Silk scarves
Vintage French silk scarves, found one by one in France. New scarves arrive with the December collection.
Vintage French silk scarves
Printed silk, softly worn.
French silk squares from the 1950s to the 1990s. Some from the great houses, others from Lyon printers whose names have faded.
I am completely in love with the historic motifs on scarves from the 1970s and 80s (ships, carriages, maps and crests) and buy as many as I can find, including the smaller squares when they turn up. I also look for antique Provençal cotton squares, printed with the most beautiful florals.
A little history
From the looms of Lyon
Since the 1500sLyon, city of silkLyon has woven silk since the Renaissance, and by the 1800s was the silk capital of Europe.
1804The Jacquard loomJacquard's punched-card loom, invented in Lyon, changed how patterned cloth was made.
1937The printed squareHermès printed its first silk carré. The couture houses followed.
Why vintageColour with depthScreen printed one colour at a time onto heavier twill, and finished by hand.
How to wear them
Knotted, draped, tied in the hair
Hermès · short filmsThe classic knotsHermès's films show the knots for a square scarf, step by step.Watch the knotsHermès · short filmThe square knotOne simple way to wear a large square at the neck.WatchThe New York TimesThe silk scarf, French styleFurther reading.Read the article
CareLooking after silkHand wash in cool water with a gentle silk detergent (I like Delicate Wash from The Laundress), or dry clean. To press, lay a thin cotton cloth over the back of the scarf and use a cool iron.
The scarves
New scarves in December.
Shown first in Berkeley, then online and in Hudson.