The "Difficult" Scarf: Sepia and Light Grey

 One of my friends asked me specifically to suggest some ways to wear this scarf - Musique des Spheres, from Hermes.  The scarf came out... at least 10 years ago?  And thus is only available on the secondary market, but as you can clearly see, it's a stunner.  There is NOT a pink patch in the upper left corner... I struggled to find the best image of this scarf I could, and this was what I found.

Identifying the adjectives that convey the aesthetic of this scarf is difficult - I had to think and study for quite a while.  But I found that I kept coming back to the ideas of contrast (the clarity of the lines against the background), balanced with an overall sense of muted coloring (the scarf is not pure white, and the lines are NOT pure black), and a feeling of swirling grace and curvilinear fluidity, along with the clear-cut squares and parallel lines of the music staves. Basically, lots of lines...

So when I looked at jewelry, I was drawn to the ring, because of the tones of the pearl, and the contrast of the round and square elements.  The bracelet has the same sort of greyish pearl feeling, with the strongly curving lines of the metal links. (and it's on sale!) The watch - muted contrast, a feeling of the parallel lines, and an overall delicacy that the scarf certainly demonstrates.  Maybe it's just me, but the earrings look almost like treble clef symbols with pearls dangling!  And the pearl necklace (YUM...) echoes the not quite black, almost sepia tone that's found here.   Sometimes,  I would just scroll through pages and pages of jewelry, with the scarf visible on one side of my computer, and the jewelry rolling by on the other, and just let me subconscious take over...

Hermes Musique des Spheres, ring – Delfina Delettrez, grey pearl and link bracelet – Slane, silver knot and pearl earrings – Majorica, baroque pearl necklace – Majorica, watch – Anne Klein

 So when it came to choosing clothing to wear with this scarf, I sort of started from the same point of view that I adopted with the Maillons black and white scarf - let's look for some red!  But this red is muted, shadowed, toned down a notch or two, and the neutral with which it will be worn is something off to one side of stark black - either taupe or a deep grey...  (note the trim around the garnet earrings - parallel lines that curve, and small, delicate detail)

Hermes Musique des Spheres, silk blouse – Marc Jacobs, taupe pants – Burberry Prorsum, bag – Ina Kent, flats – DKNY Active, garnet stud earrings – Blue Nile,  sweater – L.K.Bennett, skirt – Comme des Garcons Shirt Girl, ankle boots – Kurt Geiger

Blue, again, is a color to always consider, but as with the red, I was looking for a more subdued blue.  And the white is going to be softer, and closer to beige or ivory.  These earrings share the same general aesthetic with the red ones above - this type of earring could become a beautiful personal signature!  (and note the subtle rectangular jacquard pattern of the capri pants - little touches of linear detail everywhere...)

Hermes Musique des Spheres, cardigan – Prada Sport, twill pencil skirt – J. Crew,  clutch bag – Mondrina, pumps – Isaac Mizrahi New York, pearl stud earrings – David Yurman, jacquard pants – Chloe, tee shirt – James Perse, espadrilles – Balear Mania

Warm colors are always an option, and this is another case in which I looked for a more low-key, but still saturated, color.  Note that the curves on the handbag echo the violin, the green ring bears the parallel lines that recur in this work, and the tweedy pants are the same colors as the scarf...

Hermes Musique des Spheres, tee shirt – Aniye by Women, corduroy pants – Isabel Marant Etoile,  cross-body bag – Beara Beara, loafers – Rose Petals, green sweater – Authentic Original Vintage Style, ring – Elizabeth and James, tweed pants – Haider Ackermann, loafers – Bernardo

I always like to include a warm-weather outfit with scarves, even though your hair or your handbag might be your only wearing options!  This outfit is very basic, but reflects the only two colors in the scarf, and are a perfect platform for sandals with a touch of linear ornamentation, and a textured bag that comes pretty close to the line colors of the scarf.

And the tweed skirt... Lots of linear details, squared off, includes the two colors of the scarf.  This is a skirt which could be worn with any of the other blouses or tee shirts...  The knit of  the sweater has patches of clearly grid-like texture too...  And another pair of earrings - these with subtle facets - which combine the circular and the square motifs of your beautiful scarf.

Hermes Musique des Spheres, silk sleeveless top – Acne Studios,  linen shorts – Zenobia, flat sandals – Apepazza,  cross-body bag – Cole Haan, earrings – Judith Ripka, cabled sweater – Velvet, tweed skirt – Marc Jacobs, pumps – Trotters

You have a lot of options from these garments!

The "Difficult" Scarf: Black and White

This scarf, currently available from Hermes, is incredibly beautiful - much more interesting in person than any photograph can do justice...

Hermes Maillons de Joel Stein

 But it's easy to see how you could fall into the routine of wearing this scarf pretty much exclusively with black and white garments - it just seems reasonable.  So I'm proposing a mental "reframing" of the scarf that might expand your comfort zone with it...

First off, think of the adjectives that characterize the unique beauty and appeal of this scarf.  To me, this scarf is clear, graphic, and linear.  This gives you a basis upon which to think about the sort of outfits that might benefit from the addition of this scarf.

And secondly, I like to always think of, and refer to, scarves as silk jewelry.  So it makes some sense to look at some pieces of jewelry that reflect the same overall aesthetic that the scarf has.  Then you could make the mental translation that if you would wear certain jewelry with an outfit, the scarf also might be a harmonious choice.

These pieces of jewelry are starkly black and white, but with textural or woven interest, and a sense of modernity and clarity.

Hermes Maillons de Joel Stein, beaded bracelet – Samira13, pearl crocheted earrings – Yoola, folded leather earrings – Giulia Boccafogli, cotton necklace – Alienina, mesh and pearl bracelet – Milena ZU

For me, the obvious way to expand on black and white graphics is the addition of a solid, clear, bright, saturated color - red is the classic choice.

Hermes Maillons de Joel Stein, red dress – Prabal Gurung, black white bag – Joanna Maxham,  cardigan – Oasis, pumps – Isaac Mizrahi New York, black and white sweater – Saint Laurent, red onyx earrings – Ritu,   red jeans – Gerry Weber, loafers – Bass

 But clear bright blue is also beautiful with black and white. Notice the woven wristlet, and the woven ornament on the lapis earrings - all these little touches keep things harmonious and help define your personal style a bit more clearly.

Hermes Maillons de Joel Stein, blue tee shirt – Dash, white cotton pants – Jil Sander, wristlet – Marylai,  blue loafers – Nicholas Kirkwood, linen tee shirt –Mango, lapis earrings – Sissi Bernal,  capris – Marni, flat sandals – Givenchy

 And warm colors, so long as they are clear and bright, work beautifully - although the striped skirt with the patterned scarf is for the bolder among us!

Hermes Maillons de Joel Stein, marigold silk blouse – Aquilano.Rimondi, striped skirt – Ann Demeulemeester, leather bracelet – Marilia Guimaraes,  ballet flats – Repetto,  stud earrings – Pandora, cardigan – Charlott, silk pants – Nina Ricci,  limeloafers – Del Toro

And the scarf itself has nothing about it which limits it to any season of the year, so this idea is as valid with a pair of shorts as it is with a suede skirt.

Hermes Maillons de Joel Stein, tee shirt – Vintage 55, shorts - Marc Jacobs, tote – Jack Germain, green sandals – Marni, paper earrings – Saloukee, turtleneck – Uniqlo, yellow suede skirt – Jitrois, loafers - Via Spiga

 It's an interesting wardrobe - not what you usually see, but certainly workable and lovely!

I have two other black and white scarves that have been suggested as subjects for some wardrobe thought.  They are in gradually more subtle patterns, and I'm eager to see how my selections for wearing them will change as the nature of the scarf shifts.

Wearing Hermes Grands Fonds Silk Scarf All Year - July through December

Okay, under no circumstances would you wear this scarf with the frankly gym-like outfit for August, but I show this as an example of how your color preferences can permeate and inform ALL of your wardrobe choices.  And yes, I would wear flat loafers with a dress, depending on how much standing/walking is going to be involved in an event.  Plus I just couldn't leave out these great shoes...

Scarf – Hermes Grand Fonds, earrings – Zayd Makarim, dress – Lida Baday, opal ring – Caine , woven flats – Trotters , sports watch – ESQ Movado, tank top – L.L.Bean, sport skort– L.L.Bean, canvas shoes – Keds

After establish a core of blues and some khaki, don't forget that this scarf easily supports some accent touches of shades of red!

Scarf – Hermes Grand Fonds, bracelet – Kai Kittima, dress – Uniqlo, Cashmere cardigan – Fedeli, navy slingbacks– Brooks Brothers, garnet earrings – Choo Yilin, striped sweater – Dickens and Jones, skirt– Eastex, ankle boots – Geox

The best aspect of this sweater is the way it enables you to mix shades of blue with happy abandon, and experiment with combinations that are uncommon and unexpected.

Scarf – Hermes Grand Fonds,  watch – Breil, sweater – Stella McCartney, knit pants – Patagonia, tassel loafers – Dr. Scholl’s, blue topaz earrings – Mable Hasell Jewellery,  gold bracelet – Marco Bicego, dress – Issa, pumps – Yves Saint Laurent

And as usual, at the end of the year, you have a closet full of consistent sleeveless tunic tops, draped dresses, and some unusual shades of blue - which is in total a coherent and very versatile wardrobe!

Wearing Hermes Grands Fonds Silk Scarf All Year - January through June

Hermes Grands Fonds (great depths) isn't available except in the vintage market, but it's worth hunting for one!  These shades of blue give you all kinds of possibilities for combining colors that you might have never before considered.

Two quick notes:

1. I love doing these, and doing Start with Art.  Please keep sending me suggestions for both, as long as you're not utterly weary of seeing art bought to fashion life.
2. Please do NOT think that I will only work with Hermes scarves - far from it!  I'm "in process" on some other scarves, and would welcome any scarf suggestion accompanied with a good photograph, or a link to a clear image!

Love,

Janice

Scarf – Hermes GrandsFonds, sleeveless tunic – Emporio Armani, cardigan- Fedeli, navy pants – Phase Eight, navy loafers – Aerosoles,  earrings – Chen Fuchs, clutch – Georgina Skalidi, dress – Lands’ End, pumps – Vince Camuto

Scarf – Hermes GrandsFonds, navy sweater – Closed, jeans – Roy Rogers, bracelet – Elyona, suede loafers – Joie, sea blue earrings – YooLa, tote bag – TSM, silk blouse – 0039 Italy,  ankle pants – Lafayette 148, flats – Sartore

Scarf – Hermes Grand Fonds, earrings – Marco Bicego, dress – Patagonia,  bag – M Missoni, sandals – Cape Cod Shoe Supply Co.,blue sleeveless top – Alexander Terekhov, khaki shorts – L.L.Bean, bracelet – Tom Binns, sandals - Modcloth

The last six months are up tomorrow...