Scarves and Foulards: accessories for any style and season

The MAG 08/22

TUTORIAL by Emanuele Drago

Scarves and Foulards have become an extremely versatile accessories for any style and season. Read more in the new article.

The term "foulard" comes from French and means a silk handkerchief, but these delicate scarves are also found in wool and cotton. And as fashion has morphed over the years, the foulard has become an extremely versatile accessory for any style and season.

History of the foulard

According to experts, the origin of the headscarf can be traced back to Napoleon's soldiers. In history, it has often been portrayed as an accessory for men, although many women also used it as a part of their uniforms (including the famous suffragettes in the first decades of the past century).

In the 1960s and 1970s, the foulard trend became a distinctive symbol of divas as it exuded elegance and enhanced their facial features. Marilyn Monroe often loved to wear her platinum blond hair covered by a silk scarf.

Brands are often identified thanks to a specific design or object, and for Hermès this is the headscarf, an iconic piece by the fashion house which has created a unique and luxurious world of style.

Jacky Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Catherine Deneuve and Grace Kelly have all made elegant and refined use of this versatile and ever-classy accessory.

How to wear a headscarf

Wearing a headscarf in your hair is a timeless trend that never goes out of style. And according to Hermès, there are as many as 36 ways to wear a scarf, whether tied around the neck or on a handbag, worn with a jacket, as a belt with an elegant sheath dress, as a headband, or as a scarf to frame the face like the divas of the past.

Brands and inspiration

At Design Italy, you’ll find a wide selection of beautiful Italian-made silk scarves, some of which are veritable works of art.

For example, Orequo foulards have a bold personality and are handmade to last by expert artisans who pay meticulous attention to detail.

Then there’s the Adima collection, with designs and patterns that echo the spirit and graceful vibrations of water for a unique sensory experience. These large shawls and scarves give form and substance to the information the designer perceives from observing nature, and the designs printed on them are the result of a single unique photograph.

With endless colors, styles and patterns to choose from, try accessorizing with scarves the next time you go out on the town or to the office. Whether you wear one in your ponytail, on your briefcase, or as a bracelet or belt, the sky’s the limit.