The scarf has been a humble and hard-working fashion staple throughout history. Think of turbans in Africa, saris in India, and obis in Japan – rectangles of fabric have protected and adorned humans from the cave years.

As with so many of the world’s great leaps forward – democracy, law, running water – the scarf “officially” had its start in ancient Rome where it was used as a cloth for wiping sweat from the brow, and quickly developed into a fashion accessory for both men and women. There are records of Chinese warriors wearing scarves under the rule of Emperor Chang as a way to indicate their rank. In the 17th century, Croatia followed this example with soldiers of low rank being issued cotton scarves and those of higher rank getting luxurious silk ones. The French then became enamored with this look and started to wear “cravatas” (from the Croatian word for scarf) for fashion and to signal political affiliations. By the 19th century, the cravat had become a staple in every man’s wardrobe and shawls with fringes were worn by every woman.

More recently, the scarf saw a huge swell in popularity in the 1950’s as a women’s fashion accessory – think “Mad Men” neckerchiefs and hair-style protector a la Grace Kelly. Then, after a quiet spell during the latter 20th century, scarves again are experiencing a revival.

Silk continues to be the fabric of choice – it is the strongest natural fiber, porous, resistant to mold, and dyes exceptionally. It can be woven into sheer diaphanous chiffons, heavy twills, and even stretchy jersey. Most major European fashion houses feature silk scarves in their accessories lines and some have gained icon status with their creations. Italian designer Emilio Pucci became famous in the 1950’s for his wild geometric prints, and for women who couldn’t pull off a fully patterned ensemble, a Pucci scarf added a pop of color. At the beginning of the 21st century, Britain’s Alexander McQueen produced fashion history when he splashed skulls all over lady-like silk chiffon. Both Pucci and McQueen scarves are highly sought after to this day.

But the grand-daddy, the holy grail of scarves is made by luxury label Hermes. The French fashion house has been producing silk scarves since 1937, with artists spending thousands of hours creating new designs and craftsmen still rolling and sewing each edge by hand.

It is this painstaking and deeply personal attention to detail and quality that attracted me to Hermes. After test-driving a cheaper scarf, I decided to take the plunge and invest in a preloved Hermes silk square. I did my research, had my budget, and became the proud owner of “Festival” from Hermes’ 1992 collection. As I build my silk collection, this scarf will always hold a special place in my wardrobe.

Written By Guest Blogger: Marla