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• November 8, 2006
• Object Lesson

Object Lesson: Global Warming

Harald's super-cool oversized scarf will change how you feel about winter. By Laura Schechter

Every style-savvy New Yorker (and Chicagoan and Bostonian, for that matter) knows that a chic scarf, not just a warm one, is an absolute winter necessity. But more than ever, it's a multiseasonal must, too: The right swath of cozy fabric can finish off any outfit, whether you're a him or a her. And what could be better than an accessory that can instantly transform even a pair of jeans and ten-year old trainers? We've found the Harald Kaffiyeh scarf fulfills much more than just the warmth prerequisite: At approximately 45" x 45", it allows you to wrap, drape, and tuck to your heart's content. Made from 100% cotton and dyed in stormy shades of grey and aubergine, these scarves can easily adapt to any seasonal wardrobe, from New York, to L.A., to Paris.

Harald is the brainchild of Robert Geller, a design-alum of Cloak, who started Harald in order to make good on his dream of doing womenswear. "I left [Cloak] after the fall '04 collection to start the line," Geller says. "Harald's fall collection was inspired by wanting to combine the softness and elegance of a chiffon dress with the toughness of a leather bomber." This element of contradiction is a Harald signature, and the Kaffiyeh scarves are a perfect example. Geller envisioned it as an interpretation of the Arabic warm-weather scarf, also known as a shemagh, designed to protect from direct sun and shield the mouth and eyes from dust and sand. Of course, subway grit qualifies, too.

Harald scarf, $105, available in New York at www.mickmargo.com, 19 Commerce Street (b/w 7th Avenue and Bedford Street) and in Los Angeles at Dolce Vita, 8481 Melrose Place, 323-782-9739. For more information about Harald, go to www.haralddesign.com

Harald's super-cool oversized scarf will change how you feel about winter.