How to Style a Scarf
Why you should be buying scarves — thrifted and otherwise
As we segue from the oppressive heat of summer to the somewhat-slightly-less-oppressive temperatures of fall, you will no doubt be inundated with links, ads, and influencers imploring you to buy scarves.
But even now, when the weather hasn’t quite cooled off, scarves can have their moment. In fact, I wear scarves fairly frequently throughout the year. But scarves are tricky — how do you tie them? Where do you get the good ones? And how do you ensure they look effortless?
I love a good styling hack — especially when it involves wearing an item as it’s not intended to be worn. Why wear a scarf around your neck, for instance, when you could braid three of them and use them in lieu of a strap on a handbag? Or wear one as if it were Croakies?
That’s the idea in this week’s letter. Below, I’ve rounded up a handful of ways to wear a scarf — plus, some outfits that make make the most sense to go along with them.
PS. I have an entire folder on Pinterest devoted to fashion styling tricks (and another devoted to home styling, naturally), if you’re into that kinda thing.
How to Style a Scarf
Some styling ideas….
Wear it as a belt: Tie one through the loops of your pants, or tie it around the mid-section of a button-up shirt dress or t-shirt, to accentuate your waist (I love doing this but keeping the scarf in a triangle shape, so one end is longer than the other).
Tie it to a handbag: Yes, you can just tie a scarf on to the handle of a bag or you can tie three scarves on one side of the handle and braid them, then attach the braid to the other side (thereby creating a long, messenger style strap of three scarves).
Affix it your baseball cap: More on that, below. This is easy and quite chic.
Wear it as a sash: See below outfit. Essentially, you tie it under one armpit and have the other side go above your shoulder. You can do this over a blazer, as below, or just over a t-shirt.
Wear it as a top: There are a billion ways to style a scarf as a top. I love wearing them as tube tops, over a tee or a button-down.
Tie it to your sunnies: See below.
Outfit ideas
As a Sash
As a Belt
As a Choker
As a Hat Accessory
Rapid Fire
Something worth reading: I recently got an exclusive from vice presidential candidate Tim Walz and his wife, about their neurodivergent son, Gus, who stole the show at the Democratic National Convention last week. I loved writing this story and had no idea it would blow up the way it has.
A great recipe: This crispy rice salad is soooo good. I made it exactly as recommended but it would be great with added shrimp or tofu.
My favorite jeans ATM: I finally caved and bought the cult-followed horseshoe jeans during a recent trip to Chattanooga. I have been wearing pants in this shape for years (notably, these black trousers, which are the best, and these, more fitted, tapered jeans). But the two-tone denim just does something for me. And I love that they are short enough to wear with heels or a flat loafer or sneaker.
And I’ll leave you with this…
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