I’ve decided to wear
more scarves, but
never really know the
best way to tie one. Is
there a definitive way
to wear one on the
neck? — P.D. IN GLOUCESTER
I’ve read that tribal jewelry is having a moment. What’s
the smartest way to wear it without looking like a hippie?
— Y.D. IN LEXINGTON
There are almost as many ways
to tie a scarf as there are methods
to hitting a home run. And just
as certain baseball teams earn
their day in the sun (ahem, Red
Sox), there are select scarf styles
that rise as the season’s winners.
Right now, the boho look is on
fire: stretch the material in front
of your neck and around the
back. Let each end drape loosely
in the front. Another option?
Fold a square scarf into a triangle, tie around your neck (with
the triangle pointing down),
and let the ends fall in front.
Madewell, Club Monaco, Free
People, and Calypso offer scores
of patterned, embellished, and
solid scarves that look smashing
over dresses, T-shirts, and outerwear. The style reads natural and
uncontrived, like a David Ortiz
ground ball. Tie one on and hit
Fenway Park. Go Sox.
Tribal jewelry is always having a moment somewhere in the world. You do want
to be careful because if you wear too much and move too quickly, you could cause
a thunderstorm. (Really bad rain dance joke.) I’m taking a big leap here to assume
that you are interested in tribal pieces for fashion’s sake, and that the 20-pound gold
neck rings worn to death by Padaung women and the African lip-plates launched
by those trendsetting Mursi dames you would find even more sketchy than looking
like a hippie. So let’s play it safe and find you some slick-looking beads and metal.
Aesa, Annie Costello Brown, and Fallon are some of my favorite brands. For your
neck, mix bronze arrowhead pendants with gold-toned beads and brown leather
fringe, or make a statement with one tiger-scaring bib necklace. Line your arms with
multicolored beaded bracelets or one dramatic armlet. Don’t overdo it — make the
jewelry the focal point and your clothing the backdrop. That way, you will always be
a respected member of the Classy Tribe.
The dressy-undressy style out there now (as show-
cased so well by Amanda Peet) is so terrific. Are there
any basic rules to doing it? — T.R. IN QUINCY
ILLUSTRATION BY NATHALIE DION/ AGOODSON.COM
You know who’s totally nailing this look? J. Crew. Their stylists are throwing
rhinestone necklaces atop little boy tees with khaki pants and Indian moccasins.
The look is preppy, urban, modern, confusing — and way cool. The general formula
is to honor one mood — let’s choose undressy — and accessorize with dressy (or
vice versa). For example, slip on your beat-up jeans, high-tops, and racerback tee,
but shake it all up with rows and rows of pearl necklaces. Hate pearls? Lose them
and replace the tee with a sequin tank. Conversely, dress down a fancy shmancy
spaghetti-strapped silk cocktail dress and pair with flip-flops, a crumpled linen
scarf, and a tousled ponytail. The contradictions here are what gives these looks
star power, with due respect, of course, to Amanda Peet.
I LISA PIERPONT IS THE FOUNDER OF BOLDFACERS.COM, A WEB PUBLICATION SPOTLIGHTING BOSTON’S UP-AND-COMING TALENT AND STYLEMAKERS.
MOREOVER, SHE IS ALSO AN UNQUESTIONABLY SNAPPY DRESSER. IN A FASHION BIND? SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO FB@GLOBE.COM.
