The Silk Scarf Aficionado

‘Twas the night before Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse

Today brings the penultimate scarf from the Silk Scarf Aficionado’s Twelve Scarves of Christmas. With the restless sleep that will inevitably take place tonight as we eagerly await the spoils of tomorrow, today’s scarf attempts to offer some tranquillity. This enchanting snow flake design silk crepe de chine scarf by Athena Procopiou, in its icy blue tones, offers a scarf that could have you lost in its intricate design for hours. Entitled the ‘’L’Alhambra’ scarf, this 137cm x 137cm scarf by the esteemed Central Saint Martin alumnus is available from www.net-a-porter.com priced £260 (or from Matches Fashion if you are willing to shell out an extra fiver!).

And Santa, if you are listening, the blue Jason Wu biker jacket pictured would look delightful in my Christmas stocking tomorrow!

Lucy xx

I must admit that I have badly neglected the Silk Scarf Aficionado blog as of late. So I must apologise profusely. In a futile attempt to justify my radio-silence, I provide the following reasons:

I have no internet in my house.

As if that is bad enough, I also have no TV licence. So, for the last couple of months I have resorted to the good old-fashioned book for my evening entertainment. Before anyone asks, no, I have not indulged in an excess of silk scarves that renders me unable to pay my bills! The reality is that my house is currently undergoing some changes resulting in TV and Internet being out for the time-being. Since I am unable to update this blog telepathically, I have had to graciously accept my lack of superpowers and blog as and when I can.

I have been quite busy

Firstly, I had a job interview at the University of Cambridge. Who would have thought that academics at the University of Cambridge would consider employing me for my brain?! It has been a few days with no reply, so I am assuming the worst. But, regardless, I am thrilled to have even been asked to interview. It is only a shame I cannot put that on my CV! Secondly, I had a MRI scan. Not for any serious medical reason. The University needed volunteers for research and I wanted to see what my brain looked like! (Did I mention I am a science geek?!)

I have been a little distracted

Alexander Wang hit the Outnet. Need I say more?!

Anyway, as a long overdue post, I thought I would focus on scarves to fill that awkward between-season time of year when it is perhaps too blustery for a silk scarf and too warm for a winter woolly. I have admitted in the past that I am a silk scarf purist and struggle to appreciate the humble pashmina. However, with fabrics as sumptuous as silk, cashmere and merino wool mixes, how can I hold anything against them?!

So here are my favourite picks of autumnal scarves currently available online and sure to get you daydreaming about crisp October walks through glens of senescing trees.

1)      Marc by Marc Jacobs Clara floral print scarf. Made of 50% silk and 50% cashmere and measuring 178cm x 132cm, this scarf is currently available from www.matchesfashion.com priced £195.

2)      Christopher Kane Leo leopard print scarf. Made of 90% modal and 10% cashmere, the scarf measures 134cm x 136cm and is currently available from www.net-a-porter.com priced £305. Check out the Alexander Wang crocodile-effect Emile tote worn by the model too.

3)      Burberry checked scarf. Two of my absolutely favourite trends that seem to come back year on year include Gothic (who doesn’t like a smattering of black lace, Victoriana and leather come winter?!) and Tartan. So this scarf succeeded in getting me very excited. Made from 55% merino wool and 45% cashmere and measuring 45cm x 200cm, this scarf is priced £225 and is also available from www.net-a-porter.com

I hope I have succeeded in getting you excited for autumn, perhaps my favourite season of all.

Lucy xx

ALL action and ALL (seductive) substance!

I do not intend to sound pretentious when I say this, but I have never been one for films to unwind to or switch off to after a hard day at work; the all action and no substance type. When I go to the cinema, I want to come away with my head hurting from thinking so much and trying to comprehend what I have witnessed. As a result, some of my all-time favourite films include the likes of Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides and David Lynch’s Lost Highway.

Against everything I have just said, I simply cannot get enough of Indiana Jones! It taps into the inner child in me who dreamt of discovering lost civilisations and rare artefacts. For a brief period in my life I actually wanted to be an archaeologist (that is, until my career advisor at secondary school revealed how much an archaeologist can expect to earn - most definitely a career path chosen for love).  But answer me this, which little girl of the 80s and 90s did not want to be Marion Ravenwood?! How cool was she?! Drinking burly men and villains under the table, employing the innovative use of a frying pan, all the while keeping Indi firmly in his place and on his toes (thank goodness, the complete antithesis of the irksome Willie Scott). Marion really was one feisty little force to be reckoned with!

As a result, I simply adore Agent Provocateur’s limited edition Arlene aviation print silk scarf since it evokes such fun childhood memories of Indiana Jones and the enthralling world of secret agents, baddies and adventures to be had. This scarf (measuring 66cm x 66cm) is available from www.net-a-porter.com  and www.agentprovocateur.com priced £175.

Lucy xx

(Source: )

This is ground control…you’ve really made the grade

 

With Tim Burton listed as a great inspiration and the Never Ending Story as one of her favourite films, I get the feeling I am going to like this girl a lot.

Originally from Greece, Athena Procopiou began her career as a pianist before studying illustration and graphic design at London’s Central Saint Martins. With the fabulous notion that a scarf is a blank canvas on which to create designs centered around mythical characters and magical stories, she went on to create her own line dedicated to lightweight scarves. Always keen to add a touch of glitter and glam to life, I particularly love the strong Bowie theme running through the current collection. The Major Tom or Ziggy (both pictured) scarf anyone? Yes please! No wonder Vogue UK have called her their ‘favourite new scarf designer’.

Athena Procopiou’s scarves are available from www.net-a-porter.com, www.liberty.co.uk and www.my-wardrobe.com with prices beginning at £185.

Lucy xx

(Source: vogue.co.uk)

A Friday Fashion Fix

I am completely addicted to the Net-A-Porter weekly online magazine and eagerly await the new edition every Wednesday. In this week’s edition (11^th July 2012), check out this magnificent display of headscarves. The sunglasses pictured far right are simply fabulous; so fabulous in fact that they almost take away from the scarf itself. As a suggestion, anyone interested in a pair of painfully chic round framed sunnies, check out Illesteva (www.illesteva.com). I bought the Leonard in the ‘spider’ lace design earlier in the year and cannot get enough of them.

Lucy xx

My favourite sale purchases

Following on from yesterday’s post, here are my favourite pieces currently available in the summer sale as promised.

 1)      The first scarf is an offering from Artemis Wragge, available on Net-A-Porter (www.net-a-porter.com) and currently reduced from £295 to £177. Measuring 68cm x 216cm, the scarf is made from 70% cashmere and 30% silk and features a Memento Mori and skull design. How ghoulishly macabre?! Perhaps it is the scientist in me that finds this scarf simply irresistible, with it eliciting images of body snatching and the study of human anatomy of the 17^th and 18^th centuries.

 2)      In keeping with the slightly gothic theme created by my first selection, my second choice would perhaps not look too out of place on Carolyn Jones. The scarf is by Italian fashion house Valentino and is available on The Outnet (www.theoutnet.com) reduced from £280 to £98. The scarf itself is made from 100% silk and measures 68cm x 176cm. Although gothic in design, the delicate black lace ensures that it exudes sensual femininity. Fenella Fielding, eat your heart out.

 3)      Completely unintentionally, I seem to have created a slightly macabre theme with my selections today. My third and final offering of the day is a silk chiffon skull design by Alexander McQueen measuring137cm x 137cm. Although the McQueen skull scarf has been around for many years and has seen a wealth of incarnations, I honestly believe that the scarf has become a design classic and will be for years to come. Available from Matches (www.matchesfashion.com) currently reduced from £325 to £227, they don’t get much prettier than this. The delicate pencil sketch drawings are simply sublime and, contrasting with the gruesome subject matter, makes for an edgy scarf with plenty of potential.

Lucy xx