It's Friday, and so I bring you a market report from the Stresa Outdoor Market. The weather is getting colder; there was a chilly wind today too, and as I strolled through the market to pick up my roast chicken I knew exactly what else it was that I wanted to shop for. A sciarpa, a scarf. Of course I have scarves already; it is practically a law that women must wear them here, but on this stormy morning I was feeling I needed a warmer one. Something soft and toasty and fluffy. I am in luck, because the vendors, in their prescience, know that I am not the only one who will be shopping for a scarf in these days, and the stalls are filled with choices. I see scarves of all sizes, materials, patterns, and weaves. Mostly I see purple. Purple is definitely the color of the season, and not only for scarves. The market is a sea of purple, violet, and lavender. This is what I like best about visiting the market weekly… the constant change and the speed with which trends and tastes make their way here. Quindi, therefore, I buy the fluffiest, warmest, purplest scarf I can find. The problem is, not having been born Italian, I seem to always have trouble tying my scarf into a proper Italian knot. It never has that certain casualness that I'm after, even though I have researched online how it’s done. Oh well! I’m warm now, and I’ll have all winter to practice.

The Stresa market is held every Friday in Piazza Capucci. Open from early morning until 1 pm.