We love Rachel Zoe’s new glam guide to living well, Living In Style. Full of personal styling tips, a useful guide to cities around the world from a few of her taste-making buds and some amazing fashion history, we’re snuggling up with our copy and planning a some inspired looks of our own for the newly emerging spring!
One timeless trend that Rachel refers to is a great scarf. Whether a giant silk square or a nubby knit strand, we can’t get enough – scarves are always appropriate and will never go out of style. Find Rachel’s perspective on this timeless accessory below and then hop on over to Instagram where we’ve offering an opportunity to win a signed copy of this stellar new read. Here’s Rachel from the pages of the glossy new guide…
Hermès sells one of its signature scarves every twenty-five seconds, which is no surprise to me. The iconic silk square, with its plump hand-rolled hems, has become one of the most versatile accessories since it debuted in 1937—so versatile that Grace Kelly wore one as a chic sling when she broke her arm in 1956, while Sharon Stone multitasked with the scarf in a bondage scene in Basic Instinct. But one of my favorite interpretations of the scarf comes courtesy of Madonna, who wore one as a bandeau top in Swept Away.
But you don’t have to splurge on designer scarves. I’m always on the lookout for fantastic prints – whether it’s the Pucci-inspired geometrics of the fifties or a vivid colorful floral – when I visit vintage shops or flea markets. And there are plenty of styles beyond the classic silk scarf. Long skinny knit scarves, chunky wool ones, fur stoles, and larger cashmere wraps can refine any look, too. I love a fringe, an animal print, or bold-colored knit to add a point of interest. There are so many ways to wear one.
BEACH DAY:
A vibrant scarf looks fantastic and ultra-glamorous at the beach, especially when you wear it with a black, white, or neutral bathing suit. Fold the scarf into a triangle and wear it pirate- or handkerchief-style with soft beach waves or a long braid.
JOB INTERVIEW:
The classic button-down white shirt and fitted blazer get upgraded to elegant with a colorful scarf worn tucked inside the shirtfront like an ascot. It’s a great way to show some personality and style to a potential employer, while still being conservative enough to come off as professional.
FIRST DATE:
When the scarf is folded into a tie and worn as a sixties-style headband, it always reads mod and feminine with a touch of innocence. Look for a pop of color that contrasts with your hair.
BUSINESS DINNER:
Europeans have mastered the pull through, and it’s an effortlessly chic way to wear any scarf. Simply fold a scarf in half and tug the ends through the U of the loop. You’re set! Wear it with a fitted knit cardigan and pencil skirt or more casually, underneath a peacoat.
WINTER STROLL:
Thicker scarves, fur stoles or collars, and large cashmere wraps not only prevent a chill but also add a vibrant, textural layer to a black, camel, or winter-white coat. I like to wear an oversized, featherweight cashmere scarf since the volume of the fabric adds interest to any winter coat. Wraps can look a bit dated if worn like shawls, so I artfully drape one so that one end sits just over the shoulder.
Excerpted from the book Living in Style
by Rachel Zoe. © 2014 by Rachel Zoe, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Grand Central Life & Style. All rights reserved.
Win Rachel's New Book and More!
Win a signed copy of Rachel’s new book Living In Style of your very own! Hop on over to Instagram and find us at @thechalkboardmag. Share the book image and the hashtag #TCMLivingInStyle to be entered to win. The winner will receive a signed copy plus a pack of 12 Pressed Juicery flavors to enjoy while they read! Good luck!
Open to U.S. residents only. Giveaway ends tonight, 3/31, at 7p.m. PST.
