Archaeologists believe that the first use of scarves (silk or otherwise) as an adornment was about 2000 years ago. In 1974 there was a discovery of a huge tomb dating back to ancient China about 260BC. This tomb held more than 7000 Chinese warrior figurines who had pieces of cloth wrapped around their necks.

May historians believe china may well have been the birthplace of the “scarf” but a few centuries later. Around 230BC the Chinese Emperor Cheng used pieces of cloth wrapped around the necks of his warriors to designate rank. His “officer” warriors wore silk scarves and the ordinary rank warriors were issued with cotton scarves.

Ancient Egyptians used scarves as an indication of social status and authority. Ancient drawings show even Queen Nefertiti wearing a scarf under her conically shaped headdress - ancient writings of the time seemed to indicate that the Queen’s scarves were made from silk.

The Roman Empire furthered the tradition of silk scarves which they often wore as a sign of social status either around their necks or their waists. In ancient Rome they used pieces of cloth to clean their faces after exercise and it soon became an essential accessory. These scarves were either tied around their belts or simply hung over their shoulders. The higher social standing Romans preferring silk for their scarves.

Can you picture the scenes on the day Julius Caesar was assassinated by the Roman senators - they were all probably wearing togas and silk scarves. Even Emperor Nero insisted on wearing scarves and he was probably adorned with his favorite silk piece as he watched Rome burn to the ground.

As early as the 17th century Croatian soldiers and mercenaries rampaging through Europe wore silk scarves to signify their rank.

Around about the same time there are stories about Napoleon Bonaparte being obsessed with Indian silk scarves and the famous composer, Beethoven who would not consider performing without having his clothing adorned with one of his silk scarves.

By the late 17th century when the Croatian army arrived in Paris as part of their numerous victory celebrations, their soldiers wore scarves as a flamboyant accessory and king Louis 14th was immediately smitten with this type of accessory. He is reported to have created a special royal court position responsible solely for the acquisition and care of the King’s Royal silk scarves.

During the French revolution of the 18th century massive scarves called “incroyables” were all the rage and their very size required special training in order to master the skill of tying and arranging these huge pieces of fabric.

One truly ironic chapter in the history of silk scarves involved the Emperor of Russia, Pavel the 1st. He disliked scarves so intensely that he had forbidden them to be worn by anyone in the Russian army. What is fascinating is that Emperor Pavel the 1st was assassinated by being strangled with a forbidden Russian army officer silk scarf!

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries the popularity of silk scarves grew rapidly and not just for the privileged higher class. Today in the early 21st century silk scarves are not only fashionable but also one of the most versatile and enduring clothing accessories for men and women of all ages.

     Managing Colours

     Most managers don’t know how to dress. They feel that the higher the amount of the suit purchased, the greater would be the impression of everything. Then there are others who don’t believe in dressing well. There are still others who want to make a fashion statement of sorts through their apparels. It’s quite easy to spot one such manager I must say. It’s not easy to follow trends where you’re sitting that high up there, but if you really want to be known for the way you possibly dress, then it’s high time you did some other kind of learning.

     Of course this might take time, but then who said Rome was built in a day! Ideally a manager reflects the company’s strength and attitudes. Most researchers have found out that high flung managers belonging to music companies or advertising agencies are people who believe that they have taken a vow to change the face of the earth through the overdose of colour in their wardrobe.

     The picture that develops of these people is rather comic than serious and dynamic. A well-teamed pantsuit that’s easy and cooler on the eye would possibly be the best impression you could have on your employees. It makes you come across as a breezy personality and the suit you were makes them aware is that you are as seriously inclined in work as you would be to your manner of dressing. Read the rest of this entry »