Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette! In today's video, we compare a $20
scarf to a $200 scarf so you see what you get for your money and how
those two differ. When it's cold outside, it's tempting to think of a scarf merely
as a way to keep your neck warm, however, it is a fantastic way to add some color,
patterns, and just some visual interests to your outfit, overall. Of course, a scarf
must not just be beautiful but also functional and warm. Even though it might
not seem like it from the outset, a $20 scarf is very different in
terms of color, pattern, material, length, and especially, the details. So for
today's video, we got a $20 scarf from Target and
we're comparing it to a $95 scarf and to a $195
scarf. First, let's talk about the colors. When I was looking for
$20 scarves, I noticed that most of them come usually in shades of black or
grey. If you are a regular follower of the Gentleman's Gazette, you know that
we think black is one of the most overrated colors. Do you want to know why?
check out this video here. Now, for scarves, the big problem with black,
gray, or other dark colors like navy, is that generally, most people's outerwear
such as their overcoat or their pea coat are either black, gray, or navy. So if you
have a scarf in the same color, there's not enough visual contrast to make it
for an interesting outfit. You want a special color, let's say, a burnt orange, maybe a
nice yellow, or something green. Well, with a less expensive scarf, you can look for
a long time, they usually don't exist. On the other hand, more expensive scarves
usually come in much more sophisticated color palettes. There is a much broader
range and they're just warm unusual colors that are contrasting to your
general outerwear. Of course, when patterns are involved, they're usually
multiple colors that are all designed in a way so they work well together but
they make it incredibly easy for you to combine them with other colors and their
accessories. What accessories, you might think? Well, especially gloves, and maybe a
hat because when it's cold outside, that's
what you need. Now, color is just one aspect, the pattern is also really
important for a scarf. I would say standard scarves are just plain solids
but even the weave can have an impact on how it's perceived. In my experience, most
cheap scarves come either in a solid color such as the
black, gray, navy, sometimes maybe red ,and if they have a pattern, it's usually some
form of a check pattern. This is somewhat inspired or copied from a Burberry scarf.
If you want to learn more whether the original Burberry cashmere scarf is worth its
hefty price tag of over 400 dollars, check out this video here. In my research,
most cheap scarves don't seem to have a sophisticated color
palette, they're just all mixed together in a way with white, sometimes red, and
that's about it. They're also mostly designed as scarves
for women which means they're oftentimes why they're sometimes thinner and also a
little bit shorter. Even if they're designed as a unisex scarf,
they are never made specifically for men which means they don't really work 100%
for men. Overall, they're just bland and at best, functional. On the other hand, if
you invest in a more expensive scarf, you get really cool patterns that could be a
bold or classic paisley, it could be micro patterns that you
maybe know from a tie but here, they're slightly scaled up because for outerwear,
that's what you typically see. They are designed in a way that it works well with
typical overcoat patterns such as a herringbone pattern, for example.
Sometimes, they also come in small micro checks or bolder stripes so even if you
have a striped overcoat, the scarf will still work with it very harmoniously.
Also, while $20 scarves have the same pattern on each side, more expensive
scarves, oftentimes, come in a tubular design so you have different patterns,
sometimes also colors on each side. You can also play with materials and have,
let's say, a silk side on the one side and a wool or wool silk blend on the other.
Or alternatively, it's woven in a special way so you have different colors on each
side. For example, look at this $95 scarf here from Fort Belvedere which is woven
in alpaca. It's rather thick, keeps you really
warm but when you tie it around your neck, the different colors on each side
just create a very nice visual interest but you don't always have to show it to
others so you can just have one color show or both depending on how you feel
today and what your outfit looks like. Now, these double sided scarfs,
also from Fort Belvedere, they come in at $195 but they have a range of
different colors, beautiful bold patterns and they are subdued yet defined and they
make you stand out from the crowd in a very well-dressed handsome way. That
being said, your scarf material is also very important. The $20 scarf here is
made from 100% acrylic which is also known as nylon so it's an artificial
fiber that is extremely inexpensive. It's very soft but it's also very prone to
pilling so it's not an investment, it's not a piece that you can wear five years
to come because it will look pilled and old and ugly after probably a season or
two. That's especially true from men with a beard stubble so it's just something
that won't stand the test of time. On the other hand, more expensive scarves are made
from different materials, preferably natural materials. Why? Because they're
soft, they'll keep you warm, and if the yarns are a long staple length and twist
into a nice yarn, and then woven, it is just something that will be around for
years to come. If you upgrade a little bit and let's say you go with a $95
scarf, you will likely encounter all wool scarves which keep you warm or you
could go with something like an alpaca scarf which is lanolin free which is
good if you're allergic against it and it also keeps you warmer than wool.
One of the classic premium scarf materials is cashmere. It's derived from
a goat, it is extremely soft yet at the same time, it's warm. Because there's a
relatively low amount of friction, unlike with a pair of cashmere socks or a
cashmere sweater, where you may see some pilling, with a cashmere scarf, usually, a
quality product should last for decades. Now, not all cashmere or wool
is alike and just because something is 100% wool doesn't mean it's the same
quality as another scarf that comes in a hundred percent wool. To understand more
about the differences in the material, checkout guides such as this cashmere
explained or wool explained. While most people just look at the material
composition, the weave of a scarf is also very important. It has a huge impact on
the density of the fabric and how heavy it is. A $20 scarf is typically more
lightweight because they want to use less material even though it may have a
much larger surface. I mean, just compare it to this nylon scarf here from Target, it
is much bigger but lighter than the other scarves from Fort Belvedere which
are slimmer. In a nutshell, the more expensive scarf, the $95 scarf or a $200 scarf
will be warmer and more comfortable on your skin and that will last longer.
One thing that's rarely discussed is the climate you live in. With a $20
scarf, they usually come in one size fits it all, designed for women, maybe unisex,
never for men, and they don't come in different weights. There's just one kind
that supposedly works for everyone. Now if you live in Canada where it gets
really cold, of course, you need a scarf that keeps you very warm. On the other hand,
if you live in the Caribbean or let's say, in Arizona, where you have just very
mild winters and you just want a little something, a cashmere scarf would be
overkill and will just make you sweat all the time. Now, expensive scarf
manufacturers such as Fort Belvedere offer different weight classes so you
can get exactly the scarf that works in your climate. So the $20 scarf
from Target, I would say is a middle-of-the-road scarf. It is not made
for very mild climates but also not made very cold climates. This silk wool blend
scarf from Fort Belvedere is a little thinner and it's made for milder winters.
The wool with a silk blend still insulates enough but it's not something
that will make you overheat. It is rather elegant and stylish for a really cold
winter. I'd rather stick with these cashmere scarves, they have the same
pattern on both sides but they have a really nice color, very soft, and keep me
very warm. Now, If warmth is the thing I care about the
most, then I go with this $95 alpaca scarf
simply because the alpaca hair is hollow and has air inside of it meaning it
insulates better than other natural fibers. Also, because the scarf is
double-sided, it's rather heavy and substantial. The weave is very tight so
no air blows through it and it's still very soft because it's royal baby alpaca.
So overall, no matter where you live, there is a scarf for you that works for
your climate. Last but not least, an underrated aspect in regards to scarves
is the dimension. For men, we found that most scarves that are about 30
centimeters or 12 inches wide and about 72 inches or 180 centimeters long are
really great for men because they allow you to wear scarves in many different
ways. You can have the sling, you can just have it around your neck, or you can fold it
in different ways. and you can find different scarf folds and the way to
wear them in this video here. On the other hand, women's scarves are often quite wide
and meant to be double up and worn in a different way. So for men, they usually
don't work quite as well. That's exactly what we see here, the $20 scarf from Target
is rather wide, thin with a loose open weave. The other ones from Fort
Belvedere are more tightly woven, more high-quality materials, and I have
exactly the right dimensions for elegant gentlemen. Now sometimes, I see men who
prefer an even longer scarf. Personally, I don't like it as much because then it
dangles inside of my coat or on the outside but of course, at the end of
the day, it all depends on your personal preference. So why is it that the $20 scarves
come in different dimensions than more expensive scarves, you might wonder? Well,
basically, the cheaper scarf is designed in a way so you can get the most yield
out of the woven fabric so you can sell the most pieces. On the other hand, a more
expensive scarf like the ones here from Fort Belvedere are designed with the
wearer in mind. We want something that makes you look good and comfortable and
warm when you wear it. So that approach just
shows in the way everything is done from the dimensions to the feel, the longevity,
and the way it combines with the rest of your wardrobe.
That being said, at the end of the day, if all you have is $20, I suggest you go
with a solid color and go with something that contrasts with your pea coats, with
your overcoats. Now, if you're ready to step up your scarf game, I suggest you
get at least three or four different ones in different weight classes because
sometimes, you may want something in a transitional season which is in spring
or in fall. Sometimes, you want something for a really cold winter and you also
want different colors and patterns and scales so you can change the entire look
of your outfit just by changing a few accessories such as your gloves and your
scarf. Even if you think you will not get the value out of a $200 scarf because
it's ten times as expensive as a $20 scarf, I urge you to think about it this
way. If the inexpensive scarf just lasts you one or two seasons versus the
expensive scarf lasting you 20 years, the cost per wear is actually the same or it
may be even less expensive per wear to have the more expensive scarf. At the
same time, it feels more comfortable, it keeps you warmer, it is designed for you
and your situation and overall, you'll just always look better and more
presentable and people may recognize you for it.
in this video I'm wearing a navy pea coat and you can learn all about pea
coats in this guide here I'm combining it with an orange and gray herringbone
scarf from Fort Belvedere which you can find in our shop here I'm pairing it with a handmade
cable knit sweater from Ralph Lauren that has a nice deep v-neck with
contrasting elements around the neck which makes it a wonderful cricket or
tennis sweater paired with a red and white striped shirt and a blue tie that
picks up the red tones of the shirt and the sweater
my pants are cotton khakis in a very heavy fabric that come with cuffs
they're pleated because I've big thighs it looks better on me my boots are from
Loke they're low profile Chelsea boots which I find quite elegant
as they kind of a mix in between a regular shoe and a boot and you can
learn more about my boot collection here for my gloves I opted for a pair of
petrol blue gloves from Fort Belvedere simply because they brought a nice
contrast to my coat but they're still blue and I think they work well with the
orange and grey tones of my scarf you can also find them here in our shop
because they're made from Fort Belvedere we also offer a range of different
gloves different colors all of which work well with scarves in our collection
my socks are shadow striped cotton socks with red and gray and they pick up
the colors of the scarf as well as the red of my shirt at the same time the
contrast between the pants and my boots