Scarves Fit to Be Tied, or Knotted, or Draped ...

Do you want a fashion accessory to make you stand out in a crowd? Something to highlight your long neck, accent a new coat or chicly hide a bad hair day?

Just tie on a silk scarf, and elegance is instantly yours.

Scarves actually date back thousands of years; in ancient Rome, men wore linen kerchiefs, or sudariums ("sweat cloths"), wrapped around their necks or belts to wipe their faces.

Centuries later, Croatians spread the tradition of colorful neck scarves and ties -- of cotton and silk -- to France in the mid-1600s, and the fashion took European men by storm.

Later, women started wearing them as accessories as well, and the scarf quickly became synonymous with debonair style.

Although they have fallen out of fashion over the past few decades, women's silk scarves are making a well-deserved comeback. Today, the options are myriad -- the only difficult part is choosing which one to wear.

For pure luxury, many immediately think of Hermes, which crafts a wide array of vibrant, silky swaths.

The heart-framed leopard scarf ($325) features two of the animals looking at each other, circled with a lush floral motif on the corners. The vintage-style scarf has delicate hand-rolled seams and is available in a few eye-catching colors -- pink or yellow.

Another choice is this bold graphic scarf ($325), which has a unique, colorful geometric pattern of squares studded with pattern-filled circles. Get one in all six shades to match any of your different suits.

For an elegant, more diminutive pick, look to des fleurs pour le dire ($110).

This pocket-square is adorned with delicate multihued flowers and falling petals, and is available with a deep red or pale blue background.

Top It Off

As the weather heats up, a cool silk scarf is a perfect way for women to keep their hair up and protected in a very chic way.