What are ankle scarves? One the one hand, they are precisely what they say they are – a small scarf that covers your exposed ankle from the elements. On the other, it’s a fantastic way to give your pins a touch of class.
Now hear us out. Sticking scarves on your ankles can, at first, be deemed unnecessary and borderline insane. Yes, the bare ankle is now commonplace on the catwalks (although, the mankle debate rages on) but do ankles ever ever get cold enough to require a scarf to keep them warm? Absolutely not.
But in today’s world of logo-mania and statement dressing, giving the humble ankle a pop of colour, say with a Fendi print scarf – especially when paired with a crisp pair of trainers – doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.
After all, the neckerchief is back in full force, as is the full-on headscarf; just ask A$AP Rocky, who – while recently rocking a Gucci grandma scarf – famously quaffed, “I love a silk scarf, that’s my F*ckin’ problem”.
Virgil Abloh’s latest collection favours footwear emblazoned with colourful plastic tags. Brands as diverse as Alexander Wang all the way to Dior have not just adapted to the oversized sneaker trend, but embraced – decorating their kicks will all manner of eye-catching flair.
From a fashion perspective; wrapping the bare flesh between your foot and your shin with a colourful silk scarf has never been more on trend, and that’s especially true in a region such as ours.
In the Middle East, men wear national dress to make a statement. But while the traditional male robe worn in the Gulf – also known as the kandora, thawb, thobe, and dishdasha – all tend to be clean-cut and made of light material, they generally come in one hue; white.
Generally, to make a statement while wearing national dress precludes you dress it up a little. A nice big watch, a baseball cap (if you’re not wearing the traditional headdress – the ghutrah), and a decent pair of sandals all help complete an outfit. Locals do this with their choice of sandal; be it the colour, the details (buckle or straps, covered or open toe, and the quality of the material – leather, suede, python).
All in all, this passing fad my stand up and be counted along with the many ankles on display in the region. A silk Hermès twilly, anyone?
