Fit to be tied this summer are short, sassy bandannas; long, elegant stoles and boas; and an array of headscarfs, from the tiny triangle scarf knotted under the chin to the elegant head-wrap style with sunglasses once worn by style icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Jackie Onassis.
JC Penney fashion spokeswoman Toni Turner in Los Angeles calls it the next step in the '70s fashion revival. "You know, we've brought back the jumpsuit, chain belts and hoop earrings ... and scarfs just sort of finish the look of that decade," she said.
Kalihi designer Nake'u Awai seconded, "I've always worn bandannas like the plantation field workers wore. I have a collection of three dozen bandannas in different colors."
Awai suggested a summer look of vibrantly hued silk scarves against cool cottons or linens in solids - white, pale yellows, pale pinks and pale greens, such as celadon or celery.
"If I were to make a statement: Against very plain, washed-out solids, wear just a little zip of color in a scarf held by a cut-out kukui-nut ring - like the tutu ladies of long ago, who wore a big scarf with a kukui bolo tie."
It's a retro pre-World War I look, he said.
Nake'u said batik silk scarves by Leina'ala Freitas feature a dozen island motifs, such as mokihana, hala and plumeria. They come in color combinations such as hot yellow against chartreuse, and hot pink against turquoise.
Freitas' scarves and the kukui clasps are available at Native Books & Beautiful Things downtown, and at Nake'u Awai designs on Houghtailing Street.
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