With the crisp air and cool breezes circulating all over campus, fall has definitely made her presence known. Not to fear dear collegiettes, because the smart girl knows what accessory will help her stay warm and stand out: the scarf. This little piece of fabric may not seem like much. But with its combination of texture, versatility, and color, a scarf becomes a girl’s best friend during chillier climate seasons. It’s an easy 1, 2, 3 step in the morning before heading out the door.  Presto—you’ve got warmth and style. But with the array of options to choose from, what is the best way to work this accessory? I turned to Mia Lehrer, a senior geology buff here at Duke, for her input. In her spare time, Mia prefers to knit her own scarves. She understands the different ways to work your scarf sashay!
Introducing the French knot: one thing our Parisian friends know how to do well is to tie a scarf! Paired with an elegant hair chignon, Mia knows how to play up this European flare—and with the pop of an emerald green silk scarf, her cute outfit really shines. If you’re not sure which color scarf is best for you, rich shades in gem colors look good on every skin tone. Emerald green, ruby red, and sapphire blue are, as Mia would say, the “gneiss-est” colors to go with! (Forgive the geology pun, girls! But, hey, who wouldn’t love a job where you can mine jewels for a living?)
If you’re aiming for a more classic look, then wearing a patterned or fringed scarf will do the trick. Here, Mia achieved a more casual style with the tried and true “loop and hang” approach. Do you shy away from loud colors? If that’s the case, finding a scarf with a muted pattern like stripes or small appliqués can spice up your look while letting you stay in your comfort zone.
Sometimes, you just want something to brighten your day! Accessories add a playful and chipper element to your outfit. If this is the case, try going for bright multi-colored thread and a thicker texture to make things interesting (with the added bonus of comfy fabric in this case!). Combined with bangles and side-swept hair, this look is an adorable do!
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So while deciding whether to scarf or not to scarf, remember these three looks (along with hundreds of others) can help you experiment your way into finding a style that will be distinctly you. Use them as a jumping off point, fall back on them as back-up plans, but most of all, have fun with them!
After the photo shoot, Mia shared her personal experiences with style experimentation and her advice for collegiates:
Me: So tell me about your interest in scarves.
Mia: Well—is there any other way to be? I am very much pro-scarf.
Me: You knit some of the scarves you wear, right?
Mia: Yeah, well the other one I inherited from my grandmother—the green one—she had this huge box of scarves.
Me: So you draw inspiration from her then?
Mia: I do.
Me: Do you have any advice for our readers for exploring their styles in scarves?
Mia: With scarves, I like to add color to an outfit—I guess that “pop of color” if we’re going with stereotypes—but, it’s true. The most important thing about an outfit is the discordant element. There needs to be something that doesn’t match or doesn’t go. So, look at for example the combination of combat boots in otherwise feminine outfits—feminine ensembles I suppose—when that trend first came out, they were really discordant, which is why it works. So, I like a scarf to add a note of discordant color or texture.
Me: I really like that—it seems like a unique way to style for fall.