Unleash your inner diva this Valentine: Rock red and revel in scarf-inspired fashion

Here we are, entering the month of romance and nothing says Valentine without a touch of red. No partner? That’s okay as our relationship with ourselves is what truly matters. Showing love for the women we’ve become through our individual stories and style is the cherry on the self-care cake. Cheers to that, and don’t be afraid to pick or buy yourself a rose in appreciation…

I’ve been keeping an eye on the top designers of the world, and Ralph Lauren and Elie Saab’s designs for the forthcoming spring and summer resonate with me. Timeless, classic style, with the subtle addition of statement pieces, such as scarves of all sizes, inspired me to haul out my stash of scarves hunter-gathered over many years, often during my travels. So, most of these scarves have beautiful memories attached to them, creating an aura of treasured moments for me.

These iconic designers seem focused on nautical stripes, navy, white, white shirts, with a touch of delicious red, which delights me further. Remember the military look of the late 70s and even the 90s? It’s back, but softened with flowing scarves, floaty skirts and gently draping pants. Oh, and boho has not left the building either, so some ethereal feminine vibes are in order.

I have a gorgeous, soft pink dress that begged for romance whenever I wore it on date-night. Okay, it did show plenty of cleavage, which was fabulous in my early 50s but now I honestly don’t want these babies exposed to that extent.

This is a personal choice, and I would never judge a gal of any age going bold with a classy sexy vibe. Okay, perhaps a certain billionaire’s fiancée at the recent US presidential inauguration, who seemed to have not seen the memo about not showing white lace underwear as well as a daring cleavage at such an auspicious occasion, might result in my not-so-subtle eyeroll, chuckles… should her stylist have suggested a scarf?

I’ve always had a penchant for white and navy, not to mention a generous dollop of red, so, I got creative and had fun with some new ideas inspired by those esteemed designers. The results? I’m getting compliments and my girlfriends are hauling out their scarves and popping off to the shops for more acquisitions. I love when a plan comes together.

So, back to that plunging neckline and the soft pink dress, which I am simply not ready to part with yet. I found a lovely silk scarf I purchased on a trip to Croatia years ago and it happens to be the exact colour of the dress! Bingo! I now wear the scarf to create an air of mystery around the decolletage and I feel fabulous, feminine, and knowing what that little scarf is hiding, conjures up a Mona Lisa smile – I know something nobody else does! So, I feel alluring without stating the obvious…

I often feature the same pieces but styled differently. This is my way of communicating how we could wear the same items, yet, in a versatile way, inspiring the endless possibilities of lasting style from our wardrobe.

Scarves are multi-faceted and wearing a big scarf as a top, perhaps under a big shirt or jacket, tying it around our heads in a soft bohemian style, or elegantly draped, think Grace Kelly here, or simply around the neck, or hips, would elevate the simplest outfit to next level chic.

White for summer, in fact for any season, is a personal favourite as it’s just so easy to enhance the pure canvas with a dab of colourful accessorising… again, scarves to the rescue.

Elevate a neutral outfit by adding some drama, or fun, with a bright scarf to make an unforgettable entrance. Get bold, get flouncy, get scarf panache.

Here are some ideas to turn basic outfits into showstoppers and never forget it’s not only about WHAT we wear, but HOW we wear it. Confidence is captivating… and expressing our mood through style is just one of the many nuances and layers of being fabulous women. For daily style ideas, see my IG page @Tilly_thegoodlife_style – and to see more about life lessons, travel and lifestyle on the Peninsula, pop over to my monthly blog Tillythegoodlife.blog – have fun with fashion!