In a perfect world, it’s best to touch the scarf you’re getting for someone. But if that’s not possible, we’ve come up with an alternative: We reached out to various artists, shop owners, designers, and authors who really love their scarves and asked them to take self-portraits wearing them.
Anna Sui
“This always makes me think of Mick Jagger’s long red scarf in Gimme Shelter. It’s very dramatic, frames the face nicely, plus is functional, warm, and in my favorite color.”
Emma Straub
“I love Virginia Johnson scarves. I have at least four of them: orange flowers, pink camels, blue sharks, frogs. Color makes me happy, and in the wintertime I tend to dress like a preschooler. These help.”
Freck Vreeland
“Blue is my favorite color because it reminds me of the Majorelle blue of my beloved Marrakech. This was a Christmas gift from my godson, so it’s extra special.”
Margaret Austin
Co-founder of Outline
“I bought this a couple of years ago at Collyer’s Mansion on Atlantic. I was immediately drawn to its colors. Sometimes I wrap it around my head, which makes me feel very glamorous.”
Nigel Barker
TV personality and creative director of YesAnd
“I often match my T-shirt colors to my pants and dress in a single or similar color head to toe. I love wearing YesAnd’s scarf with that or with all-black-and-white attire to spice up the look. It’s supersoft.”
Chloe Varelidi
“I have this infinity scarf in two colors. What I love most about it is that it doesn’t require any styling; you just have to put it on. My daughter stole it from me, which is why I have two now. For a period, she slept with it.”
Gianni Lee
“I wear this black scarf with everything. Everybody who knows about the designer, OriginalFani, always shakes my hand when I’m wearing it, which makes me feel like I’m in a cool club.”
[Editor’s note: This scarf is currently sold out, but we’re keeping an eye out and will update this story when it’s back in stock.]
Hua Hsu
“I bought my Kapital scarf after seeing it on a friend and looking for it in vain for months. I can’t tell if it’s more or less practical than a traditional scarf. It’s warm but still lightweight. It’s like wearing a pillow.”
JiaJia Fei
“On a recent trip to Bilbao, I went into the Guggenheim gift shop, where I was met with a warm rainbow of fluffy mohair scarves. I grabbed the brightest color and wrapped it around my head.”
Judi Rosen
“This scarf was born out of a collection of feedsack quilts from the 1930s and ’40s; I’m always trying to find ways to utilize them as new objects or functional pieces. It’s super-cozy, and I can throw it over any jacket or pullover.”
Sheena Sood
“I found this at a chain store in India that carries traditional crafts and textiles. I love the detail of the extremely fine, hand-tie-dyed work; the color combination; and the geometric border.”
Lorenzo Pozzan
“This cashmere Portolano is excellent for people who have delicate skin or redness on their neck from shaving. It keeps me superwarm and is still super-discreet and classy.”
Chris Fleming
“This scarf is part of a Tombolo set called Après Ski. I like it because it is pompous and silly, and it takes me back to my youth as a member of a family of avid skiers. One aspect of ski culture I related to was that of the ski bunny — a stylish woman who would prioritize her time in the lodge over the slopes. This makes me feel like a ski bunny.”
Al-Fuquan Green
Founder of Styling Stingy
“I love this scarf because of the supersoft texture, the length, and because it features two large pockets on both ends. They keep my hands warm and also hold my phone or lip balm if my pants pockets are too full. I chose it because of how vibrant and eye-catching it is. That aligns exactly with my overall personal style.”
[Editor’s note: This scarf is currently sold out, but we’re keeping an eye out and will update this story when it’s back in stock.]
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