1 February 2010 – A Lot Up Top, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Scarf: origins unknown
- Embellished tee: self-made
- Khaki skirt: thrifted
- Purple tights: Banana Republic
- Wedges: thrifted
End Notes:
(I know my skirt is abysmally wrinkled in these pictures. Does anyone have a foolproof method for keeping one’s skirt from wrinkling while spending large quantities of time sitting at a table and reading?)
While this may not seem like that exciting of a way to kick off scarf month — and I’ll argue that this is a long distance run, not a sprint — I thought it fitting to begin with a) one of my oldest scarves and b) one of my occasional scarf dilemmas. Regarding the former, I purchased this scarf sometime, somewhere during my undergrad years. I don’t think I necessarily expected to get so much mileage out of it, yet it has become something of my problem solving scarf. Outfit too bland? The blue green scarf can fix it. Not sure what matches the rest of the outfit? The blue green scarf probably does.
Regarding the latter issue…sometimes I wonder if a scarf needs to stand alone as the sole neck-based accessory or frippery. Diana of Smiles Go With Everything posted two tutorials last year that prove that you can, indeed, wear a scarf and a necklace simultaneously. So what about a scarf and a tee with an embellished neckline?
As is so frequently the case, I think a lot has to do with balance. I chose a solid, less bulky scarf today and the monochrome nature of the embellishments keeps things from getting too busy as well. Furthermore, I chose to tie the scarf in a way that wouldn’t crowd the fabric flowers and would give some verticality to an otherwise blah color-blocked outfit. I know, multi-tasking scarf, right?
I remember one semester in undergrad when a friend came back from studying abroad in France and convinced all of us on my hall to start wearing our scarves the “French” way. I’ve since seen this knot termed the “European loop.” (S. or our European readers…care to verify?)
Simply fold the scarf in half (though in this case I purposefully folded it unevenly because I wanted one end to hang past the waistline of my skirt)…
European Loop, originally uploaded by academichic.
Wrap the folded scarf around your neck and open up the loop in the folded end…
European Loop, originally uploaded by academichic.
Stick the dangling ends through the loop and arrange.
European Loop, originally uploaded by academichic
For my purposes today, the European loop was especially useful because it can be worn off to the side, giving my fabric “corsage” some room to breathe. What do you think? Do you tend to keep your scarves as the only accessory up top? Are there certain necklines or embellishments that you would not wear with a scarf?
Scarf and embellishment detail, originally uploaded by academichic.
Honestly I usually do just wear the scarf. But that’s because typically when I wear a scarf it’s not only to be fashionable but also to keep me warm. I get cold very easy and unfortunately live in the midwest. I’ve seen scarves and other accessories worn together in harmony though! =)
I can’t believe you made that embellished top. It looks amazing. I love the Euro-loop for its ease of use and practicality. One variation I have on top of it is twisting the scarf before pulling it through the loop. It looks chunkier and visually more interesting.
Beautiful! And um I’m pretty sure that I would rather pay you for an embellished top than LOFT! Wow, what talent!
I love your embellished top! What a great job. If you have time, do you think you might do a DIY post? I have a bunch of boring black tops that could use some punching up.
As for the skirt question — I have the same problem! I’m glad it’s not just me… sometimes I feel like I’m the sloppiest person around when my skirt gets wrinkly. The only solution I know is to wear stretchy/lyrca-mix skirts, but unfortunately I never manage to buy anything in those fabrics!
I’ve never heard that called the Euro-loop, but I didn’t start wearing my scarves like this until after I moved to Quebec for my undergrad. It took a little while before I made the leap from just wrapping a scarf around my neck to using one as an accessory. Perhaps it’s the European influence, but scarves are big here in Montreal. Congratulations on year one and I’m looking forward to seeing more scarf ideas! For some reason I’m comfortable wearing a scarf around my neck as an accessory, but not a necklace…
I love the simplicity and crispness of this look. Your DIY embellished tee is just darling. I don’t know how to prevent skirts from wrinkling when sitting for long periods reading at desks or tables. If someone does have this magical wisdom, please pass it on to me too!
Thanks for the shout out! That’s a gorgeous scarf, and I love how it adds come color and vertical lines to the rest of the outfit.
By the way, I gave you gals an award on my blog :)
WOW. That was an extremely well thought-out, and well explained, post. When I saw the first outfit picture I thought, Oh my, she looks SO chic. But in the later ones, where you can see it without the scarf, you’re right, it’s kind of a bland outfit. I don’t mean that to be a dis on you, just a testament to the powers of the scarf! I’d say that’s a pretty strong start to scarf month, actually.
I usually only wear a scarf as neck embellishment and am hesitant to add other accessories. I’d love to see a tutorial on how you made that top!
Gorgeous outfit, and I am totally inspired by all your scarf-ing. And if you find that method for skirts, let all of us know!
I still haven’t mastered the scarf/necklace combo, and don’t generally do scarves with embellished tees … but I love the combo on you!
I love the scarf color on you!
However, I have a question. I love the embellished top trend and would looove to jump on the bandwagon, but I am always freezing – how do you wear a sweater or cardigan over an embellished top without looking lumpy?
I’ve been tying my scarves that way since I lived in Barcelona. So I guess its a European knot. This post has reminded me that I need to try this embellished tee thing on one of my t-shirts STAT!
I’m as likely to do a necklace with a scarf as not. Mainly because, while the scarf is an accessory, if I get too hot I may take it off or too cold I may wrap it around like a shawl…leaving an unadorned gap where the scarf was before.
I’ve been tying my scarves that way since I lived in Argentina. Maybe it is a European influence thing but I’ve never heard it called the European loop; I have heard it called tying it keyhole style.
I love your embellished tee!
That looks great!
I love combining scarves with other neck details, my only rule is avoiding short necklaces (and sometimes avoiding necklace altogether, it depends on the scarf)
Thanks, ladies! For those who were asking about a tutorial for the embellished tee, click here.
@Anne (in Reno) – I have a thin, form-fitting sweater from Forever 21 that I occasionally layer under thinner tops in the winter. If you do want to wear a cardigan, I would suggest using a heavier weave. A chunky knit will hide any bumps from the embellishments and will also provide a nice contrast with the more delicate top.
- E
hi!
I didn’t know this was called the “european loop”. Here in Spain the so-called “european loop” is considered elegant and a little posh somehow, while the way in which S has placed her pink pashmina (in the next post) is usually considered as a bohemian way of wearing it.
Anyway, love the way you placed it!
Please, please consider posting a DIY tutorial on you embellishment tshirt!! I just finished a try at it myself, twisting strips of knit fabric (left over from my home sewn shirt) into rosettes, then adding “streamers”. I love the floppy look of your petals.
[...] E. yesterday, I chose a simple European-loop tie (folded in half with the lose ends pulled through the loop created by the fold). I wanted to really [...]
[...] of our Spanish readers commented that the “European Loop” has a somewhat posh air to it while the “loop & tie” has more of a bohemian feel. I [...]
I went to college in Britain and all the girls wore their scarves – but especially pashminas – like that. You’ve been getting comments about how they do the same in Spain, etc so maybe it really is a European thing.
Ah… They call it a European loop in the states huh?
Can be true, it’s the most used way of tying ones scarf around here for as long as I can remember (Belgium).
I don’t agree on the spanish “posh” vs “Bohemian” way though, the euro-loop is nothing but posh around here and seen as just practical. Wrapping around the neck, several times and tying in a pretty knot is much more fashionable in my part of europe.
I live in the UK and indeed wearing your scarf like that is very common. Not posh at all though… if anything, it’ll stay in place!
Sorry, no help with you on the wrinkled skirt front. But when I wear a scarf, I usually go minimalist on other “top” accessories. I wear glasses so I can’t be too busy above the chest area. Haha
[...] the tie as you would a “European loop” by folding the scarf in half and laying it over your neck. Instead of pulling both ends through [...]