Normally I would not presume to guess what the Princess of Wales is thinking, but I’m pretty sure I know what was going through her mind when she posed in a white shirt, jeans and a jacket for the photograph posted on her 43rd birthday earlier this month. This needs something extra. Something to lift it and add some flair. How about a scarf?
And the scarf made all the difference. That length of checked fabric draped around her neck – for something similar head to M&S (£15, marksandspencer.com) – is just the right amount of unexpected: a dash of graphic print to disrupt her old uniform of blazer, shirt and jeans and make it look fresh.
It’s not a particularly special scarf. Personally, I don’t love checks. But it’s good to be reminded that it’s this easy to reboot a look.
Besides adding a dash of colour, pattern, texture or all three, just where you need it most, scarves can shift outfits into another gear or just add a flourish of French chic. I think it’s time we started paying more attention to their potential and not just because these days my bare neck poking out of a crew neck sweater or a round neck top feels horribly exposed. The right scarf is a useful style hack and a 50-plusers neck-camouflaging best friend.
The princess of Wales posed in a white shirt, jeans and a jacket for the photograph posted on her 43rd birthday earlier this month
Toast has a smart ribbon print, cotton bandana (£49, to.ast ) in midnight blue with an ochre trim
At this time of year scarves have warming up duties too – head to Uniqlo if you’re still in need of one – but it’s the silky square scarf (‘foulard’ if you want the correct term) that is light and small enough to fold and tie in a knot at the base of your neck (large handkerchief rather than headscarf size), that’s increasingly looking like a smart move.
The idea is to step out of your comfort zone and experiment.
Scarves are a brilliant way to inject a bit of a colour and, just as important, set off other colours (lilac with jade, ochre with red). Simple prints in two or three colours work best, florals and primary colours are best avoided, and steer clear of the iconic headscarf patterns. I love a classic Hermes scarf, printed with horsey paraphernalia, but that’s only going to work on the young and coltish.
Better to go for a modern geometric print that nods to the new season, in olive green and cherry (£12.99, shop.mango.com) or cream, apple green, orange and brown irregular stripes, also mango (£7.99).
And Other Stories (stories.com) does a good selection from £29. A scarf like this can give any plain top a retro lift and liven up an old sweater.
How you wear a scarf now is important – never draped under the lapels of a jacket; never hanging in a deep V in front, cravat style, or wrapped around your neck and hanging down either side.
I would usually say wear your scarf any way you choose – but these are the details that make the difference and prevent sliding back into Sloane Ranger 1980s territory. That look is definitely ageing for those of us who remember it.
With silky scarves you want to fold them as you would a bandana and tie in a relaxed knot, slightly off centre, so the look is soft and unravelling, not neat like a bandage.
With cotton you can roll and twist and go for a more scrappy look and that works well in the collar of a polo V neck sweater or a shirt.
Mint Velvet does paisley cotton square scarves (£35, johnlewis.com) and Lolly’s Laundry’s dot print scarf in red on sand with a yellow trim, also at John Lewis (£25) gives a colour boost while blending with everything.
Toast has a smart ribbon print, cotton bandana (£49, to.ast) in midnight blue with an ochre trim but even better is an abstract print silk square in brown and gold on teal (£65).
It might seem crazy to spend this sort of money on a scarf but not if you love it and it can re-engergise your old wardrobe. These are on the smaller side, but that’s a good thing. Bigger scarves can swamp you and make you look like you’ve got a neck problem.
Another bonus of a good scarf is it inspires you to experiment more with pattern and colour. Spots are a great way to make stripes sing. Irregular stripes break up colour-blocked outfits.
And a white and navy paisley print is a great refresher in the neck of anything in winter. I’m experimenting with a cream satin scarf with a seashell print and coral border (£9.99, hm.com). A flash of it in winter is a hint of Spring around the corner.
