I bought this book from a charity shop thinking it would be really useful. I got home, stuck it on the book shelf and rediscovered it last night, three years later. I'm not quite sure how I forget about it, when it comes to tying a scarf, I need all the help. I'm definitely not one of those women who can wrap a scarf around their heads and look effortlessly glamorous. No matter how hard I try I always end up looking like a demented charwoman. I try, I fail, I rip the sodding thing off, chuck it on the floor and go out in a hat.
So, better late than never, I cracked open my case of scarves and decided to see if it was really possible to learn how to rock my scarf.
Let's see, shall me?
My first attempt.
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| Victorian screen decorated with scraps bought by 11 year-old Vix from a Walsall junk shop in 1977 - I was still weird even then! |
To create this "Boho Head Wrap" I'm using a large 1970s Indian silk fringed square (almost shawl sized) bought for a few pence at a jumble sale earlier this year. This scarf is coming with me on my travels. This will be a perfect hair-style for a breezy night on the beach - so I won't be swallowing my hair with my beer.
Like my favourite-ever craft book, Yeah, I Made It Myself, what I like about this book is that they've used sketches rather than photos, giving a rough impression of how the end result should look rather than intimidating us nervous novices with a perfect image.
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| In the bathroom. Lady Lichfield maxi from Helga, silver jewellery from India, turquoise hoops from the £1 and less accessory shop down the road |
This is a "Kahlo style hairdo" which I reckon would work just as well with one-length shorter hair.
I'm using a skinny Orla Keily pure silk scarf which came free in a magazine so long ago that it's virtually vintage.
To create this masterpiece all you need to do is put the scarf around your neck, centre part your hair and plait it using the scarf as the third strand - easy!
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| The Wall of Misery |
The weather's awful, torrential rain and really windy. The "Twisted Hair Wrap" kept my hair looking half decent when I braved the charity shops and visited the market for my fruit & veg earlier today.
I'm using a 1930s Liberty silk scarf for this style. It cost £1 from a car boot sale (Sorry Love, I've got to charge you a quid for that, it's a posh one, ain't it?) To add more drama a really long scarf would be perfect . I've got a few second hand saris in my stash which I might cut up to use next time.
The book is full of brilliantly clever ideas, some involve sewing and others just tying. It's American but I've found copies on a UK website for less than £4 (HERE) . Accompanied by a couple of vintage scarves it would make a fab gift for a girlfriend, wouldn't it?
And no, this isn't a sponsored post, I bought the book with my own hard-earned 75p!
What a great book -think i need one !
ReplyDeletexxx
that book was worth every penny!!!
ReplyDeleteI love scarves too!!
Hey that's brilliant! I love all three styles, esp the last one!x
ReplyDeleteCool book, you look fabulous in scarves! :)
ReplyDeletedear lady, you rock scarves!, and you know how to create an interesting fashion post without going out to fight wind and rain!, such great advices!
ReplyDeleteAnd it's a lovely book, particularly those sketches!, glad you've found it!.
besos
silky scarves always seem to slide off my head. You did "rock" all of those scarves. I might have to try the braid your hair into the scarf one.
ReplyDeleteWe've got your weather today - the cats and I disapprove. :) Great advice (both tying scarves and a gift for a girlfriend), and you look striking in scarves, I especially like the first style on you, wonderful with your hair. I will try the Ava style some time - I think that one looks good with any hair, even as short as mine. :)
ReplyDeleteCor, that was 75p well spent. You look fabulous in those scarves. I think that I am going to have to buy a copy of this book. I won literally drawers of the things but am hopeless at tying them myself. I really love the first look and your Frida-a-like. Bloody lovely as usual. Xx
ReplyDeleteYou look so terrific in these scarves. I can't believe you haven't been wearing them all the time. I especially like the Frida on you. Gosh I hardly ever wear scarves any more. Thanks for the inspiration. Time to tie up my old grey bob.
ReplyDeleteYou are so gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteOooh, thanks, I'll look out for that book now that I'm in the UK. All 3 scarf-tying endeavors look great on you. Gave me a bit of a flashback as I wore a version of the bohemian head wrap (twisted the tails of the scarf into a bun and tucked ends in) for a good 6 months with a wig that only had hair down the sides after I lost my hair to chemo. I used to get comments all the time from people that they liked my "gypsy look". I didn't tell them it was to cover a bald head!
ReplyDeleteSuch clear instructions. I've been asked to do a post on this but was too lazy!
ReplyDeleteYou look just like a gypsy in the first one. Gorgeous! Xo Jazzy Jack
Oh I so want that book! my mother was good with scarves and wore them like your first and last pics - in the 70s you could buy a silk triangle which had about 6 quilted rows like long sausages, when you wore the scarf it gave height/definition to the front of the head and didn't slip - I would love to find one of those... I also loved the 'handkerchief skirts of the 70s (popular to buy from portobello rd, london) made of several large second hand silk scarves sewn like patchwork on an angle so the hem was jagged and pointy. Betty
ReplyDeleteYou look great! I wore a headscarf when I was wee (when I wasn't wearing mop caps!) in the style that I only ever see some religious types wear theirs round these parts these days: folded into a triangle and tied under the hair in a knot xxx
ReplyDeleteBrethren, that's the one :)
DeleteI need another book like I need a hole in my head but I had to have a look at the craft book you mentioned and I got one for £2.80 including pp, arriving tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI love the Kahlo look its gorgepus. Might have to give that one a whirl when my hair is not at its best.
I'm going to look out the mag I got when your house was featured, your bathroom wall looks great,I need a reminder
Lots of love Lynn xxx
Well done, better late than never Vix!! You really suit all the head scarves that you shared. I might try the Friday one!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant book.
ReplyDeleteI love the first look on you, best of all.
In case I don't manage to get online again before Christmas (computer issues), I hope yourself and Jon have a wonderful time, and I look forward to catching up on all your posts in the new year. xx
The Frida do is my go to for festivals, long journeys on buses (or other times when getting your hair in contact with others is a no no) and when the boiler breaks. I love it and I think it looks fabulous on you! I love the other two too, definitely going to have to give them a whirl. What a brilliant buy for 75p! XXX
ReplyDeleteThese are fab - I especially love the Frida scarf tie and must try it today. Isn't is wonderful to "discover" a book we've had on the shelf? xox
ReplyDelete-Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
Terrific way to add mire color. I cut my hair shorter this fall so love the ideas for shorter hair.
ReplyDeleteI'd enjoy pinning these how-to pix on the wall above Judith the Style Crone's gorgeous scarf rack and playing with her rainbow of silks! What a brilliant way to cover one's head with color on a foul weather day! (It took me years to upgrade the peasant babushka knotted under the chin to the Queen's neat bow tied beneath the ear.)
ReplyDeleteYou can definitely rock a scarf Vix. I am loving the maxi dress too, the print is gorgeous! xx
ReplyDeletePerfect timing Vix. I JUST sorted thru a pile of scarves I have accumulated over the years and thought, damn it, I'm wearing these! And I too usually end up looking like a "demented charwoman" (remember Monty Python's Charwoman?). I shall get the book.
ReplyDeleteRight on ... what a great forgotten book to find!
ReplyDeleteFunny about that Frida Kahlo one - I saw it demonstrated as a "new" idea for scarf tying on one of the blogs a little while ago and tried it out myself. Aside from that, the only way I've managed to wear a scarf on my head was the old "use a narrow scarf as a headband, tied under your hair at the back" look -- I use that one regularly on bad-hair days.
You look terrific in all these looks, but I especially love the first one. It suits you so well and will be perfect on the beach in India!
Vix
ReplyDeleteI think all the scarf styles you tried look good but I especially liked the first one. The Boho one.
The wall of misery - it's so kitsch it's untrue and I love your stairs and screen. You clearly had impeccable taste even then at 11 years old!
xxx
Veronica
Vronni60sblogspot.com
All these look good on you Vix but loving the Frida ...it looks so pretty. (Scarves also good for hiding manky hair that needs washing)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend. xx
Wow, this is so cool that I just jumped over to Amazon and bloody well bought the book...
ReplyDelete:-), Eliza
Oop, and the DIY book as well...What are you doing to us Vix? ;-)
ReplyDeleteLOVED this! I am awful at doing anything remotely creative with my hair. I don't know if I could pull off any of these looks but I'm damn well gonna give them a try.
ReplyDeleteFor the first time ever I see instructions that I could actually follow! Ha!
Pinning this for future reference.
Now I see what a wonderful selection of scarves you have. And that you bathroom is big enough for a massive chair that isn't the toilet. ; P
bisous
Suzanne
Oh yes, the Frida one is a definite winner! Love it. Justina Blakeney is all interiors now. Interesting to see how she started out. I had one of those screens! Gave it away years ago though. Nice to see you've still got yours. Xxxx
ReplyDeletefab!! the book and your looks with scarfs!! you have collected some beautiful examples. and that dress from helga is a stunner!! xxxxxx
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant post! I always drink my hair, when it's windy out...why on earth didn't I think of using a scarf to contain my hair???
ReplyDeleteOoooh, really like that first scarf with your dress!!
And I especially liked that screen with the fancy decoupage..did you really buy those Victorian bits when you were 11? You were a crafter even then!
happy thrifting ;)
Hmmm, no.1 is a bit Axl Rose. No.3 is a bit, ''Shall I tell your fortune'' but no.2 is very, very pretty!
ReplyDeleteYou would look gorgeous in a plastic see through granny scarf for keeping the rain off your perm. Truly. xxx
Of course you're able to wrap scarves like a star! So practical with scarves in so many situations.
ReplyDeleteYou are TOTALLY rocking those scarves :0)
ReplyDeletexx
That was 75p well spent! My favourite has to be the Frida Kahlo style one, it looks fab on you. Loving your Lady Lichfied maxi too - very apt for a ladylike pose like that. Your photo looks like it should be in a magazine from the 70s - always a good thing! xxx
ReplyDeleteWhat a fab book - worth rediscovering after a few years! Loving the Kahlo-inspired plait, but all three look great. It's always a joy to catch glimpses of your home too - the weather's been unspeakable, I haven't been able to get out in the garden in daylight, hence no photos!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous maxi too, and you have a wonderful scarf collection.
Love you! xxxx
I'm seriously impressed by this outfit but let's get back at that Victorian stand behind you...did you really buy it when you were 11? That's so cool! You had a unique sense of style even back then....you know I've been thinking and I really do think even as children we often have a distinct sense of style. I remember that I really liked skirts and dresses when I was a kid and I simply refused to wear anything else. My mother always said how her dream of dressing a little girl was ruined because as soon as I was 3, I insisted on choosing my own clothes.
ReplyDeleteBack to the outfit....that maxi looks divine on you...and I really like how you tied that scarf. Gypsy chic meets pirate chic...and you rock!!!!!!!!
Hahaha! I have that Orla Kiely scarf too, I can't remember which magazine it was, though. Love the Victorian screen, my great-aunt had a similar one bought for silly money from an antique shop.
ReplyDeleteI have a small collection of scarves that I occasionally use in the summer for headwear, but I find that having barely any hair makes it a challenge to keep the scarf on your head. You did an excellent job demonstrating the styles from the book. I really like the Frida Kahlo version.
ReplyDeleteI freaking love scarves and I have so many but don't wear then nearly enough, especially the bigger ones. I think I'm going to try and google some styles now - I really love that first boho style one and I can't imagine any occasion where you'd look demented lovely Vix!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a really useful book - the Frida style is really cool. I never know what to do with scarves. I have some for dancing, and know what to do with those, but wearing them is another matter.
ReplyDeleteAll three styles look great on you. You have such lovely hair.
Love this post! I have lots of scarves so am definitely going to try some of these out!
ReplyDeleteWith my birthday next week, I ordered a copy of this book for myself. I see lots of fun in my future playing with my scarf collection! Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely going to try that plait one.
ReplyDelete