The History Of The Silk Scarf
Most items in fashion today were born from some kind of need: leggings were conceived o provide added warmth, straw hats were woven to block the sun’s rays, and bucket hats were crafted to offer protection from the rain. And while scarves also share a practical purpose (for the most part, as a way to keep your neck warm), those of the silk variety—luxuriously smooth to the touch and light in weight—serve to also complete and make more luxurious an outfit.
The modern scarf has its origins all the way in Ancient Egypt, where Egyptian Queen Nefertiti wore a finely woven style with a headdress. She was said to have worn a “tightly woven scarf topped with a conical headdress”. Elsewhere, Roman men in 10 AD tied linen versions called a sudarium (Latin for “sweat cloth”) around their neck or around the waist to wipe away or soak up sweat. In 230 BC, warriors of the Chinese Emperor Cheng wore scarves to denote rank. But it wasn’t until the 17th century when the use of silk scarves was an indication of class and status: Croatian soldiers of higher rank wore silk scarves while others were issued cotton ones.
In perhaps what could be considered the earliest instance of peacocking, Ludwig van Beethoven was the first to make the scarf a fashion statement in 1810, making over his look in the hopes to woo Austrian musician Therese Malfatti with his sharp suits, shirts, and silk scarves. Several decades later in 1837, Queen Victoria ascended to the throne and it was during her reign that silk scarves became an accessory for the nobility, a symbol of luxury.
And to supply such tokens of luxury was Hermès—in 1937, the French luxury house, which had previously only dealt with bridles and harnesses before entering the leather goods business, introduced what will become the first true luxury silk scarf. They were made with imported Chinese silk, which was twice as strong as any other fabric at the time.
All the chicest icons we know today—Brigitte Bardot, Faye Dunaway, Lauren Bacall, Bianca Jagger, and Jackie Kennedy—turned to silk scarves to infuse their looks with effortless glamour in the '50s and '60s. By the '70s, emboldened by the free-spirit nature of the decade, silk scarves became bolder in their design, with in-your-face patterns and striking colors, which were worn as dramatic headwraps or around the neck to complement flowy looks.
Today Bastet Torino wants to make these pieces of art available again in your wardrobe and in your outfits. Make this luxurious and magical accessory make you the queen!