Styling Scarves the French Way

In-Store: Styling Scarves the French  Way Join us October 21st between 2 - 6 pm No winter wardrobe is complete without a scarf. Aside from providing warmth, this accessory is often our outfit's missing piece, adding interest, color, or even a fun print. However, there are numerous ways to tie and wear a scarf - each twist or knot has the ability to transform your look, taking it from meh to whoa.  This October 21st between 2:00 - 6:00 pm, PK invites you to join us in-store for a fun day filled with demonstrations on the various ways you can style a scarf! We can also help you find the perfect coat to match your scarf from our newest collection just yet - HEYER.  Whether it's silk, wool, or cotton - PK Fashion has it all!    A scarf (une écharpe in French) is the ultimate classic staple of the French wardrobe. Indeed, French women are famous for always wearing a scarf in all seasons. In France, scarves are not seen as a winter-only item, but they are worn year-round, and even during the summer season. Not even the hottest weather will stop French women from rocking a scarf!   In France, there are three different kinds of scarves women wear in different seasons: une écharpe, un foulard, une étole. And the difference between those scarves lies in the material, texture, thickness, size, and style. Une écharpe Une écharpe is usually made of heavy fabrics like wool, cashmere, or cotton. It’s one of the staples of the French winter capsule wardrobe and consists of a long narrow rectangle, with its width ranging rom 20 to 60 cm. Just hang your scarf around your neck with each end of the scarf flipped over the opposite shoulder. In some instances, only one end is flipped over the shoulder. The scarf should always look like you’ve carelessly thrown it over your shoulder as your run out of the house. Effortlessness is so very chic!   The French like to pair their scarves according to the color of their coats. And they always have as many scarves as different coats! Wearing a textured écharpe in a similar color grouping as your coat will add subtle visual interest to any outfit you sport. Pair our paisley fringe scarf (above) with our Micro Down Hooded Puffer Coat (right) and watch your look transform!    Un foulard Un foulard is a lightweight scarf typically made of silk, chiffon, viscose, or similar materials and can be square or rectangle. Since it is lighter and smaller than the écharpe and l’étole, it is worn in mid-season usually for style and fashion purposes as it does not protect much from the cold. In France, a brightly colored patterned scarf is exclusively for silk foulard, and can easily spruce up any winter outfit you throw on.  My favorite way to tie a silk scarf would have to be the classic French Knot. First,  fold up your scarf until it’s one thin band, then wrap it around your neck, crossing the two ends behind your neck. Bring the two ends to the front of your neck and tie a knot just under your chin. You can either keep the knot to the front or you can slightly turn the scarf so that the knot is on the side of your neck.  Knotting a patterned foulard around your neck becomes a statement in and of itself. I think it’s the perfect accessory to wear with our Everyday Boiled Wool Down Coat. When it rains, you can easily tuck your silk scarf inside your jacket and still make a statement!  Une étole  Une étole (stole) is a thin but warm scarf, usually made of wool, acrylic, and viscose. Une étole is a large piece of fabric, very long and very wide. Its size is approximately 70cm by 2m. An homage to Alain Baschung, designed alongside his wife, Chloé Mons. The words of his song “La nuit je mens” are intimately printed across our organic cotton stole in the singer’s own handwriting and bordered with gold and glitter. The Une étole can either be worn draped over the shoulders or if it's lightweight, it can also be worn as a scarf, tied at the front. Our love affair with scarves is unlikely to end anytime soon. We are enchanted with the endless possibilities of patterns, colours and the various ways to style them.   We hope to see you on October 21st for an unforgettable styling experience!  Copyright © 2022 Petra Karthaus - Cool Chic European Couture, All rights reserved.  You are receiving this email because you opted at our website or in store.  Our mailing address is:  Petra Karthaus - Cool Chic European Couture 55 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, Canada Toronto, ON M4W 1A5 Canada Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

On Wednesdays We Wear Pink!

Powerful in PINK Every woman has a bit of pink in her personality. The key is to wear it loud and proud! As it turns out, this season, fashion designers from all around the world wanted something brighter, bolder and more energetic: they wanted HOT Pink! Just about any stand-out version of the color will do, whether you prefer a deeper magenta, cheery bubblegum or Barbie's signature shade. In any case, there's a shade of pink for everyone, with each evoking a powerful symbol of femininity, glamour, and inner beauty. An effortlessly chic look... Combine our Bubblegum pink tie-dye trim jeans with our lightweight linen tunic blouse. Throw on a pair of sandals and perhaps, a colorful necklace? Just think of all the ways you can mix and match these separates with your existing wardrobe - a no-brainer add to cart, in our opinion. Layer our Liberty Cotton Clover patterned blouse under a blazer or tuck it into our Bogner Summer jeans while there’s still a little nip in the air. Then, let it flow over cut-off shorts or a silky midi skirt once the temperatures start to rise.  You may also want to consider our Rose-like patterned cotton blouse, detailed with mother-of-pearl buttons to give it that extra pizzazz. For a crisp Summer look, you could wear it unbuttoned over a white tank top and pair it with one of our best-selling Wide Leg Coulottes - irresistibly comfortable and lightweight.  Classic Basics Looking for an everyday top to brighten your days? Look no further. From V-necks to round necks - enjoy a Summer like no other with tops you'll be wearing on repeat.  Anything is possible in the right pink dress.Why not combine two BOLD colors in one with our Dreamy Poppy Jersey dress? Have some fun playing around with different ways to knot the ties in the front or back - criss-crossed, in a side bow, knotted into an adjustable pull—to make this dress feel brand new every time you wear it. Browse Online Copyright © 2022 Petra Karthaus - Cool Chic European Couture, All rights reserved.  You are receiving this email because you opted at our website or in store.  Our mailing address is:  Petra Karthaus - Cool Chic European Couture 55 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, Canada Toronto, ON  M4W 1A5 Canada Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Story of Quality in Fashion Shopping for well-made clothing is more than just going through a rack - and try before you buy is so true when it comes to fashion.   Fashion has always been a fluid field with different styles, trends, garments depending on timeline, season and region.  How to Recognize Quality in Clothes First, have a look at what's inside... Inspect the seams to make sure they are snugly sewn and that the stitching is small, which lasts longer.  Feel the fabric, especially for stretch, hold it to the side of your neck where the skin is more sensitive. High quality fabric will feel better on your skin. Composition This is tricky... Cool wool fabrics breathe if you are hot and keep you warm if it's cold.  Cottons and linens won't keep you warm so they are good next to the body. They do crease, but are easy to wash. Synthetics have their place in activewear so it depends on how and where you will be wearing the outfit.  Seams Good to You? Take a look at the seams. Good quality fashion will have seams which eliminate raw edges of cloth. Seams say a lot about the time and skill which went into clothing.  Consider our Amina Rubinacci Sunset Knit blazer, which takes a full six hours to produce but only 10 minutes to seduce a woman!  To Line or Not to Line?  If your skin is sensitive to the fabric - a jacket made of wool, for example - then lining is essential. But lining, we've learned from our Italian designers, can restrict movement - and so for a summer blazer, it's probably easier without lining and much cooler.  Try On!  Yes, you really cannot assess the quality of a garment without trying it on. Ensure that your arms are free to move and sit in a chair to make sure everything works. And, if it fits well, it's likely to have been made well!  Finally, look in the mirror - preferably a 3-way - to see how the garment looks on the body - it should flow downwards from the shoulders without pulling into the neck or arms much like our Botanical Rainforest Dress.  Pants should not have creases and are checked in-store for fitting well on the body from every angle. Let PK worry about your alterations - tailoring your dream fit to suit your body. Do This. So do what we do on our fashion buying trips to Europe. Feel the fabric and try it on sensitive skin; look for quality of manufacture on the inside; confirm the composition of the material; finally try it on - you will know good quality when you see it. After all, details glow.  Browse Online view this email in your browser Copyright © 2022 Petra Karthaus - Cool Chic European Couture, All rights reserved.  You are receiving this email because you opted at our website or in store.  Our mailing address is:  Petra Karthaus - Cool Chic European Couture 55 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, Canada Toronto, ON  M4W 1A5 Canada Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.