It's a Neck thing

The keffiyeh has received a fashion infusion, becoming the coolest new accessory among the youth, more so in these troubled times. Saba Vasim writes.

It's known as a 'shemagh', or a 'keffiyeh' and has been around for a while having first become fashionable on a mainstream level in Spring/Summer 2007. But in recent months, this trend has caused almost as much uproar as wearing fur; at the same time it has gained status in some fashionable circles as a cool accessory.

Mainstream artists like Kanye West, Justin Timberlake and Chris Brown have sported the checkered Middle Eastern scarf and French designer Nicholas Ghesquiere even included the keffiyeh in his collegiate-inspired ready-to-wear collection for Balenciaga, which included multi-coloured, chain and coin dripping, multi-ethnic inspired scarves for his 2007 collection called 'Cheich Tricolore'.

Hollywood style

Working the look this autumn is Sienna Miller; she favours a basic black and white and a Louis Vuitton one in tobacco colour. Kirsten Dunst is also a fan, while the Olsen twins wear theirs all the time casually slung over the shoulder young Hollywood style.

Stylish youngsters, both men and women, can be seen in the city's chic cafes and restaurants sporting red, blue, pink, brown and purple versions of the keffiyeh.

According to the high street chain store, the popular neckpiece started a paradigm-shifting trend — a retailer's dream scenario: it took the scarf out of a winter-wardrobe context and into the realm of all-year-round accessory.

The high street has moved on from the black-and-white weave; the current hot stock is glitter-thread-shot hippy scarves. According to Rickey, a young designer, "I thought the trend had died, but somewhere along the line, it's had a fashion remix and been given a new lease of life."

How to wear the keffiyeh

- Scarves are an inexpensive way to brighten your look without having to pay for a whole new wardrobe. To emulate this look, wear it over a simple vintage T-shirt, skinny jeans or dress for an effortless fashion statement.

- Or like Balenciaga, wear scarves with a cute blazer (another must have) and jeans.

- It looks best worn folded diagonally and tied back to front, creating a V-shape which all the coolest girls and boys have adopted.

- If the scarf is large, then simply loop the scarf around your neck like Mischa Barton.

- To keep yourself warm and trendy get your keffiyeh now — you know your wardrobe will not be complete without one!