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hidding a multitude of sins

(31 Posts)
petunia Sat 16-Feb-19 09:34:54

In my youth and when I was working, it seemed to me that ladies of a certain age took to wearing scarves. Head scarves, square scarves around the neck knotted at the front, sometimes with a brooch. Often chiffon, sometimes a silky material. Later, in the 80's and 90's more artful and colourful scarves trailing and elegant knotted styles around these older women's necks. I thought to myself, why do some older women wear scarves all the time. It seemed a little odd. But I just didn't understand how useful scarves can be.

I'm now an older woman and I wear scarves all the time. Long, colourful scarves, beautiful jewel colours, some with glittery thread. Sometimes draped round my neck and gently flapping in the wind as in Isadora Duncan. Sometimes a long cosy pashmina bungled around my neck and face to protect from the wind. Sometimes elaborate knotting. My current favourites are the circular scarves that will go two or three times around the neck then drape artfully to fill the gap between chin and bosom.

Scarves hide the saggy neck. They distract from the less than perfect physique by hanging and draping over less than perfect bits. They add colour to a plain or classic outfit. If I was less clumsy, I would do the Jenny Murray/Judi Dench folded scarf over one shoulder-looks good but I would spend all my time picking it up off the floor. In hot times, they cover sensitive skin from the sun.

My current two favourites are a vivid orange and a deep aubergine colour I found on amazon. They even have a small zipped pocket within the folds for credits cards, sunglasses etc.

Whereas once I would decide what I'm wearing that day according to which earrings I put on, now I think which scarf I want to wear and dress accordingly. Scarves, I cant imagine life without them.

Humbertbear Sat 16-Feb-19 09:38:46

I used to wear scarves with every outfit for work but found them to be a nuisance when I retired and was at home. Now I’m known for my unusual necklaces. I love Jenni Murray’s style with a pashmina over her shoulder but it’s not suitable when you are doing the washing up!

petunia Sat 16-Feb-19 09:44:50

ha ha humbert. you are so right about the pashmina over the shoulder look.
maybe jenni has hidden clips holding it in place. or maybe Velcro. its still not a feasible option when you are bleaching the loo or serving the gravy

KatyK Sat 16-Feb-19 09:50:57

I love scarves but rarely wear them as I can't get the hang of them. Some women look elegant and classy with them draped or tied. I just end up looking ridiculous.

PECS Sat 16-Feb-19 09:55:16

I am short with disproportionately sized boobs and an avearge neck! A scarf, no matter how I wear it always accentuates the bits I wish to minimize! I can't do the draped pashmina either..they trail on the floir and trip me up. I go for a chunky necklace!!

oldgoat Sat 16-Feb-19 10:04:15

I find that scarves draped round the neck are very useful for catching lumps of dropped food and thus preventing canteen medals on my teeshirts and frocks.

Greyduster Sat 16-Feb-19 10:41:29

Oldgoat?! They are also good for keeping your curlers in place when out trekking on the high moors! And no, that’s not me (though the other one looks a bit like me!).

Gonegirl Sat 16-Feb-19 10:45:18

I wish I was brave enough to wear a headscarf like the queen. It's the only headgear that suits me.

It just doesn't seem to be acceptable these days.

Squiffy Sat 16-Feb-19 10:56:21

petunia I once saw a girl have an Isadora moment with her long scarf, which flapped in the breeze and got caught by a passing car ? She was so, so lucky to survive!

Framilode Sat 16-Feb-19 11:05:00

A short neck means that scarves are no good for me. I always admire people that can wear them elegantly.

annsixty Sat 16-Feb-19 11:22:22

I empathise with the short neck, my chin is nearly on my chest, but I do love scarves and do wear them.
Pashminas are another story, I look like a russian grandmother bundled up against the cold.

toscalily Sat 16-Feb-19 11:25:31

I have so many scarves, short, wooly & practical (like me grin), pashmina style to throw over your shoulder, takes effort to keep them in place so only for making an entrance, sparkly, long, light & floaty, the classic square ones, some have been gifts of silk or cashmere. I enjoy & wear them often as they brighten & lighten an outfit as I don't think I'm the right shape to wear those enormous modern very chunky necklaces that Theresa May & Prue Leith go in for. I can't resist looking at scarves when I pass them anywhere but tend to do it when alone now as OH always mumbles about having too many scarves and tries to urge me along!

PECS Sat 16-Feb-19 11:25:49

gonegirl you are brave enough to do retro surely? ?

EllanVannin Sat 16-Feb-19 11:35:40

I used to have a huge bundle of chiffon scarves of every colour which matched whatever I wore. I loved them as they all had silver thread running through them, ----but I never ever knew what became of them ? Lost when moving perhaps ?
I'd use them for tying up my hair ( it was much thicker at the time ) as a sort of accessory to whatever I wore.
I still have scarves of every type but they now just sit in the drawer sad I have no reason to get decked out. Perhaps a small neckerchief for hiding a neck pouch would suffice.

BlueBelle Sat 16-Feb-19 11:35:48

I love scarves Never done the pashmina thing as never had one but I like them tied in the neck, as they disguise or detract from my not quite so pert boobs and my slightly shrinking neck

Cherrytree59 Sat 16-Feb-19 11:46:05

Oh Petunia what have you done? I am a self confessed scarfaholic, the mere mention of a new scarf causes great excitment so.....
Just skipped over to Amazon and ordered a purple one.
If it lives up to expectations then I'm sure a couple more may just pop into my basketwink

Granny23 Sat 16-Feb-19 11:50:08

Way back in the 60s, when going to be introduced to my future MIL, I tied a wee chiffon scarf round my neck, as was the fashion at the time. That is why the first words she ever spoke to me were -"Oh Dear! Have you got a sore throat"

Like Gonegirl I really suit a headscarf, but more Audrey Hepburn than the Queen style. Now that I have given up all pretence of following fashion I happily and practically wear one if going out on a beezy or showery day.

KatyK Sat 16-Feb-19 12:52:10

I used to wear little headscarves in the 60s and 70s a la Audrey Hepburn (or so I thought!)

petunia Sat 16-Feb-19 12:57:22

ha ha cherry tree. I hope you enjoy your new scarf. I may even take a wee look at amazon again. you can never have too many hats, scarves or gloves-according to patsy/Joanna lumley

SueDonim Sat 16-Feb-19 13:03:11

My friend often wears a scarf and looks very elegant. I gave her a book on 100 ways to tie a scarf, once!

The only time I wear a scarf is when I'm in our sports car with the roof down. I like to think I resemble Grace Kelly but in reality, I'm more like Hilda Ogden. grin

I don't like wearing scarves otherwise, because I have a fear of being strangled! hmm

M0nica Sat 16-Feb-19 19:27:20

I do not wear scarves, other than warm woolly ones inside a coat.

I have admired the scarf look, but to do it drives me mad, I drop food on it, it comes between me and anything I am doing, I cut it or sew it by accident when sewing and am always in danger of dragging it through a flame when cooking. I have narrow sloping shoulders and as soon as the scarf begins to unknot, it slides off my shoulders.

I will limit myself to admiring all you elegant ladies in scarves, while knowing better that to wear one myself.

sodapop Sat 16-Feb-19 22:06:19

KatyK & MOnica I'm with you, I love to see these beautiful scarves, wraps, pashminas but I just look silly however artistically I try to drape them. smile

Coolgran65 Sat 16-Feb-19 22:35:13

I love scarves and have every colour in varying shades, in different fabrics. Wraps and pashminas are my favourites. As quirky as possible. Often from charity shops, boot sales. Many have been gifts.

I use them for all sorts. Putting flowers into my newly decorated porch I couldn’t find an appropriate vase. Don’t like glass vases. I had the appropriate size but not colour. Not to be beaten.... I got a suitable scarf and wrapped it around the vase securing it with suitably placed and hidden safety pins. Looks great.

In a bedroom I needed a pop of a particular shade of blue to balance the room. No bother, I used a very long scarf to make a fabulous bow at the end of the curtain pole. Perfect.

After a big scarf clear out I have about 50 that I can’t part with.

Coolgran65 Sat 16-Feb-19 22:36:53

Oh and I do wear my scarves, all the time.

Jalima1108 Sat 16-Feb-19 23:06:04

I like scarves and have umpteen - a treasured silk scarf must be 60 years old now!

However, I'm not very good with them, they never look very stylish.
They just look like scarves.

It's a strange word - scarf hmm