Necessity To Accessory - The Evolution Of The Scarf

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I am sure most women have at least one scarf in their wardrobe. It may be a warm woollen number to keep out the cold or it could be a decorative piece to accent a favourite outfit but it is sure to be there. I can still remember the days when, apart from woollies in the winter, it was only old ladies and the well to do who seemed to wear scarves but now they are everywhere and worn throughout the seasons by every generation.

You can’t walk into any fashion store without seeing a bank of decorative scarves in a plethora of pretty patterns and I am wondering how that happened. My only scarf used to be the one I wore to football matches but now I have dozens of the things and I can’t recall exactly when the fashion landscape changed.

History

It is difficult to create a definitive history of scarves because they have taken so many forms over the centuries. Do you define a scarf as a square piece of cloth worn around the neck and head or can a scarf be any small piece of fabric draped around the body for any purpose? There are examples of attire that could be described as scarves dating back as far as the ancient civilisations of Egypt and China but the first widespread use of such an accessory seems to have occurred in Ancient Rome.

Men used pieces of fabric draped around their necks or waists to wipe off sweat and the practice was later adopted by women. Scarves started as a means to deal with the heat not the cold!
People in hot and dusty places and areas where there were many insects would wear head scarves to keep their hair clean and scarves were and are worn in Islamic cultures as part of the code of modesty in dress.

Somewhere along the line such practical items acquired a decorative or symbolic nature and the scarf as a fashion accessory gradually appeared as well as becoming a useful defence against cold weather.
When luxurious pieces like decorative silk scarves first appeared they were the preserve of the wealthy in society. In the 19th century only the rich could afford the frivolity of a decorative item in their wardrobe of any kind but especially one made of expensive textiles.

In the early 20th century luminaries and the stars of stage and screen would be seen wearing decorative scarves but it wasn’t until the arrival of man-made fabrics which mimicked silk that such garments became available to the masses.

Modern Era

The silk scarf gradually fell out of favour with the arrival of the youth cultures of the late 20th century. These cultures were all about rebellion and being different to the older generation. There was no place for a pretty scarf (unless you count the tartan ones sported by fans of the Bay City Rollers!) In recent years, however, the scarf has made a big comeback.

Scarves in every conceivable fabric, shape and pattern have appeared and are popular with every generation. No longer merely a means of protecting us from the weather, they are now a way to add colour, pattern and depth to an outfit, of breaking up large areas of plain garments and a useful way of changing a look a seconds. It is probably their versatility which has proved to be the root of their success.

Whether you love cheap floaty numbers from Primark or a classic tartan Lyle and Scott scarf there can always be something in your wardrobe to add a splash of your favourite colours and designs to any outfit.

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Sally Stacey is a keen blogger with an interest in fashion and cultural history