Saima Majid Scarves

I was recently asked to review a sample scarf for a UK designer - Saima Majid - and I was more than happy to undertake this new and interesting challenge!  Saima takes inspiration from a by gone era and you can see this coming through in her lovely designs.  I received a sample of the Sophia scarf/shawl - the scarf is large at 120cm x 120cm and is made of 70% wool and 30% silk.  I would say this is a very good alternative to a Hermes GM shawl - if like me you cannot justify the expense of Hermes shawls!  You can see more of Siama's lovely designs at www.saimamajid.co.uk - most of her scarves are the 70/30 wool/silk mix but she also has one 100% silk scarf as well.

First let's look at the design and the scarf itself, and then I've done some pics of the scarf in action:-

Lovely pink tissue wrapped parcel!

A first glimpse at Sophia!

The whole design.

The designer label.

If like me you love jewellery this is delightful - 

I really want this brooch!!

Here gorgeous pink roses are intertwined
with jewels.

Pearls,jet and turquoise get in on the act too!

A closer look at the weave.
Being 70% wool and 30% silk, obviously it is
not as soft as cashmere, but I think this will wear
much better and you won't need to be as careful
as with cashmere which is so much more delicate.

Simply worn here: folded in 2 on the bias and 

draped around the neck to give a casual look.

Worn to the side and secured with MT Shawl ring.
This will look great over a winter coat too!

Here I folded the scarf on the square, like for a pleated
look, wrapped it around my neck once and then 
criss-crossed the ends through the MT Shawl Ring - I think
this makes a nice neat compact look and very warm!

Here worn in a long look still folded on the 

square and I threaded one end through 

the MT Shawl ring and the other end is slipped 

through the one secured by the ring to

make the criss cross.

Just draped loose around the neck for a 

simple look.  Folded on the square.

A traditional shawl wrap/tied look (not really "me"!) 

but it shows the shawl in a different way.  The 

edges of the scarf/shawl design show nicely and 

this would even be nice with a LBD at an evening 

event (if folded a bit better than I have done!)

Cowboy works well!

The Friendship Knot makes for a 

slim line look.

A half bow using MT shawl ring - you 

can make the bow as big as you like 

to suit what you are wearing. 

I used a Basic Fold here.

Here using Basic Fold with MT shawl 
ring to make a bow - you can
wear it tight like this  OR...

....pull out the loops to make a bow..OR...

...pull even further for a floppy bow look!

Here I threaded the scarf through 
the ring vertically - Basic Fold

One of my fave looks the equestrian works really 

well here  with MT shawl ring and shows off the
colours of the scarf.

The same look but a fuller length view.

A variation on the half bow using it in 

combination with the equestrian look.  

This is a shorter way to wear the scarf 

as it is quite long.

The criss cross with ring - scarf 
folded on the bias. 

Here I folded the scarf as narrow as I could 

on the bias and threaded it through one of 

my scarf fur collars for a really cosy way 

to wear!  A simple single knot secures it.

Worn with the ends hanging loose

and which shows off more of the 
scarf design.

I hope this post has been of interest and to see more of Saima's designs please visit her website www.saimamajid.co.uk  I have really enjoyed reviewing something new in the scarf world and seeing how it would wear.  It is always nice to see designers' work and hopefully give them a helping hand, so I was very honoured to be asked to review the scarf.

Pleated Bow - How To

Rosi asked recently if I could post a "how To" for the pleated bow I have used occasionally (also known as the Robee Knot on TPF)  so I have attempted to do some instructions!  Here goes with help from my Hermes L'Ivresse d'Infini scarf:-

1. Lay your scarf out somewhere flat as you 

will need space to pleat it up.

2. Start to pleat the scarf up into layers - 

I find pleats of about 4-5cm works best.

3. Keep going until the scarf is all pleated......... 

4. .......into one narrow strip........

5. .....like so.

6. Next CAREFULLY pick up the pleated strip

 and place it around your neck. You can see 

it is already opening up by itself!

7. Do a single knot ......

8. .....now you can wear the scarf like this
or carry on.....

9. .....to tie a full Half Ascot Knot (how to here) to give
the frilly bow look.  If you do not have enough
length to make the bow around your neck
or it is too tight ( you need a pretty thin neck to do
this knot - I find it a bit tight)
then I found an alternative:-

10.  If you have a large scarf ring or shawl ring

 (MT Collection) then you can use this to "tie" 

the scarf which leaves a lot more length to play 

with than the Half Ascot Knot and is 

more comfortable.

11. Slide on the ring to one side keeping the 

pleats in place as best you can -  you may 

need to give a little twist so they sit 

correctly for the frills.

12. Put the other side of the scarf through the 

ring as well.  As here you can wear 

the bow at differing lengths 

for a layered effect or.......

13. You can pull the scarf through the ring

 further to even up the length and I 

think this gives a pretty good "copy cat" 

effect of doing a Half Ascot Knot  but this 

is good as it allows for a larger neck.

Hope this helps - Have fun!

Goodbye 2009 Hello 2010!

Just seeing out 2009 and seeing in 2010 with a lovely new Hermes scarf - Brides Rebelles.  I just love the colour on this scarf it really pops!

Pleated Frills with Half Ascot and plain single knot (thank you to my tpf friend you know who you are!) This style really shows off the contrast border and hem to great effect.

Half Bow Knot with Fur Collar

A Berlin Knot - well that's what I like to call it!!

With a scarf ring

A Friendship Knot

Here's to a happy new year CHEERS!!