Everyone is All Wrapped Up in the Year’s Biggest Trend: The Scarf

Forget about season-long trend ownership, the scarf has been the must-have accessory of the entire year—and its prominence has just begun.  Its immense popularity transcends climates of the weather and economic kinds.  Beach-goers wrap one on in the 85-degree weather in the Mykonos while women still show up in droves for an Hermès sample sale in New York amidst less than prosperous economic times.

Once reserved for the sole purpose of keeping warm, the scarf now enjoys neck time at any temperature.  Whether we can thank swanky Europeans or hip-hop artist Kayne West is up for argument, but what isn’t questionable is the proliferation of the lightweight scarf regardless of a warm weather forecast.  I promise it is rarely chilly enough for the traditional use of a scarf for Lauren Conrad and company in LA.

As we all know, we are on the verge of some of the most trying times in our economic history, but that didn’t stop thousands of “bargain” thirsty New Yorkers from waiting in long lines at the Hermes sample sale this past week.  Quotation marks are necessary around bargain because even at a discounted price—Hermes remains unattainable by the masses.

What was the hot ticket item of the sale? The classic Hermès scarf of course (above are two pictured for the NY Times).  One might argue that the Hermes silk scarf has always had a cult-like following and its gravitational pull has nothing to do with the current popularity of scarves in the mainstream.   Do you think the popularity of scarves in general helped women migrate from the financial district to the Chelsea sale despite the possibility of them losing their jobs in the very near future? Or is Hermès that much of a legacy that consumers will simply do anything to get their hands on the rolex of scarves? How brand-concious will we remain during this time of economic hardship?

For those of you playing it safe in this time of uncertainty, you needn’t break the bank for a great scarf.  I happen to love my H&M-bought scarves just as much as my one Hermes silk beauty.  To incorporate über popular tartan into your everyday wardrobe, pick out a scarf in the Scottish pattern.  And if you have some more money to play with, don’t be afraid to invest in a nice scarf, as the trend isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Source: NYTimes

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