‘Tis the season to be making the most of your vacation leaves. Whether your destination is somewhere chilly or scorching hot, if there’s one thing you absolutely must pack in your travel bag, it is a scarf. Multipurpose and an extremely versatile styling tool, you just can’t go wrong with it.
Who better to corroborate this than Shaira Luna? The child genius-turned-fashion photographer, whose knack for styling can be seen through her nifty outfits and personal work, knows a thing or two about getting dressed.
“I shoot a lot, so they’re the easiest things to pack into my bag and I know I can definitely make something out of it,” she says, adding that it’s an enduring piece to have in your wardrobe. “It’s almost like every era has something to do with it. But I usually like the ’70s! They used it everywhere, like on their heads, to cover up, and even men used it.” But best of all, each look can be unique—and there are endless possibilities with a single scarf. “When I have an outfit that’s boring, I can throw one on and just invent something out of it! Really, there’s no right or wrong with it.”
When it comes to shopping for scarves, this is where Shaira’s unparalleled thrifting skills come to play. “I really dig for scarves in thrift shops! You can buy them for really cheap; I’ve purchased scarves for as low as five pesos,” Shaira shares. But keep in mind that thrifting is not for the faint-hearted and impatient (or dust-phobic, for that matter). “Basically, all ukay-ukays will have a box that says just dig, they’re not even on the racks—you have to dig! Always ask the salesladies where your scarves or retasos are. Sometimes they just have pieces of cloth that you can buy.”
If thrifting is not an option for you, you can always head straight to a department store—Shaira recommends Landmark in Makati. “You can buy a lot of scarves there! And for reasonable prices, plus there’s really good variety—but you can get overwhelmed. There are so many scarves in the department stores, but if you’re going for something that’s in season then you really have to go into the high-end stores,” she advises.
Click on the slideshow above to see Shaira’s styling tips for scarves!
Photos by Jash Manuel