The History of the Silk scarf

Most items in fashion today were born from some kind of need: Leggings were conceived to provide added warmth, straw hats were woven to block the sun’s rays, and bucket hats were crafted to offer protection from the rain.

And while scarves also share a practical purpose (for the most part, as a way to keep your neck warm), those of the silk variety—luxuriously smooth to the touch and light in weight—really serve no other function than to complete an outfit.

Gianni Versace Spring/ Summer 1992 - Versace

Angel with the Sundarium, Ponte Sant'Angelo, Rome, Italy. - Getty Images

The first widely recorded instance of a scarf dates back to 350 BC when Egyptian Queen Nefertiti wore a finely woven style with a headdress. Elsewhere, Roman men in 10 AD tied linen versions called a sudarium (Latin for “sweat cloth”) around their neck or around the waist to wipe away or soak up sweat. In 230 BC, warriors of the Chinese Emperor Cheng wore scarves to denote rank.

But it wasn’t until the 17th century when the use of silk scarves was an indication of class and status: Croatian soldiers of higher rank wore silk scarves while others were issued cotton ones.

In perhaps what could be considered the earliest instance of peacocking, Ludwig van Beethoven was the first to make the scarf a fashion statement in 1810, making over his look in the hopes to woo Austrian musician Therese Malfatti with his sharp suits, shirts, and silk scarves. Several decades later in 1837, Queen Victoria ascended to the throne and it was during her reign that silk scarves became an accessory for the nobility, a symbol of luxury.

And to supply such tokens of luxury was Hermès—in 1937, the French luxury house, which had previously only dealt with bridles and harnesses before entering the leather goods business, introduced what will become the first true luxury silk scarf. Made with imported Chinese silk—which was twice as strong as any other fabric at the time—the design was based on a woodblock drawing by Robert Dumas, who was a member of the Hermès family.

Portrait of Beethoven - Getty Images

"Breakfast at Tifany's" - Pinterest

It was an immediate hit, especially among royalty and celebrities, with Queen Elizabeth adopting them as part of her uniform, wearing them—to this day—as headscarves. Audrey Hepburn, too, wore them as a headscarf or tied around her neck (“When I wear a silk scarf I never feel so definitely like a woman, a beautiful woman,” the actress once said.)

And when Grace Kelly broke her arm in in 1956, she famously eschewed hospital-issued slings and fashioned her own with an Hermès scarf.

Comme Des Garcons X Gucci  - Gucci