I don’t consider myself the type to be easily swayed by influencers for the most part but during a mindless scroll session on TikTok a few months ago, I came across a video of one of the few influencers that I do enjoy following. She was walking around in a (mostly) black Hermès scarf, which caught my eye immediately. That led me to head over to her Instagram to see if she posted any pictures. Of course, because she’s a savvy influencer she did, and I saved it as a little note to myself. This was before this newsletter was even a thought in my brain, so I guess I had the foresight to prepare ideas!
Hermès scarves have traditionally been really tricky for me, styling wise. I’ve gotten a few as presents (which I’m super grateful for!) but the one and only time I wore any of them to work was a bit of a disaster. In my brain, a long navy and gray cashmere scarf made sense with a simple white button down, black jeans, and dark red pony hair Céline flats. And it might still sound good based on this description but no, it was most definitely not. To quote someone at my job, I was channeling a 65 year old woman, albeit a very stylish one. While technically there’s nothing’s wrong with that, it’s most definitely not what I wanted to hear at the time — I’m not ready for an AARP membership quite yet.
For years after that I’ve kept my small collection stashed away in boxes, unsure of what to do with them. They’ve gone to Los Angeles and back with my cross-country moves, never seeing the light of day. They’re too colorful and whimsical, attributes the average person wants in an Hermès scarf, except for me apparently. I don’t want to wear them but I also don’t want to let them go completely — I guess if I ever needed to win over one of my husband’s female relatives, that’d be the surefire present?
One caveat in all of this: I still think a lot about Comme des Garçons x Hermès collab that came out back in 2013. I was definitely not in a financial place to spend that much on a scarf at the time and now the one I love the most (black-and-white, obvs) is selling for nearly $2k on eBay. Ouch. As stupid as I can be with my money, my one, stubborn red flag (or I guess green flag?) is that I will never spend above retail for anything, no matter what it is. That said, seeing that image on Instagram sent me down a resale rabbit hole and now it’s stuck in my brain.
Perhaps the reason I haven’t found myself drawn to (non collaboration/limited edition) Hermès scarves in the past is due to the ways they’ve been traditionally styled. Most commonly you’ll see them twisted around the handle of a Birkin or Kelly, which feels a little too Asian Tai Tai for me. Not that I don’t want to spend my days gossiping over fancy dim sum in a luxury mall in Singapore, I just don’t want to look like I do — too aging and conservative for my tastes. The other popular option, worn in the hair with sunglasses and a swimsuit, looks incredibly chic on their website but I feel kinda silly and inauthentic. Like I’m cosplaying as an extra on White Lotus, Season 2. And then the other, other, option, if you’re in the mood to revisit the early aughts, is to wear it as a top. I don’t hate that idea, now that I think about it.
Which brings me full circle back to TikTok video that started it all. Technically it was framed as how to style an Hermès scarf but instead of giving the same (boring) ways, it actually got me rethinking the scarf. Worn knotted askew at the neck, like a little cape, she paired it with a black silk dress, a chunky silver necklace, and silver Margiela Tabis. The combination felt much more interesting than your usual cocktail dress, a nice bit of inspiration for the future. The other way she wore it was tucked into a black belt so it juts out from the side of the hip as if it were a ruffle. Again, while it wasn’t a difficult styling trick, it had a big impact — so much so that I was sent into a spiral trying to find a similar one.
The catch is that the scarf is solidly black and white, without any other color accents, which is rather hard to find. Currently there’s one option on Hermès that comes clothes, although I bet the size of the one on Beatrice is closer to 140 and not the classic 90. That said, the price isn’t too bad, especially if you’re heading to Europe any time this summer. I’m also into how the e-comm stylist turned it into a hobo bag, although I’d be paranoid to carry anything beyond a wallet and keys in there, for fear of damaging the scarf or having something fall out.
The Real Real has one that kiiiiiinda comes close, except that speck of green smack dab in the center. That tiny detail drives me insane but maybe it won’t bother others since the price is pretty good. Beyond that though, trying to find a suitably monochromatic Hermès scarf is pretty hard! Nearly all of them have some sort of color mixed into it, which is not what I’m looking for. I suspect this is a search best done when the fall/winter pieces come out but until then perhaps few alternates will do? I’m not sold on these entirely as few things can truly compete with an Hermès scarf, but I don’t hate them either. Maybe you’ll be more forgiving than I am:
This one by Tôteme has the same monochromatic appeal except it’s cotton-blend and not silk, so it’s skews more casual in my mind.
Okay, I lied, I do like a bit of color but only in this scarf. It’s so trippy looking and I’m really into it. A part of me was so tempted to link to the McQueen skull scarf — it’s sooooo poised for its own revival. If the Balenciaga City made a brief return, why not the scarf as well? The two literally go hand-in-hand. Maybe I’ll just advocate for its comeback in a future newsletter.
See you Wednesday, where I’ll be posting from the Bahamas, on a work trip. In honor of that, the topic is swimwear, mainly bathing suits I don’t hate and can withstand the stupid stuff I wind up doing like surfing and now, scuba diving. Let’s hope the sharks are friendly…but not too friendly!
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It's not luxury fashion—but thought you might be interested in knowing about a New York based silk scarf company called Elwyn (instagram is @elwynnewyork). It's channeling Hermes and classic italian silk scarves, at a more affordable price point, and maybe bonus points for supporting a local designer?