Giant Steps

If you can dream it, you can crochet it. And unfortunately, that’s exactly what your great-aunt Tillie from Milwaukee did on her Knitaway - available from Ronco, free with the Be-Dazzler, circa 1979 - when she gave you that multicolored scarf now hanging in your closet. (I have a storage unit full of Knitaways because I bought so many Be-Dazzlers, by the way. Hello? eBay?)

Great-aunt Tillie seems to be the source for most men’s scarves. Scarves just seem to come into our lives. You don’t realize how you get them, you just get them. They’re like moles.

But just like everything else, you need to buy scarves. You need to have a classic, basic scarf. I recommend a black or grey cashmere scarf - it’s a great introduction to cashmere at about $75. They’re warm, chic, and sophisticated, and they look great with everything. You can wear them with a suit, with a casual sweater, or even jeans and a T-shirt. Those crazy multi-coloured scarves that you get from great-aunt Tillie? Those don’t look good with anything.

The scarf is a big holiday gift, but inevitably you get the one you don’t want. Time to go shopping! After the holidays there are vast quantities of scarves on sale, although selection might be slightly limited. But in most climates, that’s just when you’re going to need one, and you might hit a great deal.

If you can’t do cashmere, look for merino wool or superfine lambs wool. But what�ever you do, keep the fibers real, just like everything else. Avoid scarves made of things like “cashmayre” or “cashmink” or “cashmina”. It’s a plot to trick you. But alas, dear reader, you’ve got me on your side, and you shan’t be duped.

Watch out for novelty scarves, too. If it lights up, plays music, is decorated with a keyboard, or is adorned with any Disney characters whatsoever, just keep looking.