See that amazing shirt on Mz. Oona Balloona? That is actually a scarf! This floral scarf to be exact.

Head on over to Oona Balloona to see her sewing blog full of hilarity, creations, and a rowdy good time. Beware– Oona loathes everything monochromatic. Her print and pattern mixing talents make you want to move to the top of the Big Rock Candy Mountain and wear rainbow hues all day.

She also gives excellent sewing advice.

One trend to keep an eye on this fall is ponchos. They’re so versatile: you can dress them up with accessories like scarves and belts, or you can wear them as they come. Another benefit to ponchos being versatile is that you can easily make your own. Any spare fabric around the house, whether it be an old tablecloth, spare fabric bits, even old scarves, can be turned in a fabulous boho-chic style poncho.

Inspired by the gorgeous DIY scarf poncho  from Tiffany over at A Reason to be Fabulous, we set out to make our own DIY poncho out of one of our leopard print wraps.

Tiffany's DIY scarf poncho

Though your scarf doesn’t have to be square in shape, it will make the poncho turn out more even. You can either cut your scarf to make a square, or fold your scarf in half to form a square, and sew up the loose ends.

With your scarf in square form, fold one end to the other to make a triangle, then repeat to make another triangle. Cut a small hole in the top, opposite of the loose ends. Tiffany suggests, “cut smaller than you think you’ll need, because the hole will inevitably still come out larger than necessary.”

Steps 1 through 3

All that’s left to do is unfold your new homemade poncho and wear it! Accessorize like Tiffany with a skinny belt, or come up with something creative ideas of your own. Maybe a scarf belt over a scarf poncho?

AffordableScarves.com's Sarah modeling the new DIY scarf poncho

If you really love the poncho trend but either don’t have the time to make one, or don’t deem yourself a crafting goddess just yet, you can check out our Laurene V Neck Poncho—it’s only $6.95!! Hurry though, before they all get snagged up.

For those of you who have been stalking our blog for the past few weeks, you’ve caught on to one of our sister stores.

And if you haven’t been, then I have a fun announcement!

AffordableScarves.com is part of a network of websites that sell accessories. One of our newest sites is Socks4Life.com.  There, we have an awesome selection of knee-high, dress, patterned, athletic, kids’, diabetic, thigh-high, and novelty socks.

And…Socks4Life is giving away gift certificates!  Head over to the blogs below to win yourself a gift certificate to try out some of our socks:

. AlmCrock :: ends 9 March

. Fashionista Next Door :: ends 14 March

. The Review Stew :: ends 24 March

. As Mom Sees It :: ends 25 March

The life of a scarf can be an extraordinary thing.  Think about it.  Where has your favorite scarf travelled with you?  On vacations, to parties, to important meetings?

Well imagine the travels of an average scarf multiplied by 20!

Affordable Scarves recently provided two scarves for a Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarf organized by Kimberly of Fab Finds under 50.  The brightly-patterned miami scarf travelled to 20 fashion bloggers in 13 states.  From Minnesota to Massachusetts, from Colorado to California - this scarf saw half the country!

Participants channeled the bright teals and greens of the scarf and created an amazing array of stylish knottings and drapings: a pretty neck bow, a swashbuckling sash, even an adorable necklace!

Leslie of Fashion du Jour used the scarf as a wrap scarf, creating several tops and a skirt.  Andie of What Andie Wears was inspired to bring out an old dress to create a new look.  Shea of Bon Chic Bon Gastronomique paired patterns for her outfit, but still had a look that she described as “typically, comfortably me.”

Maybe that’s the best part about the travels of this scarf.  Each of these ladies started with the same scarf but created a style uniquely their own.

Affordable Scarves was delighted to be a part of this fabulous event!

Check out a few of the steal-worthy scarf-stylings below or jump over to Fab Finds’ blog post to see the whole set of looks.

Photo Credit: Fab Finds Under 50

Photo: getreligion.org

What comes to mind when hearing the word scarf? Is it cold, fashion, trendy? Or is it religion, customary, tradition? People sport scarves in different cultures and religions around the world for different reasons. For those people, it’s more than just a trend; it’s a lifestyle. Here are just a few scarf traditions from around the world.

In the Muslim faith, men and women are required to dress modestly in public, a practice  rooted in faith. The Quran says that women should guard their modesty and keep their beauty hidden to the public. Thus, they wear the head scarf, or hijab. This is a choice in most countries, though others do require it by law.

In Judaism, a Tallit is a Jewish prayer garment made of cotton, wool or silk. They must have fringes on all four corners and the fringes are referred to as tzittzit. These fringes are meant to represent the commandments that God spoke to Moses. At Bar Mitzvah’s, the young boy being honored wears a Tallit while reading from the Torah in front of the synagogue, if he is from the Ashkenazi sect of Judaism. In the Sephardi sect, only married men can wear Tallits. These Tallits are passed down from father to son in many Jewish families.

In the Tibetan tradition, the offering of white silk scarves, called khatas, symbolizes an offering of one’s good intentions during the welcoming of new relationships, whether they be marital, business or political. The scarf will symbolize that the offering into a new relationship is truly from the heart. They are also offered to the deceased, which may be a way of welcoming the deceased into their next lives. They are also offered to spiritual images and statues of Buddha, spiritual teachers, monks, nuns and political leaders such as the Dalai Lama.

Bhutanese men wear scarves called kabneys on formal visits to a Dzong or office. The kabney identifies the rank of a person depending on the caller he or she wears. Bhutanese women wear smaller scarves called kiras that are hand woven and have fringes at the end.

These were just few of many ways that scarves are used symbolically to represent cultures and faiths from around the world. The next time you throw a scarf over your shoulders; think about the significance and cultural impact they have made in places around the world. It’s really more than you would expect for a piece of fabric.

When I wear a scarf, I want to be comfortable.  I don’t want a scratchy, heavy, and hot scarf draping around my neck while I’m trying to look my best.  If it’s scratchy, my neck gets red and itches. If it’s heavy, I feel like I’m choking. If it’s hot, I’m sweating like a pig!

I just want to be comfortable and rock the cute new embellished scarves everyone is raving about! So I took it upon myself, assuming I’m not the only person out there that loves to wear scarves without the pain, to determine the most COMFORTABLE and affordable fabrics roaming the streets…

• 100% Jersey – You know, the comfy cotton!? This stretchy and baby-soft cotton is very breathable and light.  Now it’s not the lightest or the mostbreathable, but very comfortable. When embellished, this style of scarf stands out without resulting in an itchy neck!
  

  100% Jersey

• Cashmere – Oh, the infamous, ritzy word…cashmere…just sounds elegant doesn’t it? This fabric, my friends, is by far the most lightweight and breathable I’ve found.  It gets softer with time and doesn’t weigh you down.  Expensive it may be, but worthy of ownership, indeed!

Cashmere

• Silk – Ah, silk! Very smooth, soft, velvety… not quite cashmere (in my standards), but still an elegant choice of material.  If you’re purchasing an embellished silk scarf, though, be careful of tearing!

Silk

• Cotton – The classic cotton! A thinner material, lightweight and breathable. This is the more common scarf material. It can get warm, but unless you have an allergy, an itchy neck should not be in your future. This material will wear but generally holds embellishments well.

Cotton

• Linen– This cloth fabric is extremely lightweight! This plant-like material is considered to be the most breathable fabric, promoted for its coolness.  But do consider the type of embellishment – sequins are generally safe; anything heavier, watch for tears.

Linen

Over all, my general rating? Go with 100% Jersey Cotton. If you want an embellished, playful scarf, be comfortable! Don’t forgo comfort for class…be unique without worrying about your accessories!

Are you looking for some new ways to style your hair? Well then head scarves are for you. There are so many different ways to wear a head scarf. You can go for a funky, fun look or try something more elegant. Either way, a head scarf  is bound to make you and your hair look good. Are you down with head scarves, but not quite sure how to wear them? Well, don’t worry. We had the lovely Terryl model five ways to wear a head scarf:

You can wear your scarf as a simple headband. To mimic this look, just fold the scarf until you have the desired width you want for your headband. It will be easier if your hair is up when you do this. Then put it where you want it to lie on your head, wrap it around and tie securely underneath. This would look great both with you hair pulled up or with it down as Terryl’s is. This hairstyle used the Summer Breeze Scarf .

This style is done using the Kendra Striped Scarf. Terryl simply wrapped the scarf around her head leaving a thick strip in front and tied it on the side letting the scarf hang down with her hair.

For this style, fold your scarf into a triangle. Wrap it around your head as you would a bandana and tie in the back over your hair. It might be easy if you have someone hold the top of your scarf in place while you tie it tightly in the back, as it easily slips down. This picture features the Amy Nautical Square Scarf.

This turban style is another one that will be easier to achieve with your hair up while tying, and then you can take it down once its tied. It looks really complicated, but it’s not. Start with the middle of the scarf in the back of your head under your hair. Take it around to the top of your head, cross the two sides and tie on bottom. It creates a really cool look and no one will know how you did it. This style used the Sally Crinkle Scarf.

This style, the rosette, is done using the Shannon Polka Dot Scarf. To achieve this look, wrap the scarf around your head until the two different sides meet. Then, twist the ends together until long and taunt. Next, slowly bring the twist toward your head and allow it to coil as you do so. Tuck, the loose end into the coil and voila!

Though those are only five ways to wear a head scarf, the possibilities are countless. Just get creative with your scarf and let us know if you come up with any cool ideas!

Jennifer Crinkle Scarf

Crinkly scarves are great. You can throw them on; they look good with almost anything. They’re lightweight and breezy, perfect for summer wearing. But what happens when you spill some of your smoothie on that great crinkly scarf, you wash it and the crinkles come out? Or maybe you aren’t a klutz like I am; maybe the crinkles are just coming undone due to everyday wear. Well don’t fret, there happens to be a simple fix to keeping the look to that scarf you love so dearly.

• Get your scarf wet. Run it through the wash if it’s machine safe or just get it damp in the sink, either way works.
• Twist the ends in opposite directions until you can’t twist any longer!
• Tie both ends in a loose knot.
• Hang your scarf to dry or throw it in your dryer. When you take it out, untie the knots and untwist your scarf and you will have that crinkled look back and better than ever!

There you have it! And people worry about ironing boards. Pshhhhh.

Picture this…You’re heading out for a nice evening on the town with some girlfriends.You’ve decided on the perfect outfit, strapped on the stilettos, and now you’re fidgeting through your tower-of-a-jewelry-box. Now this giant box contains cute necklaces your mom gave you for Christmas, stylish bangles of every color, long chain necklaces with creative pendants, and a ring for every occasion. After taking 30 minutes to reminisce about each piece, you decide on the perfect necklace to complement your, “I’m lookin’ kinda good!” attire. After this laboring accessorizing process, you head to the hall closet to grab your coat and BAM! There it is. Your favorite scarf. Now you panic, second guessing every decision you made in the last half-hour. Do I wear just a scarf? Only a necklace? Or more questionably, both?  Was the whole pain-staking, accessorizing, digging through my gigantic tower of lost gems experience worth the trouble when I just could have thrown on a scarf?

Okay, so maybe it’s not that serious. Maybe you don’t own a gigantic tower-of-a -jewelry-box or maybe you hate accessories. And yet maybe, just maybe you have pondered the consequences of rocking that sassy yellow scarf and your pendant necklace. The fact of the matter is that no, this is not a serious dilemma, but it does pose as a completely logical question. Is a scarf and a necklace too much at once?

I say, use it all in moderation. Use a scarf in the place of a necklace or a necklace in place of a scarf. Don’t be afraid to sport a colorful scarf over a simple necklace, but do ask yourself the following:

• Which accessory do I want to stand out more? Can they complement each other?
• Am I wearing the scarf because I’m cold or for aesthetics?
• Will I at any point take off the scarf?

These questions will help you determine how to accessorize appropriately. If you want your vibrant yellow scarf to stand out and spice up the outfit, then stick to a simple necklace.  Avoid long dramatic chains or an equally vibrant colored one. If you have a necklace and scarf that compare favorably in both color and style, without being over-powering, then wear both. If you are rocking the scarf because the weather is cold then don’t worry about matching it with your other accessories. And finally, if you feel that at any point during your outing you may want to remove your scarf, whether hot, sweaty or uncomfortable, then feel free to put more focus into picking a complementary necklace.

Whether you’re scarfing it, necklacing it, or both, strive to invigorate your attire.  Accessorize not ostracize.

PhotoCredit: http://mylittlefashionfinds.blogspot.com

Birthday Boy

It’s 8 January 2010.  I know what you’re all thinking…

Happy 75th Birthday, Elvis!

Here is the first man to wear a scarf unabashedly.  And he made it his signature in his later years, as he occasionally handed out his sweat-drenched scarves to hyperventilating fans during his concerts.

Sounds gross.  But to be honest, I would have been all over it.  Elvis will always be close to my heart.

I could go on.  But let’s talk about fashion.

Chanel video candy. His Highest, Karl Lagerfeld, recently shot a fun, short film.  Used to promote Chanel’s new line, Vol de Jour, it  follows two beauties as they shoplift at various Chanel boutiques.  If only it were as easy as they make it look…

Speaking of Lagerfeld. Weird is good.  Interesting, because I’ve been weird for years.  Glad to know I’m in fashion now.  Check out this teaser for a soon-to-come feature in V Magazine that should ruffle some feathers.

Despite Lagerfeld’s public opposition to curvy girls (he said it, not me!), he is listed as one of the photographers for this hopeful spread.

Speaking of weird. I can’t believe I’ve never thought to look this guy up, but I came across an interview of Nicola Formichetti.  Oh, is that name not familiarchetti?

He styles Lady Gaga.  Give that a think.  This guy has to be some kind of crazy.

They probably got hooked up because of their sweet last names.  (Her real name is Stefani Germanotta.  Awesommme.)

Speaking of Gaga. We’ve seen her rad tattoos, right?  I love them so much I just misspelled “love” as I typed it.

Kay.  Onward.  Following in the footsteps of Rodarte and Jean Paul Gaultier’s runway ink, Chanel will soon be releasing a line of temporary tattoos for your punk-but-not-forever side.  You know what I’m talking about.

…blah blah blah something about scarves.

Speaking of scarves. How pretty does this look??  Personally, my hair is slightly south of mid-back (it’s okay to feel inferior right now), so I may very well be trying this trend soon.  Perhaps with the Amy Nautical Square Scarf.  And the wheels turn…