Fall 2016 Scarves, Chokers, and Neckerchiefs are the Biggest Trend for Spring 2017
Bram Valbracht and Jordy Baan backstage at John Varvatos by Andy Rolfes
Scarves should find their appropriate spot in your wardrobe come winter. A lightweight scarf or neckerchief is an essential transitional wardrobe accessory to add color and individual style to any look. To keep it modern this season lose the heavy scarf and pick up a neckerchief or silk scarf to tie around your neck instead. At the Fall 2016 shows and on the Spring 2017 runways, neckerchiefs and light woven scarves were reimagined in fresh new ways and turned into a major fashion statement. Even bandana neckerchiefs showed up across several collections, and was often tightly knotted to look like a choker. Perhaps not surprising, we saw this trend more at the Paris mens shows but there were plenty in London and Milan too. What is a neckerchief? A neckerchief is actually the middle ground between a scarf and a handkerchief, otherwise known as a square scarf. The “necker” part comes in to play because the proper way to wear these square scarves is around your neck. And despite how trendy the name neckerchief actually sounds, the act of wearing a square scarf around one’s neck is actually a centuries old tradition.
It’s an ageless accessory popularized decades ago by sultry, French men and women and now a universal symbol of classic elegance thanks to Hermes. To hit this trend just right, pair a patterned neckerchief with a trench coat in a neutral hue that picks out one of your scarf’s base colors, to tie your look together. Look for a cotton-silk mix bursting with pattern and color or simply tie on a cotton bandana. The longer and looser you wear your ‘kerchief, the more relaxed your look. As with any neckwear, it’s an easy way to add colour to winter’s dark neutrals, when you’re not quite ready to give into a monochrome head-to-toe black
