Clutches for Less

Posts Tagged ‘Hermes Scarves’

The scarf has very deep roots in history. Most tribal societies in regions where the climate warranted it wore some form of rag or cloth to protect their neck and throat and gradually this very functional garment also began to act as a badge of tribal membership. The ancient Romans too used a “sudarium” – Latin for “sweat cloth” – to wipe their faces and necks, especially after a good session in the baths. Eventually, the scarf became a more formal Roman man’s fashion accessory, which they knotted to a belt or wore around the neck.

So contrary to what you might have thought, men first used the scarf as a practical garment, a superbly theatrical prop and a badge of clan loyalty. Women only gradually adopted this fashion trend, but they’ve stuck to it through the ages which is probably why women’s scarves are more the norm. Scarves have featured strongly in the character of heroes and icons throughout history up to the modern day. Biggles (or any World War I fighter ace) was never seen without his silk scarf, stiffened in the breeze as he hunts the heinous Hun in the skies. Tom Baker, for many the definitive Dr Who, had a 13 ½ foot long scarf that was eventually trimmed down to a more modest 12 feet for most of the series.

Designer scarves as a badge or a signifier of belonging to a group have equally lengthy traditions. Wool scarves were used as insignia of rank for the warriors of Emperor Shih Huang Ti of China while 17th century Croatian soldiers wore scarves – cotton for the foot soldiers and silk for the officers – to denote rank and regiment. These garments were called “kravate” and were copied by the fashion conscious French to eventually become the “cravat”. Even today, the scarf has overt tribal significance, most obviously seen in any holiday hot-spot bar. Just look at the ceiling and you’ll see scarves in the colours of virtually any football team you care to name. Whether you’re a red, blue, green or stylish Madridista, the club scarf is mainly worn to declare your loyalty – and at an average price ranging from £10 to around £30 most fans are prepared to buy them to make that statement.

So what does a scarf costing around £300 – £400 say about you? Well, that you’re not short of disposable income for a start, but if you chose Hermes Scarves for example, it strongly implies excellent taste and sense of style as well as deep pockets. Hermes was founded in 1837 by saddle maker Thierry Hermes. It specialised in saddles and leather goods during its early years with scarves only introduced to the collection in the 1930s. Each is still hand printed using multiple silk screens for every colour, with rich, opulent designs. They have become a favourite of the world’s fashion elite, including many members of European royal families, but despite their price tag, they too are just as much a “badge of tribe” as the £7.99 “Manchester United Pride of the North” acrylic number raised every Saturday by the proles of Old Trafford.

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The play by Peter Shaffer, where a psychiatrist attempts to treat a young man who has a pathological sexual obsession with horses, is reminiscent of the work of US photographer Monica Stevenson she uses luxury goods such as Tiffany bracelets and Hermes Scarves on and next to equines as the focus for some of her major work.

This piece of a horse wearing a luxury scarf ‘Hermes Scarf Horse’ won Stevenson a place in the ‘Advertising photographers of America’. It makes you ask the following questions inwardly, is that a horse? What is that around the horses nose? It says something about the use of animals. It forces you to study the accessories in a different way, much more than if it were draped over a model.

Monica’s main subjects have always been horses, her equine photographs are displayed proudly on her website. I think she mixes the use of luxury Hermes and Gucci goods with ther love of equines beautifully in her work.

Her images are sexual and beautiful, but you ask if you should be looking, they seam personal? Stevenson is toying with us, daring us to keep watching, to keep delving.

The work has almost a sadomasochistic edge to it, highlighted by the use of horse and human hair wound around Iron stirrups and leather straps, oddly enough a similar thing is depicted on this vintage Hermes scarf.

Stevenson’s use of insects, typically reviled in fashion is also very beautiful. Stevenson is pushing the fashion item into your hands, getting you to turn it over and over.

The beauty about Stevensons work is that is takes you away to somewhere new, it might not be a beautiful place at times but that doesnt seam to matter, it is the interest that keeps you watching.