The ManicaPost
HELLO there everyone. This week I will be focusing on men. I totally forgot to answer several messages I received during winter from some men.
The questions were around scarves…how they should be worn, why they should be worn and if it is alright as men to wear them. I will try to answer the questions although we are now in summer kikiki.
Scarves are not ties guys…just to make that clear for one of my readers who asked this question.
Most men’s scarves are approximately 10 inches wide, 70 inches long, and made from either a solid or patterned cut of cloth designed to wrap around the neck.
In a nutshell, a scarf is a simple rectangle of fabric. Yet most men are baffled as to how to properly wear one, and worse, many feel the wearing of a scarf is somehow female.
The wearing of scarves by men was popularised by its adoption by the aviators in both World Wars who used the scarf for warmth and to prevent chafing as they scanned the sky for enemy planes.
Scarves have also been a staple in men’s wardrobes for over 2000. Simply put, scarves do an excellent job of protecting a man’s neck.
A thick wool scarf can keep your neck warm on a cold morning, or a lightweight linen scarf can add style to a simple suit. Scarves can add a strong element of style, especially when they introduce colour to an otherwise bland outfit.
It is a good rule of thumb to keep the rest of the outfit simple so it isn’t competing with the scarf for attention.
Men there are a lot of terms out there — bandana scarves, head scarves, square scarves, circle scarves, skinny scarves, and so on. Let’s keep it simple.
You want your scarves to be rectangle and be made from a material that suits your needs. The width should be from 6 to 14 inches, length from 50 to 90 inches, although an average height man wants a scarf at least 60 inches and a larger man should look for one in the 70 inch range.
Scarves are typically made from either wool, cashmere, angora, cotton, linen, silk, synthetic materials, or a combination designed specifically for this purpose.
Be aware though men, most scarves aren’t made for men, so stay away from feminine-looking scarves. To help you out, here’s how you recognise a non-male scarves.
Any scarf in an animal print, bright pink, juicy magenta, electric blue, salsa picante, fresh tulip…..I think you get the point.
Anything that comes with a pin or is advertised to be worn with a scarf pin. Men do not wear scarf pins.
Airy, see-through, super-lightweight scarves that could not possibly provide any function (ok, maybe they could act as a tourniquet) and are 100% fashion pieces.
Large knitted scarves or scarves that could double as a blanket. Excessive fringes — some tassels in the same colour as the scarf is fine, but steer clear of multi-coloured pom-pom tips.
Elaborately beaded scarves, scarves with sequins, shiny metal trinkets, or scarves with embroidered images of birds, flowers, etc.
There are certain rules to keep when you learn to tie your scarf. Keep it simple – only tie knots you are comfortable wearing–confidence is everything when wearing scarves men. Anyways men, I did my homework and here’s the tips on how to tie them…
Drape – Simply drape the scarf over the neck and the front of your chest under your coat. No actual tying happens in this one, so it’s a loose way of wearing a scarf meant more for ornamentation than actual warmth. It works well if you’re wearing a suit or sports jacket with a deep V-shaped front. This is the classic lawyer or businessman’s way of adding a scarf to a suit and tie ensemble.
Overhand Knot – One of the simplest scarf knots you can learn and wear. The only complication is you have to determine how low or high to wear it. Normally it hangs a bit looser around the neck than other knots/wraps, so this style is more show than function.
How to tie it – take the scarf and lay it over your shoulders. Take both ends of the scarf, and tie them “over-and-under,” as if you were starting to do up a giant pair of shoelaces. Adjust the front to be a bit smooth and tighten closer to the neck as desired.
The Fake Knot — The fake knot looks more elaborate than it is. As its name indicates, it uses a bit of deception to achieve the desired look.
This knot shows up best with a patterned scarf or a scarf with a thicker weave. You can use a medium length scarf here without a problem.
Tie the scarf around your neck with one end being twice as long as the other. Tie a loose over-hand knot near the end of the shorter side, leaving about 12-18 inches on the end. Tug the knot apart slightly and slip the other end straight through and tighten to the desired length.
The Once Round — A simple tie. Take the scarf and wrap it once around your neck, leaving two ends dangling in the front.
The Twice Round – A cold-weather variant of the once round, the twice around scarf tying technique is a great choice for when you have a really long and thin scarf and the weather calls for the warmest wrap you can muster. To tie; wrap your long scarf twice around your neck, leaving two short ends hanging in the front.
The French or European Knot – Also called “slip” or just “simple” style. This is fast and easy to tie and creates a large, warm knot right at the collar of a coat or jacket, making it a good wind-stopper.
It requires a longer scarf unless you’re using a thinner fabric such as silk. Bulky scarves do not work well as the end knot can appear too large.
Fold the scarf in half at the middle so that the ends touch and hold the doubled-over bend in one hand while passing the loose ends around the back of your neck with the other. Tuck the ends through the bend and pull snug. Adjust as needed.
Well guys, this is all I could find on men’s scarves and how to tie them or wear them. Hope it helps, until next week, God bless!
Fashion Diva can be messaged (not called) on 0772933845
