For Aunt Jocelyn

SCARVES!

Back at Thanksgiving our Aunt Jocelyn asked if we could give her some tips on how to wear her scarf. Unfortunately neither Ailen or I had the chance to do so before Jocelyn left the farm. So although it is late Aunt Jo, here are some of my go-to styles for a variety of scarves... just in time for a shift in the weather ;)

There are four basic types of scarf in my closet... The Classic Knit ~ The Perfect Square ~ The Smooth Pashmina ~ and The Giant Rectangle...

Let's start with the Classic Knit... Step 1: wrap it around as many times as possible, and leave some ends to work with. Step 2: tuck one end through a loop to keep it warm and cozy. VIOLA! Easy. Warm. Lovable.

With a few more steps we have the Perfect Square... Step 1: fold in half diagonally. Step 2: place the 90 degree angle in the front. Step 3: wrap the ends around neck, and tuck them under the front (if you find that the ends continually stick out you can always tie them loosely together under the front). Adjust as you like and DONE! Cute. Practical. Fun.



Now I am going to reveal a trick my sister taught me years ago! This one goes best with the Smooth Pashmina, stay with me... Step 1: drape around neck as shown. Step 2: wrap one (longer) side across front, around neck and back to the front (not shown). Step 3: reach between wrapped loop and one hanging end and grab other hanging end. Step 4: Pull through and adjust for show, because you just made a scarf braid! MAGIC! Clean. Sophisticated. Puzzling.

This next one is probably what I use the most. The Giant Rectangle may or may not be my favorite ;) ... Step 1: fold corners diagonally creating two 90 degree points. Step 2: Pick a point to put in the front. Step 3: wrap the other side around the back of neck. Step 4: bring second point into the front and tuck the end in the back. Now you have two points in the front! Cozy. Dynamic. Fascinating.



Typically with this last one you'll catch me taking advantage of the extra folds in the back to make myself a little covering over my head...


Like I said this one is dynamic, and probably my favorite because of that!

So Aunt Jocelyn I hope this helped give some new life and inspiration to your scarf wearing habits. And I hope all of you enjoyed today's little tutorial. As an extra bonus here is Ailen putting on the Giant Rectangle ...free-hand style! :D

The Snow Skirt

Today I came across the most genius invention I've ever seen for cold climate fashionistas.
I know we all want to look our cutest at all times, but sometimes, the -30 temperatures make it impossible. Fashion takes a back seat to function, and the layers get piled on in the interest of staying alive.

I've found the solution, my friends.

Today I saw a mom of two venturing out in the cold, and all three of them were bundled to the brim, but the mom was wearing a different interpretation of snow pants. I was captivated by her look, so much so that I had to ask her

"What are you wearing?"

I didn't mean for it to sound like a rude question, but as I write about it now, it kinda sounds rude... trust me, I had ample time to compliment her on her stylish winter wear as we chatted.

And then she told me "A Snow Skirt!"

Similar to the images above, this mom was wearing her winter boots, pants tucked into her boots, the snow skirt, and then a long cable-knit sweater that came down to her thighs. It was the extra layer of the snow skirt that caught my attention.

She told me that this stylish item designed and hand made by a couple of women in Montreal.

... those classy French Canadians.

So, after doing a little bit of internet research, I found the Etsy site for Fantasy World Heroes, and the inventor of the Snow Skirt, Stephanie says that it's "an outer layer you wear over anything, just like snowpants but MUCH more stylish"

And that her mission is to "Bring the snowskirt to all (cold) corners of the planet and save the world from chill and unstylishness."

I'm glad there's finally some fantasy world heroes saving the world from sad, frumpy winter outfits!

... i think i need one.