Scarves are a peculiarly French obsession. Both women and men in France appear to put on scarves on the drop of a hat.
An American buddy informed me that she has realized 57 methods to tie a shawl in an try and be extra French when she goes for her French citizenship take a look at. I informed her I’m fairly positive they will not ask you tie a shawl! I could also be fallacious although, a fast search on Google for ‘remark knoter une écharpe’ – the best way to tie a shawl in French – brings forth hundreds of articles, movies and tutorials.
I as soon as requested my mayor why he was sporting a shawl on a scorching spring day and he mentioned “well for one – it looks good and two it helps make sure I don’t catch a cold and get a cat in my throat, I have to make a speech later today and the scarf gives me protection”.
In English we are saying ‘to get a frog in our throat’ – neither selection appeals. But the that means is identical – it is possible the origin of the phrase is the sound you make when you might have a sore throat – though there are some that say that in medieval instances in England it was thought of medicinal to actually put a frog in your throat if you have been sick! I do not suppose it’s the similar for France – I’ve by no means learn of anybody attempting to swallow a cat. But the purpose is, the headscarf offers safety on your voice. Apparently.
Another buddy informed me that when she visited her physician a couple of stiff neck from sitting at her desk for too lengthy, he identified the issue right away – she wasn’t sporting a shawl!
Why do the French put on scarves a lot?
So scarves in France – what’s all of it about? Well they’re a trend assertion for positive, a traditional staple of French type. There are various kinds of scarf – scarves – the lengthy ones. Scarves – that are usually light-weight, usually silk, sq. or rectangular formed. Year stole, like a stole, a heat scarf, lengthy and huge. Or has sq. that are sq. formed, and scarf – a scarf type scarf. Scarves can change an outfit from informal to elegant. A properly tied scarf can present your type and character, a fairly or quirky scarf will get you compliments, and a colourful scarf can add zing to a darkish outfit. If you are French, you will have a shawl for almost each event. But it is about greater than trend.
To the French, they’re important on your well being and worn for 3 seasons – spring, fall and winter. Sometimes if you purchase a shawl, the salesperson will inform you that it is good for sporting as much as a sure temperature – acceptable for chilly or heat climate! Even in summer time, if the temperature drops – scarves may be whipped out for well being quite than trend causes.
You’re by no means removed from a shawl in France – you will get them in all kinds of retailers together with devoted scarf retailers, malls, supermarkets and even backyard shops. One of my favourite locations for scarf searching is museum retailers – suppose shades of Monet, Van Gogh and Renoir and trendy artists and nearly all the time actually good high quality and made by specialist firms like Maison Petrusse. One of essentially the most well-known scarf makers needs to be Hermès whose sq. silk creations designed by artists have been worn by celebrities since 1937 – together with Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and the late Queen Elizabeth II – they seem to be a collectors merchandise and by no means exit of trend (the corporate even affords a shawl restore and pampering service).
So, if you wish to add just a little French type to your life, get a shawl!
Janine Marsh is the writer of a number of books about France. Find out extra on her web site janinemarsh.com
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