Scarf

Manuela Moollan's ahilya scarves take their name from an 18th century Indian queen, Ahilya Bai Holkar, who was graced with the title of goddess and called "The Philosopher Queen" for her benevolent rule and municipal gifts. Moollan's scarves, however, are products of Kasmir -- which is to say, they're cashmere.

But not just any scarves and not just any cashmere. To paraphrase the deliciously delivered education Vesper gave to Bond: "There are scarves, and there are scarves. ahilya is the latter." The throats and underbellies of Kashmiri goats are combed for threads that are twelve to fourteen micrometers thick, the standard of the most exemplary woven wools and cashmere. It would take seven of those fibers to equal the thickness of a human hair. The fibers are then hand spun, hand woven, and hand dyed. There are no mechanical processes in their creation -- you know, kind of like the way the finest things have been made since before the days of Sanskrit.

ahilya offers five collections, from the for-kids Tumble line of blankets and smaller scarves (kids love goats, you know), to the diamond weave Touch, to the diaphanous Ethereal. For the ornate, look no further than Lace, which pairs a Chantilly or Calais trim to the woven body of the scarf. And for the ultimate, there's the obviously-named Ultimate collection if you think leafed gold or silver thread will help keep you warmer, or at least better looking. When you're ready to wear a scarf, you can find ahilya online starting at about €215 ($318 U.S.).

Scarves are a great way to dress up an otherwise drab outfit and can be layered with everything from a silk blouse to a cotton tank top. Some women have a knack for throwing on a scarf and instantly looking totally pulled together and gorgeous, but most of us have to make a deliberate effort in order to pull off the look successfully. The real key is confidence -- wear the scarf however you feel comfortable, in whatever way you think looks best, and in a color and material that flatters your skin tone. Truthfully, wearing a scarf isn't as complicated as it seems and is actually pretty difficult to get wrong, but there are a few rookie mistakes to avoid.

DO choose a material that fits the season. Lightweight scarves look great year round but save the heavier fabrics for fall and winter only.

DON'T mix too many patterns together. If you have a lot going on already in terms of prints or patterns on your outfit choose a solid colored scarf -- simple is usually better.

DO wear scarves to both formal and informal occasions -- just be sure to match the styling to the event. For something dressy try a sleek 'neckerchief' or an elegant butterfly wrap. For a more casual look the bandana is gaining popularity with celebrities.

DON'T be afraid to experiment. Scarves can not only be worn around your neck but also around your waist as a belt, on your head as a headband, or tied to the handle of your bag to add a punch of color and feminine flair.

DO collect scarves in a variety of colors, fabrics, and sizes so you have options when you're looking to accessorize. Although scarves are amazingly versatile they aren't all created equal and each has different strengths. The right scarf for the right occasion makes all the difference.

While the economic slump may still be in full bloom, and some people are rushing to invest in gold, others are buying tangible assets of a different kind. Artcurial, a French based auction house and the only one to dedicate two sales annually to the Hermes label, recently pulled in over 1 million dollars during their latest sale held on November 10, 2009. Some items, including a Birkin bag sold for above the estimate and even the original retail price.

If you don't want to have to wait until spring and the next auction, Luxury-scarves.com has the most comprehensive collection of vintage Hermes scarves on the market. The site is the brain child of an antiques dealer, who began collecting the "carres" while scouring markets and secondhand shops for his other business. What began as a personal collection over ten years ago really has developed into an incredible resource for collectors and fashionistas alike.

There are plenty of dealers who collect and sell Hermes items. What makes this site so unique is not only the size and scope of the collection but the manner in which it is organized. One can search for a scarf based on name, color, size, condition, material or designer. Once a chosen item is located five different views of the scarf are shown along with its name, who designed it, when the scarf was first produced, subsequent reissues and available colorways and materials. The condition and any other point of reference, for example if the item has an "S" stamp is also noted. The price of the scarf is listed in both euros and dollars. There is in fact an on-line database of over 1,000 scarves with photos to be used for research and non-commercial purposes.

Should you desperately want a vintage Hermes bag to complement your scarf feel free to browse the sister site Luxury-shops.com which features all types of vintage designer items including several new and used Birkin bags ranging in price from $10,000 to over $50,000 for one made of matte alligator.

One of our favorite young designers is no stranger to fusion lines. Christian Siriano has teamed up with Payless to design several lines of edgy shoes and Victoria's Secret to create a line of makeup in Mediterranean hues. But now the star designer is bringing fashion to the public in a completely new way. In just another testimony to Siriano's business savvy and creativity, he recently released a line exclusively sold on his website, with six limited edition pieces all under $200. Now, finally fashionistas everywhere will have an opportunity to own their own authentic Christian Siriano piece. What makes the line truly luxurious, other than the delicate silk fabrics and gorgeous drapes, is that the line was inspired by his own Spring/Summer 2010 collection, which had models walking on water in seafaring colors and swaths of oceanic prints. By creating high-quality, affordable pieces taken from his same runway fabrications, Siriano is clearly out to revolutionize the fashion industry.

We spoke to Christian more about this in depth, and why he decided to incorporate these shapes. "The collection is very similar to my ready to wear collection," Siriano tells Luxist. "The fabrications are the same but the shapes are simple and very easy for women to piece into an existing wardrobe. Also these shapes are a limited collection and are not available anywhere else. Therefore the price is able to target the younger and fashionable Christian Siriano Fan."

Siriano says that he created the lower-priced collection for one reason alone: "We receive e-mails everyday, all day from fans who cannot afford anything over $200. It is my way to have my brand more accessible to women everywhere. That is the main goal at the end of the day, to have women wearing my clothes, feeling fabulous."

Our favorite piece is the Oceanic Scarf, a print taken straight from the runway, which is sure to add a fabulous pop to any monotone outfit this season. Check out the rest of the line in detail below. Click here to shop now, because these pieces won't last long.

Welcome to the first in a new series of exclusive photo features showcasing seasonal style essentials inspired by classic icons of elegance, sport and design, photographed with the most beautiful and coveted cars on the road. The emphasis is on luxury of course, but of the timeless variety as opposed to mere extravagance.

In our recent Classicist column on the 2010 Jaguar XK convertible coming out this August, we remarked on the sleek new cat's stylistic heritage dating back to 1948's XK120, as driven by the likes of Gary Cooper, Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable, as well as later models like the D-Type (or XK-SS) made famous by the great Steve McQueen. The first in our new series of exclusive shoots is inspired by them and stars the XK in homage to these stylish icons, both man and automotive (read all about the new XK here).

In particular, the influence of Gable (with his XK120 in 1954, top right) and McQueen (with his XK-SS, center right) can be seen in the summery style essentials we've assembled for this shoot. For the pastoral setting we drew on another classic Jaguar reference, an image of writer Truman Capote in a Jaguar XK-E, the model most closely aligned with the new XK, in the Hamptons in 1965 (bottom right).

In the spirit of summer we've chosen a classic combination of navy and white, popular as fashionable resort wear for a nearly a century and still going strong in the right circles. While navy blazers of the type shown here originated as part of English cricket club scenery and other elegant sporting occasions such as the Henley Royal Regatta, without gold buttons it needn't be unnecessarily nautical or costume-y.

The jacket shown here, in tropical weight wool with soft shoulders by the dashing Italian house of Etro, references its sporting antecedents with grosgrain tipping on the lapels, pockets and cuffs; however, since it is finished in the same color as the jacket the effect is a subtle one, while the slim cut updates the look with Italian flair. A cream linen camp shirt by Paul Stuart and white linen pants by Polo Ralph Lauren round out the rest of the ensemble.

As an alternative on cooler days or evenings - which we've certainly had plenty of this summer - we've also included a variation of the navy blazer by Brooks Brothers made of butter-soft goat suede with spiffy sporting details including a throat latch, stand-up collar, action back and pure Irish linen lining, which calls to mind the jacket worn by Gable above.

While a polka dot foulard silk scarf by the venerable British clothier Turnbull & Asser (shirtmaker to the Prince of Wales) provides not only another classic touch and added dose of sprezzatura, it also protects against the elements while piloting the XK with the top down at serious speeds. A hefty dose of McQueen meanwhile can be seen in the rakish cap, sunglasses and watch. For the feet and the road, a pair of pebble-sold leather driving moccasins by Tod's keep the haute Italian vibe going.

The checked linen driving cap - this model is made by Brooks Brothers - of the type favored by McQueen has no brim to collide with a car's headrest, and is infinitely more elegant than a baseball cap. Also on view: iconic Italian Persol sunglasses, in particular the model made famous by McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair. Starring in this feature are a foldable version of McQueen's faves, as well as a couple of other killer Persol models; all are available at Ilori. Also included is a pair of shades by Paul Smith. The watch is a classic and vintage stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II, available at Tourneau, of a similar design to the Rolex Submariner model favored by McQueen (and which recently fetched a record price at auction). Read on for details of the rest of the accessories after the jump.

Artsy, delicate and bohemian, the style of Eryn brinié, a clothing store which offers fast fashion seems to be a natural fit for SoHo, which is why the Korean brand opened its first U.S. store in New York City last summer. The brand offers a contemporary womenswear line in a neutral palette and light fabrics meant to be layered on young, lithe women. Their latest collection offers mod cuts and antique fabrics, boxy shapes and girly ruffles, and romantic pastels with rich earth tones for all aspiring Sienna Millers or Mary-Kate Olsens.

This week we are offering two light-as-air cotton scarves from Eryn brinié. We are giving away one of each color, wine and navy. The versatile scarf can be used as a headwrap, tied to a bag, wrapped around your waist, and of course, you could always wear it around your neck too. To win, leave a comment below saying which color you want and your favorite thing about spring in a city.

Some other important details:

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before Friday, April 17, 2009 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
* You may only enter once.
* Two winners will be selected in a random drawing.
* Each winner will receive an Eryn brinié scarf, valued at $48.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.

See complete contest rules here.

This contest is now closed. Thank you for your participation.

It is cold here in the Midwest this week (-18º F last night, brrr!) so even though these cashmere scarves by Franco Ferrari are meant for men they're looking pretty darn inviting. Soft, cozy, and reversible, the scarves come in a few different designs that are all interesting and stylish but still versatile enough to justify the expense. The multi-colored stripes/polka dot design is my favorite because it's bright enough to add a punch of color to your winter style but the colors are toned down just enough. $245

Combine a love of all things musical with a love of fashion and you get designer Takahiro Miyashita's Number (N)ine Scarf. The scarf is from the label's spring collection and is light enough to keep off a chill, but not quite substantial enough for the full force of winter. It features an array of musical notes, which form the Number (N)ine logo, a heart and a tear. Both Johnny Cash and Kurt Cobain were direct inspirations. Price: $435.

With its softly colored rainbow of multi-colored stripes, Missoni's Vertical Striped Scarf is a versatile accessory to have this fall, since it will go with everything from a t-shirt a jeans to an evening skirt and sweater set, or even with a blazer at work. It scarf is made of a mohair/nylon blend and is light enough to wear for looks alone on a sunny day, but insulating enough to keep out a fierce chill on a dark winter night. Scarves also make perfect gifts, since their one-size-fits-all design means you can give one to everybody over the holidays. Price: $355.

Purveyors of the French fancy, Hermes have a new plan to raise money for hurricane relief. They are selling a New Orleans scarf to raise money for rebuilding the Big Easy. The pattern was originally created in 1996 to celebrate the birth of jazz. The pattern comes in three colors, black, blue and orange and includes pictures of New Orleans jazz musicians. The scarf costs $320 and 10% of the proceeds will benefit City Park, a recreational area in New Orleans.

[via Fashion Week Daily]