots of make-up and sunglasses. In other words, it takes half a day to look effortless.
posted by mumimor at 11:11 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
Can you make your hair big? I think big hair is a part of this look. Also, bobby pins help the scarf to stay in place. You can go in from the back of the scarf and run the top of the pin in between the scarf layers, and then it won't show.
posted by zoetrope at 11:34 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by zoetrope at 11:34 AM on April 13, 2012
Sorry that I can't link at the moment, but just last night I casually noticed a link on just this subject on Pinterest. So maybe do some browsing there, there are always lots of posts about hairstyles.
posted by vignettist at 2:54 PM on April 13, 2012
posted by vignettist at 2:54 PM on April 13, 2012
this video is a winner for all sorts of styles, all sorts of scarves. it's a frequent reference source for me.
posted by seawallrunner at 10:06 PM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by seawallrunner at 10:06 PM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
But there actually are a lot of sites online that show funky ways to tie head scarves; here and here, for example.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:10 AM on April 13, 2012 [2 favorites]