And now for something completely different – neckties! And by that I just mean a handkerchief or pocket square fashioned jauntily around your neck. A lot of the shops right now are listing them as bandanas.
This is one of those “fashion” things you can do that takes seconds, looks great, is adaptable for absolutely everyone, works no matter what size or shape you are and, depending on what you have if you have a rummage around in your wardrobe, may cost you absolutely nothing.
The absolutely echt, on-point way to wear a necktie right now is with the knot to the front and with a trenchcoat. But obviously it’s all up for grabs. Have a go! And if you, like me, are a bit shy of doing this sort of thing, wear it on your own round the house for a bit while you get used to it before going outside.
It also doesn’t have to stay round your neck, you can tie it round a ponytail or a low bun or even triangle it and use it as a headscarf.
If you don’t already have a lovely necktie or handkerchief here are some of my favourites in the shops right now
This Anthropologie red one:
This Tiger print one, also Anthropologie: \
This burgundy one from Zara, which would look nice with navy:
This from Uniqlo:
This from Chan Luu via Net A Porter:
If you want to go bonkers, there’s this one from Marni is gorgeous but £210:
I also like the idea of literally wearing a man’s pocket square, like this one from Gieves and Hawkes via Selfridges:
Or this one from Boss:
And there are millions of others to choose from in Selfridges, have a poke about.
On my Instagram Stories I am wearing a Tippi sweater from J Crew in Heather Smoke (size up).
And the gold earrings are from Dinny Hall.
Sorry just choked on my coffee reading this. Its a joke right? Dont be fashion victims girls unless you’re 12.
What? Sorry Jan but wearing a small scarf round your neck doesn’t make you a fashion victim and referring to me or my readers as “girls” is really insulting
not insulting: patronising
The tiger scarf is beyond amazing but 38 quid 🙁
I know
Also very tricky to avoid looking like an air hostess on her way to work.
you won’t! at all – just wear it with a sweater or a casual t shirt rather than a white shirt and a jacket and there won’t be even a hint of air hostess
Slayed me with your David Essex comments….spat tea all over the sofa! 🤣🤣🤣
Why is the Marni one my favourite?…
because you have great taste
I love this look. BUT. When I tried it the other day and proudly asked my husband how I looked he said: lovely! Very Air France.
NOT THE LOOK I WAS GOING FOR!!
Ps I wasn’t wearing a pencil skirt and a little hat. Boyfriend jeans and a plain sweater. Felt rather deflated but rocked to work in it regardless.
Oh! My original comment has disappeared so now I look slightly crazy. I don’t think I said anything rude. What I said was that I tried this look the other day, said to husband how do I look, to which response was: Lovely! Very air france.
Shit.
1. I’d be delighted to look ‘very Air France’.
2. I hope you pointed put that his emergency exits were here, here and here ….
Rather Air France than easyJet I suppose. (No insult intended to any easyJet air steward/esses of course).
Thing is, Air France stewardesses are, presumably, mostly french. Which is the level of effortless glamour I aspire to. So I’d be quite happy with that insult 😉
Ok maybe I will have to rethink this. I would add that since then he has taken to assessing every outfit in relation to a different airline. LOLS!
Thank you, Esther, a timely post – I was fiddling about with mine the other day and thinking I needed to wear them more (inherited a vast collection from my mother). I love them, but always tie them the same way. Don’t think my moonface would suit the bandana style though it looked ace on you.
That Anthropologie tiger scarf is silk, hence price, but looks v like an Hermes Twilly in size! If anyone wants more elaborate scarf knots – or a good ogle at very classic French style – look at maitaicollection.com under scarf tutorials. Hours of fun.
Also nb eBay and charity shops are good sources of quirky but bargainous scarves; even genuine Hermes is not ‘terribly’ expensive unless in perfect condition & unworn.
Oh wow I love that website with the scarves. Now I need a scarf ring. Very relaxing to watch. But then I’m 62 so am ‘into’ scarves as a neck-hiding tool. Thank you Sophie
I got a brilliant YSL silk one from Age Concern the other day – wasn’t sure whether I had the confidence to wear it though. But you have inspired me to take the plunge!
Charity shops are brilliant for little silk scarves as no one really seems to buy them at the moment, but I guess that could all change now the Spikers are on it.
I spent 2hrs watching scarf tying tutorials on YouTube last night. I still didn’t find a good one though 🙁
I’ve got so many scarves as parents and in-laws are always buying me them, but they never seem to be the right size/shape to tie in any sort of cool way. Am in bed with the flu (damn toddler germs) so have been bingeing feverishly on YouTube tutorials this morning and once I’m up and about again scarves are happening. Thank you! Love the look in your stories with the jewellery.
I absolutely love little necktie/scarf things but I am unable to pull them off, I’m afraid. I am robust of neck and have a big head, so I KNOW I would look like Moonface from the Faraway Tree dressed as Princess Anne.
I saw some lovely Karen Mabon ones in Anthropologie a while back and they were so pretty that I considered getting one just to look at :\
I know little pocket-square type ones are cool just now, but I saw a gorgeous Scandi-looking girl the other day with her hair up in a topknot, black polo neck & a beautiful fringed silk shawl tied over the front. She looked fab and I wanted to be her.
“Moon face from the faraway tree dressed as princess Anne” is KILLING me… 😂😂😂😂
Hear hear. Best comment ever! 😂
so accurate! You’ve no idea 😆
Well I think they’re fetch. I have a variety of bandana type ones (think Rooster Cogburn rather than Carole Middleton) as used to wear them all the time with not a bit of shame, before “big scarves” ate everyone of child bearing age, and have some beloved grungy ones from the early nineties. I am more fashion-murderer than victim though and wear things I like to death regardless of what everyone else is doing. I have to say I used to live in a flat near Gatwick in a block with a lot of flight crew and they were always immaculately stylish and groomed to a one, so I’d be inclined to be flattered by an Air France comment if one was forthcoming (it isn’t)
People always talk about great charity shop finds – YSL! – all I ever see in my local one are misshapen Fat Face tunics and multiple copies of Ian Botham’s autobiography.
Cindy, you need to go for the local hospice charity shop, not just any old high street one, though in my (considerable) experience RSPCA ones can be good too …
yes this is true. A very posh old woman once told me that the really posh people like to give to animal charities so you get the best stuff in there
Thank you, good knowledge.
I have had my eye on a Tippi sweater for ages.. area they handwash though? Love your David Essex pic on stories BTW x
I once had to ring up a local radio station and ask for David Essex to be played for my Mum as she loved him so much – the shame of my teenage years.
You’re not alone Laura – if it makes you feel better I had to apologise to the actual David Essex as my Mum insisted on giving him her life story while he was only supposed to be signing his. I’ll never forget the silent, anguished appeal in his eyes as he willed us to move along.
Cindy, this is absolutely amazing 😂 poor Dessex!
Also, I approve of your use of ‘fetch’
Please can you give some tips for how to tie a silk scarf, I have a lovely one but no idea how to tie it correctly. My husband said I looked like a cowboy!!
Very nostalgic. We used to wear them in school to cover our love bites!
(Almost) makes me wish I still worked in Lloyds Bank so I could be on trend with my corporate wardrobe scarf …
God I love the Spikers… not only do we have Esther’s marvellous writing, the comments are SLAYING
EVERYONE needs to stop giving the first shit what their husbands think of what they wear
Hey Spikers – Stradivarius has a huge selection of bandanas for £7.99, if you fancy dipping a cautious toe. Bought two. Also an awesome elasticated ‘semi-turban’ that is perfect if, like me, you can’t get a silk scarf to stayed tied on your head. Wearing it now, in spite of pleas from two-year-old to take it off. NEVER.
*stay. I’m an editor but it’s my day off.
Just bought two 100% silk neckties in Accessorize (I know, but kids clothes for a wedding) and they were reduced to £2.40 so I’m trying them out on the cheap before I commit to an Anthropologie one, because navy and leopards are it x
yes that one is the freaking bomb
Neckties being my new obsession (‘Parisian’ was the verdict from colleagues, so I’ll take that), I can report that Seasalt’s cotton ‘sailor squares’ come in lots of colours and are only £3.50. Wearing an orange one today with a grey t-shirt and black blazer (both Hush), jeans, Gazelles, hoop earrings and a cheapo chain from H&M. So capsule; so Spike.
oh NICE, matey. I like the sound of that