Another trend I love to hate: The scarflette
Regular readers of The Tastemaker Diaries are well aware of my obsessive hatred of scarves. My scorn has risen to a new level with the rise of this season’s version, the so-called scarflette.
My friend Beth drew my attention to this new trend. How could I resist opening an email with the title “Is this the new dickey?” And yes, I believe the insidious scarflette is indeed the latest incarnation of “a false shirt-front - originally known as a detachable bosom”. Check out some examples:
Why do I hate these so much, you ask? Let me count the ways:
1) Scarflette vendors inevitably style their models wearing a scarflette and nothing else. Aside from the suspension of disbelief this requires (if it’s warm enough to pose nude, the model’s neck probably isn’t freezing), I’d be much more likely to buy one if the retailer actually showed me how a scarflette could be used to accessorize my fall and winter outfits.
2) I already own a million chunky necklaces that I don’t get to wear nearly often enough — and they don’t itch or threaten to choke me
3) When I was in elementary school, I went through a phase of penning my own Goosebumps-inspired short stories…including one which featured a heroine whose hid her decapitated state from the world by attaching her head to her body through the use of a strategically-tied scarf. Apparently, I did a good job freaking myself out, because I remember it to this day and refuse to wear anything that might make me resemble The Headless Horsewoman.
What do you think? Do I need to rethink scarflettes? Are these something you’ll be adding to your wardrobe this season?
Comments (45)
45 Comments
Ugliest thing I have seen in ages!
Looks like a half-assed craft project threw up on the wearer’s neck.
If it was meant to be worn on the neck…the models would not ONLY be wearing the scarfette. They would style the model so it showed how the scarfette should be worn, as you have said.
I agree with you Dina - ugly!
They’re awful!
Obviously if ’scarflettes’ don’t look good on a naked neck and upper body, how will they possibly work with normal clothes on? This is just another stupid trend which exemplifies the human races desire for more, more, more!! Never satisfied with what we have…always looking for the next best thing, but more often than not, there is no next best thing. Scarves work just fine for me and look a million times better than a stupid ’scarflette’ and have been around for eons! The trend will certainly be over before I’ve even finished posting this comment on its hideous existence! Maybe it’ll come in handy for women who need to hide the scars from there recently aquired new wrinkle free neck!
They’re awful…we have necklaces and scarfs..we DO NOT need something inbetween!!! They’re they ugliest things I’ve ever seen
It looks totally rediculous! I can’t believe that anyone in their right mind would fall for this trend.
No thank you! How ugly can you get? I don’t know anyone that would wear one! Must be one of those trends not for the “real” woman again!!!!
When the super long scarf trend was popular a few years ago, I decided to learn to knit. Three weeks and about 12 inches later, I joked to my friends that I was going to start a new trend-the super short scarf. Apparently, there are others who get bored easily…
These things are great! New and innovative! Its about time something different happened to the fashion industry. Hopefully this trend will get designers to start thinking outside the box more often.
Don’t sell them there dorky
It’s part of Lion Brand yarns’ and the craft store chains’ efforts to get more people to do crafts by developing “easy” crafts that can be done with “Just one skein!” or “Just one yard” (of yarn or fabric). And so the results look like cheap, easy home-made and useless horrors. That the trend has spread from the crafts area into people actually hoping to sell these horrors to other people for cash money, rather than leaving them in the area of homemade gifts or librarians who want to wear something they’ve knit themselves to work, is just proof that some people will follow ANYTHING blindly.
I disagree with the majority of the posts - while I hate the bib design (second down), I think the other two are cute and would look great with a bomber style jacket, jeans and boots for a funky urban look. I much prefer unique looks in winter, and you can get away with items that wouldn’t work on their own. I probably wouldn’t wear one with a singlet or tshirt, but layered up I think these could rock out.
yay yay yay! Love these… really do love these and I want them in my wordrobe!
I personally do not like them but I’m sure someone will wear them!
I think these scarflettes are over rediculous. There’re hideous and should never be worn on a persons neck. They remind me of dog collars, infact, I don’t even think a dog would wear it, ther’re ugly and should not have even been thought about. It’s a waste of time and material.
Wow….as if the dickey and the ascot could get any worse. The scarflette’s like a crazy love child from the two.
I don’t particularly like the ruched scarflettes, but I do think that the ones that look like the basic wool scarves do serve a purpose for those of us that wear more form fitting coats. I wear a lot of peacoats and find that the long scarf causes bulkiness in the front when I button my coat. Having one of these would actually minimize the bulk, and the time it takes to put on or take off my scarf every time I leave a building.
Dina…I’ve got to say that when I saw the Scarflette for the first time I nearly barfletted. As with most of the other posters, I think it’s repulsive. Oh my gosh, this is SO not worthy of being a “trend” piece.
Smoky, I hesitated about calling this a trend…it’s not something I’ve seen on lots of people’s necks. But these puppies are ALL over Etsy…which, fine, just because crafty people like to make them doesn’t mean anyone will wear them. But then Daily Candy wrote about them in a recent email, and since I usually find them a credible source, I figured this might be something up-and-coming. A trendlette, if you will.
This would be perfect to wear during winter! I would just stuff in in a pocket of my coat once I get indoors. It is so much less bulky then a full scarf. Style wise? I don’t think many people would see it with the wool hat I use to keep my ears warm under the hood of my coat.
I think they are cute, esp the top one. They remind me of the keffiyeh trend somewhat. I don’t know what everyone is acting so confused about. People wore keffiyeh with graphic tees and other stuff, so I can imagine the top scarflette with a soft black merino wool sweater from j crew or something. sort of like a detachable turtle neck. or arm warmers. If you “fashionistas” don’t like it, then I’m sure the emo or indie scene will appreciate it.
I bet half the people claiming it’s “so hideous” would be wearing one if it was more of an out there fashion. If a couple celebs starting strapping them around their necks.
I totally agree with you. They look itchy and stupid. I wouldn’t wear one. Necklaces are much prettier.
ugly doesn’t even start to describe this. Oh MY!
totally UGLY!
This has to be the most heinous “fashion” statement I have ever witnessed. It makes me want to take an ice pick to my eyes! Nevermind the models naked - the one that disturbs me most is the second one where she is wearing clothes…Looks like she was at a cheap, hokey Italian resturant and used a napkin so as not to spill sauce on herself and forgot to take it off! No thank you!!
I Love the pink/orange one with the oversized buttons ~ It’s soft, yet very tactile bondage!.
The collar with the hankies dangling on it resembles a pleated baby bib.
The plaid thing looks like the first project of a freshman home ec student.
So long as it’s a little bit kinky, I’ll wear one; I have drawers full of scarves that I could use again.
My neck started itching as soon as I got a look in to those pictures. They are good for fashion victims, not for me
Ugh, horrid. I have nothing more to say…
I suppose it’s one of those things that depends where you live. I can see the practicality of it if you live in an area that’s really cold and your job requires you to go outside often enough that a thick suit will help and not want to bother with the full heavy scarf and jacket dressing routine.
However, living in Southern California, I wouldn’t get near those.
They are one of the ugliest things that I have ever seen.
It may look nice with the right outfit, but it looks really bad when it is displayed by itself.
Well, I am of two minds. I wear dog collars and urban/punk styles and I would not wear the top one. The second one does indeed look like it should have come with a bottle of chianti. The bottom one though…functional. I like turtlenecks when it is cold out, but once I go into my library (and my librarians can knit entire, beautifully made pieces, thank you) I don’t want to be so hot around the neck. And it certainly is less bulky than a regular scarf. As a fashion statement, it’s sketchy. As a way to not freeze in Chicago, works for me.
let’s be nice. the woolly ones would work in the north like Alaska or the Yukon, and the frilly ones might make a great lobster bib.
YUCK! How ugly is this! Looks like some horrible disease has attacked the neck. I don’t think this one will last. A dog collar is mucho more trendy!
Ixnay on the arfscay. In a word, yuck.
I can think of several things I would rather put around my neck than this - - rope!
Scarflette? Please! Give me a loving break! It’s more of the prejudice against women with less-than-swanlike necks, which in reality is the majority of us. Another slap in the face for power-sized women with shorter, thicker necks and more expansive bosoms who definately may not wear outrageous ruffles around an already full face. It makes you look like you just ran away from the circus!
No no - no way
I’ll be nice…I’m with the girl who said she almost “barfletted” HOWEVER, I live in Houston, where the use of a scarf is laughable and the use of a scarflette is entirely ridiculous.
—
That said, I understand the point of the girls who say it is practical. When I was in Paris for Christmas, it was such a pain walking down the street do duck into a store, take off your coat, scarves, gloves, et cetera…shop, and then put it all back on to go outside. The scarflette looks like something you could wear to be practical, keep your neck warm, and it probably wouldn’t show since you’d be wearing a jacket over it anyway.
—
That said, personally, they’re not trendy or cute to me at all. Practical, perhaps, stylefeeder worthy, definitely not.
Scarflette, Yuk
Ugly, ugly, VERY ugly! Obviously someone who doesn’t like the look of a female neck or have any fashion sense thought this up. I don’t think I have ever seen such a hidious thing!
Sorry but I absolutely love the 2nd one pictured. The first one is a bib & I’m not a fan. First of all, all knits aren’t scratchy. I love knit & you can absolutely tell that the 2nd one is SOFT so I really don’t get the scratchy comments. I also love anything with a high neck but not my grandma’s turtleneck (or anything LL Bean-esq). I can see this with an excellent wool sweater in an olive or darker green tone with the hood pulled up. What about with some of these collarless coats…like the ones from Banana Republic. Yeah- very cute. Give me the scarflette and some matching knit “wrist warmers”…another trendlette, as you call it, that I’ve seen this year. Awesome- pair it with cute jeans & some boots & you’ve got a great, fashionable outfit. But, maybe all of you guys are like my mom…she just hated stuff around her neck period. I would NOT wear the little faux turtlenecks that you throw under a sweater. These have to be done with taste but I’m so sad you posted the 2nd one as an example. Photography wise they pictured it the best they could w/o muddying up what it was. Would you rather be confused? So tip for the etsy designer…give those w/o imagination some additional pictures for practical application. Sorry Tastemaker. Your hatred for these could certainly just be in the flashbacks of imagery they give you. There are certain smells and sights that I simply hate for those same reasons and, I realize, they are very personal & connected simply to my random memories. Typically bad ones.
They look simply horrible. Particularly the second picture. I would never wear that, looks so tacky!
Okay. Maybe, MAYBE, if you’ve just had throat surgery and are really sensitive to cold (or, need to hide the bandages for a while) wearing scarflettes would be an option. But they had better be made out of something really soft and/or thin, otherwise you’ll be choking yourself in seconds.
please tell this is some sort of cruel joke. wow these are hideous on a monumental scale. why… why? i think they made me throw up in my mouth a little.