Mary's Scarves

About a week ago, I wrote about Mary Katrantzou's A/W 2011 collection. Of course, like most other items shown on London Fashion Week's runways, her collection is significantly out of my price range. With this in mind, my delight at hearing that Mary Katrantzou had designed two silk scarves for Topshop hardly needs explanation.

(Topshop, $100)

(Topshop, $100)

I'm glad to see Mary Katrantzou's gorgeous prints splashed across as many mediums as possible. Factor in the high street prices, and I'm sold.

Silk Scarves and Shirts

Yesterday I spent the afternoon exploring/poking around a few markets and when not overly distracted by the incredible smells of the food stalls, found all sorts of inspiration. There were a fair number of stalls selling vintage and vintage-inspired clothing. They ranged from racks of bargain sweaters and 80s dresses to well curated collections of lace blouses and leather belts.

One of my favorites included a simple rack of collared shirts, which I initially passed over. On second glance, each oxford had a coordinated silk scarf tied around the neck. The effect of the fully buttoned shirt coupled with the scarf reminded me a bit of a school uniform, but with a more sophisticated edge. Unfortunately, I couldn't take pictures of the stall and its contents, though I'm now on a quest to find some cheery scarves to try the look out for myself this spring.

D&G showed a similar sort of styling in their Fall 2010 collection. The black and white palette could easily be updated for spring with a bright colored button down and scarf. Here, the models sported silk scarves tied into bows, but the ends could also be left undone for a different look. I love how scarves can inject so much personality into a look. From sophisticated florals to playful polka dots, chic geometric designs to whimsical animal prints, the simple accessory can add so much depth to an outfit.

Images via Style.com

This or That: Roy Lichtenstein

Roy Lichtenstein was a prominent American pop artist. He was born on 27th October 1923, and later died on 29th September 1997. He was inspired by popular advertising and comic books, which played a profound role in the formation of his widely recognized style. In 1961 Lichtenstein began creating paintings using cartoon images and techniques derived from the appearance of commercial printing. His work reflects consumerism and served as a parody of modern life. Lichtenstein's most popular piece of work is "Whaam", which is featured in the Tate Modern art galley in London, England.

A piece of classic postmodern pop art by Roy Lichtenstein...

... reimagined as a cashmere scarf (Yarnz, $169).