You guys should be so excited right now, because I’m excited to tell you this…

Scarves.net, our sister site, just published an e-book, “All Tied Up: A Lookbook of Ideas,” and you’re among  the first to hear about it!

Everything you’ve wanted to know about scarves is included, from types of fabrics and how to wash them, how to style scarves for different seasons, and even how to match a scarf to a particular neckline. Bottom line, if you love scarves, you need this e-book.

And it’s FREE! All you have to do is tweet about it.

sneek peak!

Head on over to Scarves.net, or click here, for the information on downloading. Enjoy! We’d love to know what you think

It’s another crafty day in the Affordable Scarves office! I had some pieces of scarf leftover from our DIY scarf flats project, so I decided to make a structured headband out of them. I love the look of the flowy head scarves that trail down your shoulder, but I can never get them to stay on properly. Sticking a plastic headband inside gives some support, and I know it’s not going anywhere.

Let’s start crafting!

Step 1: Gather your supplies

glue gun, scarf scraps, headband, scissors.

Cut a strip of scarf that’s wide enough to cover your headband, and long enough to be able to drape over your shoulder (if that’s the look you’re going for).

 Step 2: Get to gluing!

Start by gluing the scarf to one side of the headband. Apply the glue to the underside of the headband, so you can’t see the edges when you’re wearing it. Repeat the process on the other side. The scarf should look like it’s wrapped around the headband, with no edges showing.

Step 3: Clean up extra bits

Snip away the edges left over after you’ve secured the scarf to the headband. You may need to singe the edges of the scarf to make sure they don’t fray. I had to that with this scarf.

Step 4: Wear proudly!

Such an easy DIY project! And now I have a headband that matches my shoes.

Watch out in the next few weeks for a project that the Affordable Scarves girls have been working on for a long time with Scarves.net, our sister site.

Indianapolis skyline.

** Also, be sure to check out Scarves.net’s 37 Ways to Tie a Scarf!

We were pretty crafty today in the Affordable Scarves office while we refashioned some flats with scarves.

For Stacie’s Glittery flats:

Whenever I saw these shoes on Anthropologie, I knew I had to try and make a version of my own. At the time, the price of Anthropologie’s version was $148.00, but now they are on sale for $78.00. Ahem. What a deal?

The inspiration:

Step 1: For this project, you need a pair of flats, (Mine are from Payless and I highly recommend them.) some thread, a needle, scissors, and a scarf of course. I used a vintage scarf that my mom had used in a previous DIY project. I just thought it was too pretty to be stuck lying around.

Step 2: Next you need to cut up your scarf into four strips. You need to cut the strips wide enough so that you can fold them in half, stitch them up, and then flip them inside out. (In the end you will have a little scarf tube to sew to your flats.)

Step 3: Now you need to sew the little strips into tubes. I stitched the tubes by hand, (because I am crafting at work, of course #yeahwork!) but I recommend stitching the tubes up with a machine.

Step 4: After you’ve stitched the little scarf tubes, you just start stitching the fabric to your flats. This is where a thimble comes in handy because as I am typing this, my fingers are in a little bit more pain than usual because I stabbed myself with the needle a few times. Don’t be stupid like me. Use a thimble.

Step 5: After you have both of the sides of your bow stitched to your shoe, all you have to do is tie it up. If your scarf tube is too long, just cut it to size and stitch the edges under so they do not fray.

For Maggie’s Scarf Flats:

While I love to sew, my vacation-brain forgot to bring some needle and thread to the office! I brainstormed, found some glue, and came up with the idea of just covering the entire shoe in a scarf.

Step 1: Gather your goods: a scarf, scissors, tacky glue, shoes, and a lighter or candle (if your scarf ends fray after cutting).

Step 2: Cut your scarf into strips. For my shoe, I kept the strips the length of the scarf, and about 1 1/2 inches wide. I cut the length off as needed to fit the shoe. This is where you’ll need your lighter to burn the edges if they fray.

Step 3: Starting from the back of the shoe, apply a decent layer of tacky glue to the shoe (I squeezed it straight from the bottle) and firmly apply the scarf to the shoe, fitting the edges. If there are parts where the scarf needs cut, chop those away. Work the scarf from the back of the shoe to the front, smoothing as you go.

Step 4: Let the glue dry before you strut around the office showing off your new DIY shoes. Wearing them before they’re dry will cause the fabric to wrinkle and separate from the shoe– no good!

But that’s it! So easy, and so sassy! If you like the scarf that I used, you can get your own here.

As the Halloween parties grow near, it is time to fill your mind full of creative costumes. Every party might have a party pooper, but no one likes ‘em– especially on Halloween. Don’t be that lamo who wears a t-shirt that says “This is my costume.” Lucky for you, the Affordable Scarves girls have some great Halloween scarfspiration to share.

1. Pinocchio

Blue scarf, how to tie a bow tie scarf. Photo from K’Luu.

2. Luna Lovegood

Silk scarf for bow. Also, Luna Lovegood glasses. Photo from Esther.

3. Boy Scout

White scarf. How to tie an ascot wrap. Photo from Emilie.

4. Alice in Wonderland

Navy blue scarf. How to tie scarf bow. Photo from Water For the Bird.

5. Mad Hatter

Polka dot scarf. Photo from Lisa.

6. Chic Vampire

Faux fur shawl. Photo from Alexander.

7. Matador

Red scarf. Photo from Rébecca.

8. Daphne from Scooby Doo

Green scarf. Photo from Sydney.

9. My Little Pony

Pink and purple scarf to use as tail. Photo from Christina.

For me, with the curly mop of unruliness that is my hair, second-day hair is not a choice. It is a necessity. You would be amazed at the amount of product that goes into taming curly hair. (To my fellow curly-locked gals, am I right or what?)

While I was in college, I lived in a sorority for three years and I had different roommates each semester. I remember one instance with a new roommate, I was getting ready for class in the morning after washing my hair. My roommate and I were chatting and I started doling out some mousse into my hand mid-conversation. When I put the bottle of mousse down onto the dresser, I turned to look at my roommate. Her mouth was open looking at my hand full of mousse.

“You put that much stuff in your hair?” she said. I became self-conscious with her look of disgust and awe.
“Um, yeah?” I said. “Curly hair requires a lot of taming.” I didn’t mention that I was about to use a bit of gel and hairspray as well.

With the (embarrassing) amount of product and work that is required to make me look like a regular person instead of Miss Frizzle’s sandy-blonde-haired daughter, I usually wash my hair only twice per week. Not only does it keep my hair from drying out, it also cuts down on my hair product costs. So on the third or fourth day of unwashed hair, I definitely need a scarf solution.

This is the scarf I used. It is actually a regular-sized neck scarf, but I wrapped it around my head twice using the rosette wrap head scarf tutorial. I definitely advise using a thinner neck scarf as a head scarf (and I twisted my scarf to make it a bit thinner). I was pleasantly surprised by how it came out! And the scarf does a very nice job as a hair tamer.

Which as you can see has been a lifelong battle.

I hate needles. Absolutely terrified. I’m so scared of them, when I found out I needed a round of vaccines before entering college, I went out and got a tattoo to try and overcome my fears so I wouldn’t be a convulsing, blubbering mess at the doctors office. All that really did was get me addicted to ink, and the thought of a hypodermic needle still terrifies me.

So how does that relate to second-day hair? Since the mere thought of giving blood makes me weak in the knees, I feel like I have to compensate somewhere. I do that by donating my hair. Since I was little, I’ve received compliments on the color (it’s natural!), and I love giving away something so precious. But donating hair is much more time consuming (I’m talking 5-6 years of growth) than giving blood, and I’m doing all I can to speed up the process. Similar to Sarah’s reasons, I’ve cut back on the washings to improve the health and overall growth of my locks.

I have baby fine strands that I normally wash every day. Until I researched it, I had no idea that the oils I was producing were actually good for my hair. It’s taken a lot of getting used to, but I’ve embraced the second-day hairstyles I’ve picked up. One of my favorites is a classic, go-to high ponytail.

The style isn’t that complex. I sprayed dry shampoo on my roots then combed through. I gathered a ponytail near my crown and secured, then I used a tiny bit of hairspray to control a few fly-aways. Like Sarah (and the rest of the Affordable Scarves girls), I love a soft, silk scarf, so I tied one around my ponytail for a little splash of color. I was kind of weary about it first– it looks slightly cheerleader-ish. But as the day went on, I could reach up and touch the soft scarf, and it brought an instant feeling of pretty! You can get the scarf here. 

And in case you were wondering, Sarah’s wedding was gorgeous! Check out her sneak peak photos, from Sara and Mallary Photography.  :)

If you are also interested in the gift of hair donation, I strongly urge you to visit Locks of Love. Sending away those ten inches of hair was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever made, and I can’t wait to do it again. Happy growing!

I’m getting married this Saturday (HOORAY!), and for the past year leading up to this weekend, I’ve undergone the painstaking task of trying to grow out my hair. Easier said than done!

To help my hair grow faster for the big day, I’ve cut back to every-other-day washings.

But you know how it is. Hair just isn’t the same on a day when it isn’t washed! Luckily, I came up with a favorite solution to mask my second-day hair — and you know it involves a head scarf! Read on to learn how to get this sweet ‘do!

What you need:

a teasing comb, two hair ties, a few bobby pins, and a square scarf.

How to get the look:

1. Brush your hair out.
2. Use a comb to tease up your hair at the crown. Pin the top layer back Snooki-style (but not as big!!).
3. Divide the bottom of your hair into two sections, one on top of the other, like in the photo.
4. Twist the top section. As you twist, coil it around so it makes a small bun. Secure the bun with a tie, and if it’s flopping down, pin it flat to your head with a bobby pin.
5. Twist the bottom section, again coiling it into a small bun. It should be resting directly underneath your top bun. Secure it with a hair tie and a bobby pin.
6. Fold your scarf in a triangle, and then fold it again to the desired width.
7. Place it at the front of your hairline. I think it looks best if it stops right before your teased crown line.
8. Tie it at the nape of your neck with a double knot.

Have you fallen in love the the scarf shown in the photos? It’s this adorable heart scarf!

Stay tuned for Maggie and Stacie’s secret scarf solutions for days when you don’t wash your hair!

Have you ever wondered what beauty lies behind the brains of the Affordable Scarves blog? It’s time to introduce you to the gals who are responsible for all the style and creative!

Sarah

Hi there. I’m Sarah, a writer, editor, and polyvore extraordinaire. I love mod and vintage style, and I think there’s nothing a big bow can’t fix. Today I’m wearing the Teresa Leopard Scarf.  I have to say I’m not usually an animal print girl, but I have on a sassy pair of black jeans that just need some leopard love.  I tied it as a fake loop scarf. To do this, drape the scarf around your neck. Tie the ends in a small knot so it’s one big loop. Make a figure-8 in the front and loop it over your head. It looks like an infinity scarf, but it’s not – fake out!

Maggie

Hey guys! I’m Maggie, and I’m responsible for the technical, behind-the-scenes stuff here at Affordable Scarves. When I’m not nerding out over website mechanics, I love Youtubing cute baby orangutans, cooking new things for my coworkers to try, and posting on my Tumblr.
I’m a t-shirt, jeans, and Chuck Taylor’s kinda girl, though I love a good excuse to dress up. I’m notorious for my love of the color green, which is why I paired my casual outfit with the green Lori Crinkle Scarf, tied in a neck tie knot.

Stacie

Heyo! My name is Stacie and I’m the newest member of the Affordable Scarves dream team. I recently graduated from DePauw University here in Indiana. I totally love making stuff, collecting old cameras, taking lots of pictures, raising baby lambs, and dressing up for, well, everything. I am super stoked to be blogging for Affordable Scarves because I get to sit with a couple of rad girls who totally love scarves… and tissue paper pompoms… French café music… and Mad Men cocktails. (*Ahem, Sarah, you need to start watchin’—it’s on Netflix for crying out loud! )

I’m wearing the Katherine striped pashmina and I tied it in the “Half Bow II.”

Stay tuned for more from the AS girls! They’ve got some sweet DIY projects and style in the works for you!

The gals at Affordable Scarves all have Fashion Week streaming live in the background. And you know what we’re loving most?

TURBANS

Luca Luca’s show was chock full of bold, beautiful colors, jumpsuits, dresses, one gorgeous polka-dotted dress, and turbans.

Get the look by learning how to tie a Luca Luca turban!

What’s your favorite trend from Fashion Week so far?