A Brief History of Scarves

Buffalo plaid checkered hipster scarf (only $7)

Gather round for the history lesson of the day! Did you know that scarves date at least back to ancient Rome? They weren't worn for fashion or comfort but basically as a portable towel used by Roman men to wipe their faces after exercise. Eventually these extra pieces of cloth people carried around started to change from being purely utilitarian to more of a decoration when the Chinese Emperor Cheng (Shih Huang Ti) had his warriors accessorize with scarves as a mark of rank.

As history marched onward, the scarf continued its evolution as not just a useful piece of cloth but a sort of personal flag used to make a statement for the wearer. Around the 17th century, Croation soldiers wore scarves of cotton while their officers wore silk; a person could tell the rank of a scarf-clad individual without a word spoken. The French were so enamored of these unusual decorations that they adopted the style for themselves, calling them cravats, from the Croation word kravata. It became popular for men to show their political affiliation through the color of their scarves. By the 18th century, men and women alike wore scarves, no matter of the social class they belonged to. Practical when needed, and always attractive, scarves rocked even way back in the day!

These days, scarves are popular for their warmth in winter as well as being one of the boldest, easiest, fashion accessories to style and wear. Take a sneak peak below at some of what we have in stock!

This boho maroon sparkle scarf will keep you toasty warm and looking cool!

The shimmering hippie paisley India scarf is the perfect versatile fashion accent!

Check out more of our awesome selection of affordable fashion scarves at the Mexicali Blues website or in our stores throughout Maine.