3 Things to Look For When Buying Your First Scarf
How to read a scarf
Introducing The Abigail Chart
So what are the 3 most important things to look for when buying your 1st scarf? They are versatility of the pattern, the border and the size. These 3 things can make the biggest difference in a scarf and how you wear it. Whenever I’m buying a scarf I always pay close attention to whatever is on the corners, as well as the very center because those are the areas that are most commonly seen in a simple bandana style or bias fold. To take this one step further, if a scarf has different patterns AND colors on each corner that is even better!
The scarves used in this video are “Acte III, Scene I, La Clairiere Decoupage” by Édouard Baribeaud, “Choreographie Equestre” by Jean-Louis Sauvat and “Les Voitures Nouvelles” by Jacques Eudel.
The Abigail Chart
This is the chart I always draw in my head when shopping for a scarf. It highlights the areas you will see when the scarf is tied. So for example, if you’re intending to wear your scarf as a bandana; pay special attention to what is on all the corners. Or if you’re hoping it wear it mostly in a bias fold, take a look at what details fall in the diagonal areas of the scarf.
Choosing a Pattern
Both patterns are beautiful, but one provides much more versatility than the other. One has a different pattern and motif in every corner and the other is the same in every corner. In terms of choosing your first scarf, the pattern on the left will essentially give you the look of 4 different scarves depending which corner you display bandana style, while the scarf on the right will give you 1 look.
Below are all the corners on the left scarf.
2. The Border
Let’s compare the left scarf to the right. If we use The Abigail Chart on the right scarf, we hardly see any of the pattern at all because the pattern does not go all the way to the edge. Boarders are one of the things that I find hinder the versatility of a scarf the most.
2. The Size
Size is very important for versatility as well. It might be tempting to think that bigger is better in terms of offering the most options, but personally, my favorite size in the 70cm (the second biggest size).
The 70cm silk scarves are big enough to offer multiple knot options, but aren’t so big that the amount of silk is overwhelming.
Typically the Hermes 70cm scarves are produced in a “vintage” silk. It isn’t actually vintage, but it is a much thinner weight, which I like for the casual feel, rather than the full bodied, stiffer 90cm silk.