Fashion TIE ONE ON

The scarf. More than a head cover in the wind and the rain. It’s a dress, a blouse, a skirt, a belt, a sarong, a halter, a hair ribbon, a handkerchief, a beach cover. It’s expensive. It’s a bargain. It’s a great addition to a wardrobe. The fashion industry tells us that accessories are “the thing” and this time they’ve got a good idea. Jazz up last year’s peasant skirt with this year’s hip-wrap scarf. Depending on your whim and your pocketbook, this new look can cost as little as $8 or as much as $250. There’s a scarf for almost every purpose and every price tag.

At Barbara Robertson in Old Town Village, look for Anne Klein’s 12-inch cotton squares in great colors for just $3-$5. Or try Ferragamo’s $4 cotton squares at Loretta Blum, 4268 Oak Lawn. Bunch the center folds and pop it in the lapel pocket of your favorite blazer or shirt.

For a great evening look, buy a big square or triangular scarf, fold it on the diagonal if it’s square, and wear it as a shawl. Try any of Yves Saint Laurent’s designs at Rive Gauche (Old Town Village) and Lou Lattimore (4320 Lovers Lane). The Yves Saint Laurent floral and stripe print pictured here is an example – 100% cotton and $100 at Rive Gauche. Loretta Blum also carries designer scarves which are great for this purpose, in particular those by Ungaro and Givenchy. Prices for these scarves begin at $55. If that’s more than your budget can handle, look for Anne Klein’s solid cotton squares in vibrant colors at Lord & Taylor. Each 45-inch square is only $8.

The big square or oblong scarf has many uses. Wrap the square around a bathing suit and tie it at the bodice like a sarong for a beach cover-up. Fold it diagonally and tie it at the waist with a peasant dress as our model has done. Her dress, by Sonia Rykiel, is black and white cotton gauze with exposed seams. It is $215 at Marie Leavell. Or lower the scarf and wrap it around the hip. Marie Leavell also carries Rykiel’s 100% cotton oblong scarves in many colorations and stripes appropriate for this purpose. They are $19.

More suggestions: braid several long scarves together, tie them at the waist and leave the ends loose for a special waist wrap belt. Take a big square, fold it on the diagonal and wrap it around your bodice as a halter top. Tie it under one arm and then retie the ends of the scarf around the shoulder. Calvin Klein is in favor of this look. His pastel solid scarves with white border stripes are selling just for that purpose at Neiman-Marcus. They’re $20. For a more casual halter look, spend only $7 at Collections, 71 Highland Park Village, for an Echo 100% cotton plaid.

Other ideas: loop a big scarf around your neck and let it drape with a cowl look. Add some fabric flowers and the look is today. Or wrap it around your head turban style. This is a clean look that’s a good beach cover and nice for dressier occasions too.

The ways a scarf can be worn are as varied as your imagination. But one thing’s for certain – the scarf is here to stay.