How to Fake that Chic French Look

Photo: My friend Heather and I doing our best imitation of  French femmes. Yes, I know we should be sporting the sexy French pout, but we kept getting tickled. (The scarf Heather's wearing is by Kenzo.  Mine is from Fragonard)

We all know it’s true: French women have that fashion je ne sais quoi. And part of the quoi is that they can whip a scarf into a swirling, perfect confection, in their sleep. It’s in the genes, I suppose. 

This post is inspired by my beloved and sassy daughter, Suzanne (well, step-daughter, but I’ve claimed her as my own). When Suzanne first visited Paris with me a couple of decades ago, she was absolutely captivated by the scarves that every French woman flaunts, tied casually or formally, around their necks.  She was determined to learn their secret ways. She didn’t speak any French, but the shy-retiring-violet type she is definitely not. And so, in the week we were there, I became quite used to her stopping stylish French women on the street, and asking them to show her how they tied their scarves. And amazingly, they all did, and pleasantly.

A notable aside: Everyone thinks the French wear scarves all the time to look elegantly fashionable. Well, there is that. But the main reason is this: the French HATE the wind. Hot or cold, wispy or gusty, they think a breeze bears every nefarious germ that causes le rhume or la grippe (a cold, or the dreaded flu). Hence the protective scarf, their armor against evil. 

 As a result, the French vocabulary for scarves is very rich. Here is a primer:

écharpe: generic terms for a scarf. 

cache-nez, cache-col: also a familiar terms for scarves, what we might call a muffler, or one that could be tied in that way.  Literal translation: hide the nose, hide the neck.

fichu—a scarf that covers the head.

carré—a square scarf

Foulard—a scarf, usually square, in silk or a lightweight fabric, usually with a print.

châle—shawl

pochette or gavroche: a man's pocket square

And now, the how-to for the most common scarf tying tricks.  These are the simple ones, but also the most popular. This post was photographed by our friend Kent with his supermodel-gorgeous wife Heather; we met them through their Unexcused Absences blog. They visited this week and were pressed into service. Heather actually taught me some new scarf tricks herself.

I happen to be an avid scarf collector (or I was, until Ron put me on Scarf Probation), so I’ve included the stores where I buy my favorite scarves, both in France and in the US, for the benefit of fellow addicts.

The Basic: just fold the scarf in half, lay it around your neck, and pull both ends through the loop. Scarf from J. McLaughlin (US).

 

 
A variation of The Basic: Wrap and pull only one end through. 

Then tuck one end into the part that circles your neck. On the right, the finished look.

(Scarf on left from J. Crew. On the right, from Fragonard, a parfumeur who happens to also make beautiful scarves; in Paris, Lyon, Nice and other cities.)

The Traditional:  Loop scarf around your neck once. Tie one end over the other, a simple knot. This scarf is from J. McLaughlin.

 

The Turtle, good for a thin scarf: tie The Traditional, then just tuck the knot under the top loop. Scarf from J. McLaughlin.

 

 

The Double: Heather taught me this one. Fold it in half, loop it around your neck, pull both ends  through, as for The Basic. Twist again to make a second loop and pull both ends through the loop. The finished look is below.

(hot pink scarf above from Devernois, in all major French cities; orange scarf below from Fragonard).

The Double

 

 

The Wrap: A knotted shawl makes a nice look for evening.  Silk scarf, 8 euros at the Cluny market!  French markets are a great place to buy scarves at a good price.

 

In the COMMENTS: To add to the 10 Things I Learned Living in France, our readers, some with their own blogs, checked in. Julie of Traveling Through, who has a house in northern Burgundy, has a wish that everyone gets a chance to live away from home and adopt new rhythyms. Derin has thoughts on cycling through France. Natalia has a good point: should you get exasperated with the French, stop and smell the croissants! Good advice for travel anywhere. Kiki, I have a little French in my soul too, well put. Kristin (of French Word a Day), Jean-Marc must be in charge of the thermostat chez nous, as Ron is here! And if you want to know what Kristin has learned about France, which is a lot, check out her many books. Her latest is First French Essais: Venturing into Writing, Marriage, and France.

And if you want to go: Debbie Ambrous (her blog is A French Opportunity), has some thoughts on where to stay in the heart of Provence; Joan Levine (Ombre de la Tour) can direct you to rental houses in the Dordogne. Kim of 24/7 in France has a house for sale in a perched village near Nice that is to die for. 

Favorite Reads: I've told you before about Kent and Heather's blog, Unexcused Absences, detailing their adventures on a canal boat in France every summer. Now they have a new boat: a trawler, stateside, for winter excursions!  Follow their adventures here, if you too are considering ditching it all for a life of permanent vacations, as they have. Or just go for a short French canal boat adventure, and check out Heather's book, A Practical Guide for European Canal Boat Charters.

 

Comments

[Debbie Ambrous]

Lynn,
Thanks for all of the scarf lessons. Now I have some new tricks for my new and old ones. During our recent trip there was a small child's bed in our large master bedroom in the rental house. Would you believe that I brought enough scarves to cover the little bed? My bed of scarves was a pretty, colorful spot in the corner! I brought 7 new scarves home. Actually, a few of them were old beauties picked up at vide-grenier sales. Thanks for the referral to my website, and for your help when I was planning the trip to Provence. October was a perfect time to be there!

[Colleen Taylor]

Lynn, what a lovely post! I don't think you need to fake anything since you are already very chic.
I'm thrilled by this post because I have my own signature line of scarves. I am a design collaborator with a company out of San Francisco who asked me to join their team earlier this year. They are printed digitally from images of my artwork. With your post here I'm learning a few new ways to tie mine now. The clothing from Devernois are drop dead gorgeous!

[24/7 in France]

Great post, Lynn. I have a big collection of scarves too and so, have a video post on my blog for 25 ways to tie a scarf! Bon weekend to you and Ron.

[Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen]

Thank you so much for the scarf lesson. I adore scarves and probably should be put on probation too. I must have brought 20 scarves back from Provence this spring and I appreciate all of the tips I can get on how to get the most use of them. I find after wearing scarves you become addicted, not only to the look but the comfort that they bring you no matter what the season.
Sam

[Buffy]

Thanks for the advice on how to wear the scarves. I too collect them. I have an assortment hanging from the four corners of my poster bed. When I want one, I just climb up and take it down. It's a nice place to hang them because they don't get wrinkled and they add something to the dark wood of the bed.

Take care

[Peter Ingle]

Lynn: a wonderful post and beautiful shots. I recognize the familiar background!
~ Peter

[Kenneth Scupp]

Very funny Way to go Ron! I need to put my wife on scarf probation also. J'ai besoin de mettre ma femme un stage des carrés aussi.

[Herm in Phoenix, AZ]

Very nice post, Lynn!

Sure are stylish! Beats the red bandana we see out here in the west!

The cowboys and cowgirls do have special knots, but sometimes the bandana is held in place with a fancy “slider” usually made with sliver and turquoise.

Pulled up over the nose, the bandana becomes a mask when robbing a stage or train, HA

[Betina]

:o) Now, if you really want your head to spin (and to find an excuse to buy MORE scarves), watch this adorable tutorial on 25 ways to wear your scarves: https://youtu.be/5LYAEz777AU

[Suzanne Hurst]

I have another one for you, taught to me by my physical therapist. :-) Use a long scarf. Fold in half. Tie each end to its mate - you will have a knot at each end. Put scarf around your neck in a circle, then fold in half so that you have a second circle and put your head through that. A picture would help, but hope y'all get it, ha.

[Ellie]

Do not forget that real men in France also wear scarfs

[Natalia]

Thank you,Lynn,for this terrific post!
My gosh,you ladies are elegant and give me inspiration to try these knots at home.
The pictures really help!
Even though I love scarves,I am,alas,most definitely challenged in this department,and
am excited at the thought of an appearance of something other than the amateur wrinkled-squished look(!)
I am complete agreement with you about Kristin Espinesse's(French Word A Day)books.
I have read all of them,and each one is charming.She brings the reader into her life,and delights us with her humor.

[Julie Farrar]

I'm an obsessive observer of all the scarves I see in France, trying to learn new ways to wear them. Youtube is good for that, too. Like you, Lynn, I probably own more scarves than I should. I actually get a bit sad during summers at home in St. Louis because it is just too hot and humid to wear one on a daily basis. But if I'm going to a movie or a restaurant or other over-airconditioned place I grab one as I head out the door. You forgot to mention how great scarves are during the shoulder season when there's a chill during outdoor dining. So even if I'm not wearing one as I go about my day in France, I always have one stuffed in my sac in case I head straight to a restaurant for dinner and don't have time to grab a sweater.

[Paula]

Last May while on board a train from Perpignan to Paris I saw a guy in jeans and a short sleeve t-shirt with a scarf slip knotted around his neck. I didn't think it could get any more ridiculous until, on a scalding hot day on the Ile d'Oléron, I saw a "jeune fille" in an adorable skimpy sundress and a big scarf around her neck!

[Betsy Foree]

the best scarves i have found are Petrusse. bought a couple in La Cadiere d'Azure.

[Allison Herron]

You are just too fun, Lynn!

[Janie]

Great post! I saved this Nordstrom video about how to tie a scarf and refer to it when I need inspiration:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/scarf-video?cm_ven=Linkshare&cm_cat=partner&cm_pla=10&cm_ite=1&siteId=je6NUbpObpQ-ey7pH4s8RborO1EuDx8lfQ

On a serious note, I haven't been able to stop thinking about what has happened in the last day and send lots of love to Paris on this very sad day. xoxo

[Heather]

What fun! It was so much fun sharing scarf secrets with you. However, Kent must never learn Ron's secret of scarf probation ....

[Ashely Love]

Not even french women, all other women of European countries are now making their way to wear scarves whether it is to complete their fashion or to support their football team. Football lovers are now supporting their team by wearing their supporting scarves. I too have a scarf which i use to wear whenever i wear a dumb dress and it makes up my personality.
http://globalscarves.co.uk/personalised-scarves/