Reader Question: Hi, I was wondering if you could give me advice on how to wear silk scarves (and how to pick out one appropriate to a number of outfits). I\'m looking for cheap and easy ways to spruce up my wardrobe, and my friends keep recommending scarves, but I\'ve never tried them before and I\'m feeling totally inept!

I love silk scarves (35 inch squares, as in Hermes carres) but it IS hard to wear them without looking matronly. First, watch the movie The Queen, and make sure you never tie them the way she does! The big no-no is the "old lady" tie where the scarf is folded diagonally and knotted on one shoulder. Ties I like are scarf folded diagonally to a 2" width and then knotted in front mid-chest. Also, fold like that to wrap around your neck and knot in front, back or side as a choker. Fold diagonally with point in front and bring ends around to knot in front over or under, then put necklaces over that. You can always buy a Hermes "how to tie" booklet on ebay. If you really get into it, there is a wonderful Hermes Yahoo group (which also will help on IDing the many crummy fakes).

Oblongs are easy to wear and tend not to have the matronly trouble. Just fling them around. Hermes does not make oblongs though.

As for colors, best are pinks/reds/peaches that flatter you--like makeup that you tie on. Accent colors can pick up your jacket colors. Make sure you love the pattern. All the colors in the pattern don't have to be your favorites, but the field (background color) must be flattering to you.

Resale shops are a great source for silk scarves, and go to the Hermes Yahoo group for instructions on how to handwash them.

I love the grace kelly/ jackie o. on the neck tie, with large sunnies. Another great one, is to use it as a headband. Also another one is to catch your hair in the scarf and tie it behind your neck and pair it with jackie O. sunglasses, to make sure it looks very modern leave a couple of strands of hair in the front and just a bit of the hair on the part of your scalp close to the forehead, like 3/4 of an inch… and use 1/4 of the strands on that area to frame your face. Try to see if it works as a belt… I think it would look fab with tweeds, and cashmere. I find it really freshens up in the winter months. Also, the throat scarf would work perfectly in place of pearls, with a shift dress and matching gloves with classic round toe pumps. Think Jackie O, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn.

Hermes' Carre book tell you how to tie scarves and per The Purse Blog you can either download it from their site (I couldn't find it) or if there is a Hermes store in your area, pick one up (I don't). Otherwise, ebay (of course) has a seller with 12 copies of the book going for $45.00 a pop. Item number 2800501170057