Another practical piece for everyone: my five favourite ways to wear a scarf – with a jacket, with an overcoat or with knitwear.
Begg & Co and I collaborated on the video, which is also available on their website alongside a women’s version presented by Vogue stylist Bay Garnett.
It was nice to be able to produce a film running through the techniques and styles, rather than the usual step-by-step photography.
The techniques can be performed with any scarf of course, though I particularly like the green and silver colours of the Begg scarves I selected here, as well as the top-end quality and range of finishes.
I’ll do a separate post on the items I’m wearing at a later stage.
Thank you Simon, this is a great instructional video and perfectly timed for the strange UK winter we are having where is just hasn’t felt cool enough to wear a heavy topcoat in the city so a scarf is a great choice. With all the options you offer up one can create different looks depending on mood and weather.
Thank you for all the work in 2015, yours really is the best menswear blog on then internet, I’m greatly looking forward to reading it throughout 2016!
Useful video: I find ” a picture speaks a thousand words” when it comes to describing how to do things! Would you mind telling us which overcoat you are wearing? Is it your Cifonelli one?
Yes…
Wonderful demonstration. I need more long scarves, since most of mine are too short to some of these knots.
Your best video yet Simon – nice work. The only addition (esp. for colder weather) is a variation of the last fold (looped around neck)…instead of folding into the loop finish with an up-an-under (shown previously with overcoat). I find this especially warm when worn with jackets, yet it retains an element of formality (because of the vertical symmetry of the front blade) above the French loop.
Next week…how to tie your shoelaces…
A video exists for this already! And it is surprisingly useful, if you like a nice, allegedly self tightening “sideways” bow. The way I tie them leaves the loops pointing towards the toe and up to the ankle (the sprezz method!!)
Very useful indeed; thank you Simon.
A quick question: I was always under the Impression that one should never see the “slim end” of a tie, however it appears you are quite often deliberately wearing your ties so that the slim end is moved to the side/front, or in a way that the slim end is longer than the front end. This does look really relaxed and may i say good, but somehow I was socialised in a way that this also screams “WRONG!” to me. Can you elaborate a bit? Would this casual look work in the office ever?
Yes it should. Of all the things you can do deliberately, it’s the one that looks the least deliberate!
Love the look of the leather gloves stuffed into the breast pocket of your overcoat. The definition of Sprezzatura!
I never even thought of that as sprezzatura, just as a convenient way to store gloves!
Excellent video.I have been a fan of your style for some time now.Will be great to see more videos in the future.
Great video Simon, off to buy more scarves!
thank you
Yes to the scarves, NO to leather gloves worn as overcoat pocket square. Horrid affectation, beloved of Pitti Pointless types. (see also: arm of tortoiseshell glasses hanging over pocket).
But it’s by no means pointless, so it’s not an affectation. I can’t think of a more convenient place to store my gloves. I don’t like putting gloves in the hip pockets of my coat, especially if I’m still wearing the coat, since it creates bulges where I don’t want them. The in-breast pocket doesn’t usually fit the gloves as well, and I prefer to keep other things in those pockets like tissue packets.
Well, what counts is your intention.
If you deliberately decorated yourself, then probably you are not as relaxed and unpretentious and “natural” as you display yourself to be. However, we look at an educational video here meaning there’s at least a couple of photographers, some make-up guy, somebody doing the light, quite possibly some brand representative etc. Of course in this scenario you don’t just walk in, do your take and leave. Instead everything is deliberate – including the gloves. That is not necessarily bad though, because it’s an educational video. However it’s impossible to infer nonchalance from a staged video. Just doesn’t work this way. You make that observation when no camera is rolling.
Now on a general note I am not a big fan of too much “decorativeness”. I don’t think more pins and clips and scarves and carefully placed spectacle frames are doing anybody any favours. I find it especially horrendous when men wear scarves over sweaters for no functional reason, and much prefer a clean look. Too me many pieces are a distraction and much too often appears very deliberate.
Great video Simon. Useful and very well produced. With your post on the Begg neckerchief and now this I’m starting to pay more attention to scarves. I have a couple from Drakes but I’ve been looking for longer and lighter. Other than Begg, any suggestions for places to look?
Keep an eye out for some from the producers themselves – such as Johnston’s. Often very good value
Simon, I’m currently in the market for a plain cashmere scarf. I’m torn between, navy, camel or light grey. Which would you consider most versatile? Many Thanks
It depends on a lot of things, like your overcoats and what other scarves you have. But generally I’d go with light grey – just as versatile as navy, but unlikely to be the exact same colour as a suit or coat you already have
A very useful video Simon.
I received a lovely cashmere scarf for Christmas and have been using the “overcoat” and the “Blazer II”. Both have been very useful during this recent, mostly mild, Canadian winter.
Many thanks. Could you tell me the fabric and weight of this blue jacket you had made as I am considering a similar piece from Luigi Solito
It’s Zegna cashmere, 9oz I believe
There is a book that covers this subject very comprehensively. If I remember rightly 14 ways to tie a scarf is the title and it covers small large and vast scarves from various cultures. I cannot comprehend that men reading this site require tuition in this subject.
To be honest Peter, I still find such tips useful – I forget from one winter to the next how I best like to tie a big, shawl-type scarf
Hi Simon,
Are the first two scarves in the video called their “Wispy” ultra-lightweight scarves?
I sometimes find scarve lengths too long where if I use the first method of wearing the scarf in your video, the ends reach my knees and extend well past the bottom of my sports coat.
I won’t have this problem with the Wispy scarves, as they are classically sized and not oversized, right?
Yes they are.
On length, it really depends what you mean by a classic length. Perhaps measure one you have at home that you consider that length, then compare to the proportions on their site?
Bear in mind too that Wispy refers to a quality of scarf, not a size. The small square ones we do are also made in Wispy cashmere
Hi Simon,
I’m very drawn to the Wispy quality because it can be tucked inside a jacket. It’s a very sophisticated look than you don’t see. When paired with a cashmere or heavy tweed SC, do you ever feel that you would need a heavier scarf in the winter? Maybe a solution would be to wear a cashmere turtleneck paired with a wispy quality scarf tucked inside.
Nice idea. Yes, I would often need a heavier one in winter
I’ll see if the Wispy quality is sufficient for California weather. I am sure winter is much colder where you live, thanks
Simon, this was one of your most useful videos, many thanks for it.
I am looking for a scarf to go with your PWVC Bridge coat. I find that there is a large opening around the collar, and a scarf would look great there. I was hoping for your help with two questions:
1) Would Begg’s Kishorn scarf be too thin/not substantial enough to go with the Bridge coat? Would one of their Arran scarfs be bettter?
2) In terms of color, i am undecided between olive green or natural. The green would be closer to the coat while providing some contrast, but natural would pop more. Any preference?
Many thanks.
Nice idea John. Bear in mind that of course the Bridge Coat can be buttoned all the way up, so a scarf is less required than with some other coats.
1) A kishorn would be fine, I particularly like the casual yet luxe feel of the washed kishorn. The Arran would also be lovely, but smarter.
2) I’d go with natural myself, though I also love charcoal and navy
Simon I’ve been trying to find a scarf with a simple check like the Avingon in your video. Begg X Co don’t seem to have it anymore. All checked scarves I can find seem to be tartan. Do you have any recommendations for other places that might carry simple checked scarves?
Sorry, no Aaron