#130 Cool & Breezy
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National Scarf Day is September 27
Last week I came across the announcement that the first annual National Scarf Day is September 27, 2018, & one thing fell in place after another. I had been thinking about wrapping a scarf into an ampersand for some time, then that announcement was the clincher — for several reasons.
First, National Scarf Day was “officialized” by the same organization — NationalDayCalendar.com — that I registered National Ampersand Day with. (That’s September 8, & here’s why I chose that date.) Since I didn’t yet have a theme for September’s AmperArt piece (pushing it till the last minute again), this was definitely a possibility. I was curious who came up with National Scarf Day, so I read the article at National Day Calendar.
Lo & behold, National Scarf Day was founded by none other than Echo Design, a highly respected maker of luxurious, stylish scarfs (their original product, but now they offer gloves, home décor, swimsuits & more). They’ve been in business 95 years, & here’s the best part: September 27 is the anniversary of their first day in business. I love it when there is profound meaning for something, & the name Echo wasn’t arbitrary: it’s the acronym of Edgar C. Hyman’s name (just add cO.) To make the day they started their scarf business even more special—now this is really profound—September 27, 1923 is also day they got married! Read the fascinating Echo story here.
Upon visiting echodesign.com, I was captivated with all the stylish designs & vibrant colors in their products, as well as the fun & sophistication of their website. This immediately inspired my AmperArt design!
What perfect timing — the beginning of fall, when it will soon be Cool & Breezy; the date of Echo’s anniversary; & just about the time I was starting to wonder what this month’s theme should be.
Before I continue, treat your senses to these incredible designs by Echo. I never knew scarfs could be so flamboyant & artistic. I was on their website for at least an hour, like a kid in a candy store!
Hundreds more at echodesign.com/shop/scarfs
Scarfs or scarves?
I was intrigued that Echo spells the plural “scarfs” rather than the common “scarves.” I did a little research & discovered “scarfs” is an older spelling, whereas “scarves” became more popular around 1930. My original idea for naming this AmperArt piece was “Scarfs & Scarves” but then “Cool & Breezy” is much better, don’t you think?
Here’s a chart from writingexplained.org showing the usage of the two words in the last two centuries. “Scarfs” was just barely still the popular version when Echo Scarfs was founded in 1923.
Blue: “scarfs” Red: “scarves”
“Scarfs” sounds classier to me — each scarf is individual, whereas “scarves” sounds like a big pile of closeouts on the discount table. I’m glad Echo still spells it “scarfs.” (By the way, do you know which is more popular: “gray” or “grey”? You’ll find the answer if you keep reading.)
Scarf Queen to the rescue!
Upon discovering National Scarf Day, I couldn’t wait to tell my friend Morgan Wonderly, who is an image expert. She says, “I have had a scarf obsession for many years now. I find that they are the perfect complement to any outfit to add additional color & style. As an image expert, when I work with my female clients, I always help them accessorize with at least a couple of beautiful scarves in their signature colors.” She told me her favorite red scarf is an Echo! Morgan was indeed excited, & wrote about National Scarf Day on her blog.
Besides image expert & fabulous makeovers, Morgan Wonderly is the author of Simply Feminine — Surprising Insights from Men. Ten years’ worth of interviews with hundreds of men provides a fascinating (and surprising) in-depth study of women’s femininity from a man’s perspective.
How did the Scarf Queen rescue me?
After completing, polishing, formatting, & uploading my AmperArt piece for this issue, Morgan admonished me for drawing “a piece of string” to represent a scarf! (See the original version below.) So I fired up Photoshop again & added some more threads to the scarf. It does look warmer & cozier. Probably still not as wide as Morgan (or Echo) would like to see, but I had to keep the ampersand recognizable. (Look closely — the scarf is made up of “knitted” ampersands as well. I don’t see why this couldn’t be made into a real scarf.) As for the gray vs grey answer, both spellings are more popular: gray in America & grey in the UK. You’re still reading!
“That skinny thing is not a scarf!” says the Scarf Queen
How do you celebrate National Scarf Day?
Wear your favorite scarf, of course! Better yet, splurge on an irresistible new one. Visit your local store, or shop right here at Echo and enjoy their entertaining website. Sign up for the Echo newsletter & you’ll save 10%. (As my subscribers know, I do not get any commissions nor partake in affiliate marketing. If I like something, I just want to tell the world.)
I’ll leave you with this stunning image. It’s the limited edition Echo 95th Anniversary Scarf, 50 inches by 50 inches of 100% silk & finished with a machine-rolled hem. Purchase here.
This is good: A percentage of proceeds from the sale of this item go to the Caring Kind Initiative, helping people with Alzheimer’s Disease get the care & support they need.
Enjoy National Scarf Day &
Happy Anniversary, Echo Design Group!
Production notes for #130 Cool & Breezy:
Original size: 20x30 inches
Program: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop
Fonts: Clicker Script (modified), Helvetica (modified)
Ampersand: Helvetica (modified to the point of unrecognizability — that’s what happens when you knit an ampersand)
Credits:
All scarves shown are from the echodesign.com website.
Chart: writingexplained.org
Book: simplyfemininebook.com (book cover by Desimone Design)
You may repost the image & article. Please credit AmperArt.com.
To download a full-size high-resolution 11x17-inch poster, click on the image.
For professional graphic design, please visit Desimone Design.