4 in 1 Hermes Scarf, the Galop Chromatique

Hermes scarves - it doesn't really need an introduction does it?

It is an item quite entrenched in fashion iconography and history. Hermes silk scarves are one of the few fashion items that even the Queen indulges in. 

Via smh.com.au

It may have had a certain reputation of being very and possibly overly elegant.  It definitely has gone through a revival and is now also seen worn by teenagers with the success of the J'aime mon carre campaigns Hermes had a few years ago.  In France, it seems that almost every French woman owns at least one Hermes scarf.

As I am a lazy dresser, I rely on them more and more.  I have my wardrobe staples of simple and one block colored tops and bottoms and cut through the monotony with Hermes scarves.

I really do want to think less of what I have to wear and this saves me so much time and energy.

But I also appreciate the beauty and quality involved in the manufacturing of the scarves.

It is one of the last "mass produced" artisan products available.

It takes 250 cocoons to produce the silk for one scarf.  
The design on the scarf is drawn by specific illustrators and special guest artists but the coloring is done specifically and solely by colorists.  Even the designer doesn't get to see the final end product color choices until the scarf is released and printed in Lyon, France.  It takes 40 minutes alone for one specialized seamstress to hand sew the edges of the scarf.

Yes, it does cost £ 280 for one 90 by 90 cm ( 36 by 36 inch ) silk scarf but it can be worn in so many different ways: 

Neck scarf, shrug, shirt, belt, hair scarf, to name a few.  

But if you do keep them long enough, 

you could always resell them on eBay for about almost the same amount that you bought them for in some cases!

I like to speak to the scarf specialists at the Hermes stores as they are properly trained and they can give great ideas and instructions on how to get the best use out of them.

But there are some great blogs out there who have amazing knowledge to rival some Hermes scarf experts.

I love MaiTai from Mai Tai's Picture Book,  Iris J at Hymne aux carres, and Codex Costinianus.

I think they each give their own twist on knowledge and how to wear scarves.  If you like scarves of any kind and brand then I urge you to visit them and have a look.

There are so many ways to choose a scarf.  
There have been numerous times I went to the boutique thinking 
I was definitely going to buy a certain style but 
left with something completely unexpected.  
I can not emphasize enough how important it is to try it on.  
But I wanted to share with you one of my more successful scarves in my collection that hit the mark in color, style and usability.

This particular scarf below is my recent favourite of this past year's collection.  It is from the autumn/winter 2012 collection and called Galop Chromatique.  There really is a science in choosing a scarf.   Ideally, one should get 'em all but when there is a budget there are two things one should consider when choosing.

Mr CSW kindly holding up the scarf.
Same scarf, different camera setting,

 Hermes 90 cm Galop Chromatique in colorway 5 
from Autumn Winter 2012

One is the axis which shows how the scarf will be seen when tied up in the most common of knots.  The section in between the two black lines is called the axis.

Via hermes.com

Axis one - going from upper left to bottom right of scarf.

Axis two - going from bottom left to upper right of the scarf.

This shows that this scarf has two different linear scarf tones.

But for me the corners are even more important as they are the 
ends that show in the cowboy knot.  

Via hermes.com

I use the cowboy knot a lot as it is the easiest as you can do it with no mirror and takes no skill! 

 I have worn this coat for months on end...
But the four different corners allows me to wear it with so many different color palettes in any wardrobe.

Corner 1 is purples with a splash of yellowy gold.

Corner 2 is beige and lavender-y grey.

Corner 3 is a mix of grey, khaki, cherry red, and violet.

 Corner 4 has different shades of red and pink with 

a balance of various taupes.

I do hope next time you are choosing any scarf that you don't get overwhelmed by the various colors and designs and 
you might consider these other little aspects to help you.

I must say that out of all my scarves, 

this one isn't the prettiest but it is definitely 

the most versatile and I wish I could buy a back up!!