Lifestyle Choices

Hats

The days when all well-dressed women (and men) wore hats are, alas, over. You have only to catch a few old movies to know just how stunning the right hat can be. Think of wide, dipping brims, the sweep of an elegantly curled plume, the frothy net veil that lent such a mysterious and enchanting allure. The abandonment of the hat is a true fashion pity. But take heart, all you longing-to-be-glamorous girls; hats still have a place in the fashion scene, and even the most utilitarian versions can be great-looking and fun!

For winter warmth, try French-inspired berets. They are frequently so inexpensive that you can afford to own a dozen different colored ones. Truly a classic, always in style, your beret will look as well with your weekend big sweaters and jeans as with a velvet- collared chesterfield. You can even personalize your berets by sewing on your own decorations. Try snappy appliqués purchased at a sewing or novelty shop, sparkly sequins, buttons (look for unusual shapes, colors, sizes), and faux gems.

Other good cold-weather headgear: a snuggly hood, without or with an attached scarf; try a pastel one in angora for a super- romantic look. Fake fur is inexpensive, warm, and very ecology- wise, so go ahead and indulge your fantasies of being a Russian princess! And don’t forget the earmuff option—on or off the slopes, they’re a great winter bunny look!

In the summer months, you’ll want a protective hat for covering up when you’ve had enough sun. Choose a wide-brimmed straw with a tight weave or a canvas hat to keep harmful rays off face and hair, especially if you’re fair-skinned or burn easily. Your hat can be in a natural tone—wheat, beige, toast—or a bright summer shade.

For all-season wear, try raiding the boys’ and men’s shops. Look for nifty panamas to wear with an oversized linen jacket, or a baseball cap—what about satin?—to jazz up jeans or a jumpsuit.

Scarves and Shawls

You can get oodles of looks from a handful of good, versatile scarves. Inexpensive and wonderfully chic, they can create dozens of highly singular fashion statements. Depending on your proportions and the look you’re after, you can choose long or short, square or rectangular, silks, wools, cottons, and a variety of synthetics or blends. Think about the following ways you might wear your scarf:

• As a sash over a big, billowy silk shirt.
• Across the hip, secured with a knot.
• Loosely knotted in front over a pretty sweater.
• Tied at the neck, ascot style.
• With ends draping long, back and front.
• Tied around your purse handle.
• In your hair, around your ponytail.
• As a turban.
• Draped across your shoulders, secured with a pin.

Of course, you want your scarf to complement your clothes and, if it’s an outdoor scarf, to be warm and practical as well. Outfits can easily be dressed up or down, all by the right scarf choice.

Daytime scarves can be silks, cottons, lightweight wools such as challis, or blends. For a vivid splash of color near the face, opt for a bright solid. Prints will add rich pattern: think paisley, floral, geometrics, animal prints, stripes. Don’t feel that you can’t use two patterns together; if the colors and the scale work together, you can mix and match to your heart’s content. Bandannas are a great summer scarf choice. They cost very little and come in dozens of exciting fashion shades. Knot one at your neck and watch how it perks up a plain cotton T-shirt.

Evening and party outfits are enhanced by such luxury fabrics as silk, satin, chiffon, and lace. Slide a shimmery scarf over a plain dress or blouse; add pearls and you’re dressed. Remember, these fine fabrics can actually prove to be a bargain: A real silk dress may be out of your price range, but a real silk scarf is probably not. Look for evening scarves decorated with sequins or rhinestones or shot through with glittering metallic threads.

For keeping snuggly and toasty warm you’ll need a couple of winter scarves. They should be long enough to afford you some protection from the elements (some could even pinch-hit for a hat, if you’ve forgotten yours) but never so long that you’re in danger of getting tangled up or tripping. Cashmere is a very costly wool but wonderfully warm and soft against the skin. You can also find wool and cashmere blends for a good winter-warmth value. Other cold weather choices: lambswool, angora, mohair.

Shawls are not for your grandmother only! Great-looking, warm, and ever-so-practical, a wispy lace shawl can float across your shoulders to make a prom dress enchanting. Or you can bundle up in a mohair fringe or paisley challis when you cuddle up by the fire on a snowy night.

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