All Wound Up

My family feels very strongly about scarves. They wear them devotedly and generously give them to one another, but then “borrow” them back, sometimes without asking and for extended periods. It’s not uncommon for my dad to say to my sister, “That’s a great scarf—is it mine?” I shake my head, but I understand the connection people have to scarves. After all, you develop an attachment to something you wear every day.

A good scarf does more than keep us warm: It shows the world a hint of personality, a flash of color, a blaze of pattern and a sense of style. While the rest of your wardrobe rotates, the perfect scarf captures your feelings for the season. Many years ago as a student in Paris, as the weather turned cooler I began to consider what scarf to wear. I didn’t want to look too eager and be the first person