Knitch Magazine

Sports ScarfSeveral years ago, knitted scarves were all the rage for the fall and winter, and everyone who could knit was making one to accent every coat, jacket and sweater. Now the scarf is definitely back with a bang, but this time for spring and summer.

High-fashion designers and design houses such as Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Burberry, Emilio Pucci, Prada, Nicole Miller and Ferragamo have made the scarf accent a true art form in stylish outfits. But it is interesting to note that throughout the history of scarves, men have been more likely to wear them than women.

Silk Scarf

One of the first references to any type of scarf comes from Ancient Rome where men wore them around their necks or tied to their belts. These types of scarves weren’t used to keep the men warm or to adorn them in any way. Instead, the “sudarium” or “sweat cloth” was used to keep clean and dry in the heat of the desert.

Scarves have also been used as part of uniforms such as those worn by Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and in sports beginning in the early 20^th century in the United Kingdom where rival sports teams from various schools would wear their team colors in their scarves.

Vogue Scarf PatternIt wasn’t until the 1950s and the onset of more readily available synthetic fabrics that scarves became more of a fashion statement readily embraced by North American and European women alike. Silk scarves are still highly prized, and those with a touch of glitz and glamour also make perfect accents for that special night on the town.