Softness & warmth. These are the qualities with which we often associate scarves, & by such standards we often rate them. The quality of the knit, the smoothness of the silk or coziness of the yarn, the delicacy of its fleece—wrapped tightly or piled loose around our necks, we can understand why they were known in some places as “comforters.”
Not to ignore the scarf’s role in fashion—that chance for color; the tasseled end draped casually over the shoulder; the flash of flamboyance, especially for men afraid of its evolutionary cousin, the necktie—yes, in style the scarf’s estate is vast.
Yet, there are legacies of Roman sweat cloths & accents of Croatian mercenaries in the 30 Years War. As the ornaments of these ancient warriors, scarves might still display a trace of an old militancy. Where did the emblematic red scarf get its tincture? Or better yet, what are the origins of our deepest browns? Somewhere, too, hides a history of the scarf doubtlessly more violent than our most common sources acknowledge.
And maybe this is what ties the scarf to our need for protection—yes, against the cold, but not only. Wrapped around vulnerable necks, they seem to be fortification against raining arrows, against vampire teeth, & the spread of shrapnel. Or perhaps they simply shield us from being seen. Tucked behind woolen folds, safe from imploring eyes, there are women in France who likely wear their scarves even while making love, similar to male business elites in America willing to hawk anything in a Windsor. They seem to say, “see not where we might be grasped in intimate embraces; see not where we might be kissed.” In softness, in warmth. Muffling personal histories & smothering public ones with knotted fabric—sometimes tied not unlike a noose.
I love scarfs. They make me feel secure. They cover up my belly fat when I let them hang low. They’re like really cool necklaces that don’t pull at the peach fuzz along my neck. And there’s always the threat of vampire teeth to avoid. Especially with a short haircut. It’s important. I understand why humans like to hide behind a scarf’s cloth, just like we hide behind things less tangible.