How To Wear A Scarf

[ 11 March 2007 ]

“I bought a couple of scarves the other day and would love to know the best way to wear them! It sounds like a silly question as I know how to tie a scarf, but yours look fab and so effortless. One I bought is long, slim and silkish, black with skinny red double striped border. The other is a square (to be folded into a triangle) and cotton with a grey tiger print and tiger face on one corner – red trim. They would both give quite a different look. Any advice would be great!”

I must tell you a secret. Mostly I wear headscarves because my hair is short enough to have days where it absolutely refuses to behave. The rest of the time I go the scarf route because I can’t be bothered doing my hair!

I first started wearing them when I received a scarf in a goodie bag from fashion week. Since then I have amassed a sizeable collection (though most of them came from raiding my mother’s wardrobe). They’re such an inexpensive & colourful way to add to an outfit, I am obsessed with them. Look for good ones in secondhand stores or recycled clothing boutiques. Check the seams & if you’re buying something in a delicate fabric, beware of snags or holes. Also, wash it before sticking it on your head!

I like to match my scarves to other parts of my outfit — so maybe it’ll be the same colour as my bag or my eyeshadow. I usually take the square ones, fold them in half to form a triangle, then lay them over my head, tie a knot at the back & tuck the triangle flap underneath that (to stop it billowing in the wind). Sometimes I fold them thinner & wear them like a headband, but I find this works best if you have masses of hair which will stick out at strange angles behind the scarf — & my hair’s too short at the moment for that kind of thing! & you have probably seen my How To Tie A Turban video by now!

Another way you can wear it is around your neck. One option is to take the scarf in its triangle form, drape it around your neck with the triangle at the front of your body, then knot it behind your neck. This usually works best with a scarf which is reasonably stiff, but if you’re using a silk scarf I suggest wearing it snug against your neck, otherwise it can be kind of droopy. With a long thin scarf, just fold it in half lengthways & then knot it so that it wraps your neck. You can do a bow if you like but it’s really up to you.

I think my scarves probably look effortless because I’ve been wearing them for such a long time! They’re so quick — just tie them up & go. They are my saviour on days when I feel haggard & just want to get a massage & be left alone. Haha.

Experiment with different knots, bows, clasps & brooches to keep them together. Try tying a scarf around one handle of your handbag — I love this as an idea, it looks so elegant & I think it would be fantastic to have a scarf on hand at all times in case your hair gets rained on/blown out of shape/annoying. Stylish & practical, I love that stuff!

Extra For Experts:
<3 25 ways to tie a scarf with cute little diagrams & everything. “Add a gay flair to pants”, indeed! I’m going to steal some of these ideas tout de suite!


Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala <3


<3 Tags: , , , ,
<3 Share this! + Email This + Del.icio.us + Facebook + Stumbleupon + Technorati

---

Comment

  1. hermes’ website has another really good resource for tying scarfs.
    if you go to hermes.com and click “women” then “scarves” on the right of the page there is “playtime with your scarf”. there are two downloadable pdf files that are really great.

    <3 zara rose · Mar 11, 01:24 PM · #
  2. Thanks so much for the info, especially the websites. I am going to have fun fun fun with scarves!

    <3 Emma · Mar 13, 05:28 AM · #
  3. I had problems accessing the link for 25 ways to tie a scarf (the account had monthly traffic usage blocks which still occured at the beginning of this month).

    I think this is the same link?

    http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Village/3025/scarf25tie.html

    <3 Lyraethe · May 4, 06:41 AM · #
  4. Lyraethe — That link has had its traffic allowance exceeded too! I can see from my stats that the first link has been getting a lot of hits from people here, ouch!

    <3 Gala · May 4, 06:47 AM · #
  5. your link doesn’t work, so i googled the title and got this:

    http://www.geocities.com/KarenSpecial/scarf25tie.html

    <3 Joh · Aug 13, 04:21 AM · #
  6. And I just bought some thrift shop scarves a few hours ago!
    Thanks :)

    <3 Nik · Feb 7, 10:47 AM · #
  7. Here is another resouce which might also be helpful:
    www.uniqlooks.com/pages/how

    <3 saloni · Apr 12, 11:41 PM · #
  8. this link should work:

    www.geocities.com/KarenSpecial…

    <3 Cassidy · Jun 9, 09:23 PM · #

Read more tagged ...

<3 How To Settle Into A City (Part Two: Domestic)
<3 How To Settle Into A City (Part One: Social)
<3 How To Rock A Beehive
<3 How Do I Choose An Eyeshadow Which Suits Me?
<3 Buying Gifts For Teenage Girls
<3 How To Pack A Suitcase
<3 Engineer's Boots
<3 Learning How To Dress Up


Read more tagged ...

<3 Shaved-Back Hairline
<3 What Are Your Style Trademarks?
<3 What Does Your Clothing Say About You?
<3 Novelty T-Shirts
<3 Sofa Coppola's Apartment
<3 Learning How To Dress Up
<3 Style Tips -- 19th February 2007
<3 Style Icons: Carrie Bradshaw


Read more tagged ...

<3 Avoiding Creeps
<3 How To Settle Into A City (Part Two: Domestic)
<3 How To Settle Into A City (Part One: Social)
<3 How To Rock A Beehive
<3 Visiting A Mall
<3 How Do I Choose An Eyeshadow Which Suits Me?
<3 Buying Gifts For Teenage Girls
<3 How To Pack A Suitcase


Read more tagged ...

<3 Street Style
<3 What Are Your Style Trademarks?
<3 What Does Your Clothing Say About You?
<3 Sofa Coppola's Apartment
<3 More International Dress Up Day Photos!
<3 Learning How To Dress Up
<3 Style Tips -- 19th February 2007
<3 International Dress-Up Day!


Read more tagged ...

<3 Avoiding Creeps
<3 Quality and Conformity
<3 How To Rock A Beehive
<3 What Does Your Clothing Say About You?
<3 Novelty T-Shirts
<3 How Do I Choose An Eyeshadow Which Suits Me?
<3 Style Report: Melbourne 02/07
<3 Cleaning Out Your Wardrobe