Clothing Definitions — definitions of garments and clothing terms from Apparel Search
A scarf is a piece of textile, often long and narrow, usually worn on or near the head, for warmth, fashion, cleanliness or religious purposes. In cold climates a thick knitted scarf, often of wool, is tied around the neck against the cold, usually with a warm hat and a heavy coat, and knitting garments such as scarves is an important trade in some countries. In drier, dustier climates, or where the air carries a lot of contaminants, a thin scarf is worn over the head to keep the hair clean, a custom that has evolved into a fashionable item in many cultures, particularly among women.
In cold climates, a thick knitted scarf (often of wool) is often tied around the neck to keep warm. This is usually accompanied by a warm hat and heavy coat.
The craft of knitting garments such as scarves is an important trade in some countries.
In drier, dustier climates, or in environments where there is a lot of airborne contaminants, a thin scarf is often worn over the head to keep the hair clean. Over time, this custom has evolved into a fashionable item in many cultures, particularly among women.
As well, religions such as Islam promote modest dress among women; many Muslim women wear a headscarf often known as a hijab, but more correctly called the khimar.
colored scarves are traditional supporter wear of fans of Australian rules football clubs in the Australian football league.
Students in the United Kingdom traditionally wear academic scarves with distinctive colors which identify their university or college.
In haute couture, the French fashion company, Herm's is famous internationally for its scarves.
Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor on Doctor Who had a 20+ foot long scarf as a characteristic part of his wardrobe.
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| The above article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/scarf ). 5/27/06 Modified by Apparel Search Company. |
Few garments do as many different jobs as the scarf. The knitted winter scarf is pure insulation: wool traps warm air around the neck, where a coat collar leaves a gap, and a long scarf can be wrapped twice, crossed over the chest under the coat, or pulled up over the lower face in bitter wind. The headscarf works in the opposite climate, shading the head and keeping dust out of the hair. Religious dress gives the scarf a third role, as a sign of modesty and faith. A fourth role is pure identification: the academic scarf announces a college, the football supporter's scarf announces a club, and both are worn as badges as much as clothing.
In haute couture the scarf became a luxury object in its own right. The French fashion house Hermes is famous internationally for its printed silk scarves, large squares of silk twill printed with elaborate designs and finished with hand-rolled edges, worn knotted at the neck, as a headscarf, or tied to a handbag. The silk square showed that a scarf's value could lie entirely in its cloth and printing, with no warmth function at all. At the other end of the scale, the character scarf can define a costume: the very long striped scarf worn by the Fourth Doctor in Doctor Who, over twenty feet of knitting, is one of the most recognisable garments in television.
Choosing a scarf starts with its job. For warmth, wool and other lofty knits in a length that wraps twice are the practical choice. For a head covering, a square large enough to fold and pin comfortably, in a fabric that does not slip. For fashion, silk and fine cotton squares fold small and knot cleanly. Care follows the fibre: wool scarves are washed gently and dried flat to keep their shape, silk is kept from rough surfaces that snag the weave, and all scarves store best rolled or folded loosely rather than hung by one end, which stretches them out of shape.
The three are all flat pieces of cloth, distinguished by size and use. A scarf is long and narrow, worn around the neck or over the head. A shawl is much larger, draped loosely over the shoulders and upper body. A stole is a formal, narrower shawl-like wrap worn over the shoulders with evening dress.
Many Muslim women wear a headscarf as part of modest dress. It is often known as a hijab, though the more correct term for the head-covering garment itself is the khimar. Styles and customs vary widely between cultures and individuals.
Students in the United Kingdom traditionally wear academic scarves in distinctive colours and stripe patterns that identify their university or college. Coloured scarves are also traditional supporter wear for fans of Australian rules football clubs.