I found my grandmother’s scarf collection in a shoebox last spring. Dozens of them, folded so neatly it made me a little teary, and I have been quietly working my way through them ever since.
My sister thinks I’ve gone overboard. She might be right. But I will not lie to you, once you start tying a scarf around your head or knotting one at your neck, it’s hard to go back to a bare collar.
So here are 20 ways I actually wear them.
20 Scarf Looks I Wear On Repeat
Silk Head Scarf With White Sundress
This is the one I reach for when it’s warm and I want to look put together in about four seconds flat. A crisp white sundress and a silk head scarf tied under the chin, very old-Hollywood, very easy. I love a head scarf outfit that makes people think I planned my morning better than I did.
The silk catches the light in a way that just looks expensive. Pop on oversized sunglasses and you’re basically ready for a drive with the windows down.
Neck Scarf With Blazer And Jeans
So this is my default when I have somewhere to be and no time. A blazer, good jeans, and a little scarf knotted at the throat. A neck scarf outfit like this reads polished without trying too hard, which is exactly the energy I want on a Tuesday.
Roll the blazer sleeves. Let the scarf ends fall loose.
Burberry Scarf With Trench And Loafers
The classic. The one that never lets you down. I fell hard for a good check print years ago and I have never recovered. A burberry scarf outfit with a trench coat and loafers is about as timeless as fall dressing gets, and honestly it makes even a grocery run feel like a scene from a film.
Drape the scarf long, no knot needed. Let it hang down the front of the open trench. My friend Dana borrowed this look for a rainy day in the city and sent me three photos.
Pink Scarf With Butter Yellow Dress
Butter yellow was everywhere this year and I bought into it completely. When you add a soft pink scarf outfit twist on top, the two colors do this gentle little dance that feels like springtime in a photo.
I tied mine at the neck, loose and drapey, but you could just as easily use it on your head. Either way the pastels together are so pretty it almost feels like cheating.
Black Scarf With White Tank And Capris
Very simple, very chic, very much a look I stole from an old photo of my mom. A white tank, cropped capris, and a black scarf at the neck. A black scarf outfit does this magic thing where it makes plain basics look intentional and a little French.
Add ballet flats and small gold hoops. Keep everything else quiet so the scarf gets to be the moment.
Big Scarf With Knit Dress And Boots
Now we get cozy. A big scarf outfit paired with a soft knit dress and tall boots is the outfit equivalent of a warm hug on a cold day, and I wear some version of this from October straight through February.
Wrap the scarf around and around, let it be oversized and a little dramatic. In fact, the bigger the better here. Nobody ever complained about being too warm on a walk in the wind.
White Scarf With Linen Shirt And Shorts
Summer at its most relaxed. A breezy white linen shirt, easy shorts, and a soft white scarf outfit to tie the whole thing together in one calm color story. It looks like you’re headed somewhere near water even when you’re just headed to the porch.
I like to knot the scarf loosely and let the ends flutter. Everything cream and white and airy, sandals on your feet, iced coffee in hand.
Printed Head Scarf With Black Maxi Dress
A plain black maxi dress is a blank canvas, and I mean that in the best way. Tie a boldly printed scarf around your head and suddenly the outfit has a personality it did not have five minutes ago.
Go loud with the print. Florals, paisley, something a little vintage. The black underneath keeps it from tipping over into too-much territory.
Skinny Neck Scarf With Waistcoat And Trousers
This one feels a bit dressed-up and I am here for it. A tailored waistcoat, wide trousers, and a very skinny scarf tied close at the throat like a little tie. It’s menswear-inspired but soft, and it makes me feel like I have my act together even when I very much do not.
Tuck the scarf ends into the waistcoat for a neater finish. Or let them hang. Both look good.
Burberry Scarf With Barn Jacket And Denim
The barn jacket had its big moment recently and I jumped on that train happily. Wear one with straight denim and a check scarf and you get this easy countryside look, part practical, part very cute.
Loop the scarf once around the neck and let the rest tuck into the jacket collar. My husband said I looked like I was about to go feed horses, and I chose to take that as a compliment.
Pink Head Scarf With Polka Dot Sundress
Polka dots and a pink head scarf are such a sweet, retro combination that I feel like I should be riding a bicycle with a basket every time I put it on. A little playful, a little nostalgic.
Fold the scarf into a triangle and tie it at the nape of your neck, or go up top for a headband effect. And yes, sunglasses. Always sunglasses with this one.
Black Neck Scarf With Strapless Midi Dress
A strapless midi dress leaves a lot of open neckline, and a black scarf knotted there fills that space so nicely. It softens the look and adds a bit of structure at the same time, which sounds like a contradiction but somehow works.
Keep the knot small and to one side. Heeled sandals, a little clutch, and you have an evening outfit that came together in one small step.
Big Scarf With Monochrome Trouser Suit
When I want to feel like I have a very important meeting (I rarely do), I pull out a monochrome trouser suit and layer a big scarf over the top. The oversized scarf against the sharp tailoring is such a good contrast, soft against clean lines.
Drape it long over one shoulder, or fold it wide across the chest. Camel and cream together is my favorite version of this, but a full grey moment is lovely too.
White Head Scarf With Cotton Midi Dress
So fresh, so clean, so easy on a bright morning. A soft cotton midi dress with a white scarf wrapped around the head has this serene, seaside quality that I never get tired of.
I like this one for slow days, the kind where you wander a market and stop for pastries. Nothing tight, nothing complicated, just white on white and a bit of sun.
Silk Neck Scarf With T-Shirt And Satin Skirt
Here is my little high-low trick. A plain cotton tee tucked into a satin skirt, and a silk scarf tied at the neck to bridge the gap between casual and dressy. The mix of fabrics is the whole point, humble tee against slinky skirt.
Knot the scarf loose and let it slip a little to one side. It should look like you barely thought about it, even if you thought about it quite a lot.
Burberry Scarf With Pleated Skirt And Knit
Preppy in the best way. A fine knit sweater, a pleated skirt, and a check scarf tossed over the shoulder. This is peak autumn-on-campus even though my campus days are long behind me.
Let the scarf hang long down your back or wrap it once in front. Loafers on your feet, a leather satchel, and you’re set for a cool afternoon of walking around and pretending you have somewhere academic to be.
Pink Scarf With White Poplin Co-Ord
A matching white poplin co-ord, the kind with a boxy top and easy shorts or trousers, is so crisp it almost begs for a pop of color. Enter a soft pink scarf. Just a small hint of it does the trick.
Tie it at the neck or thread it through your belt loops as a little accent. Sometimes I do both, but that might be overboard, as my sister would say.
Black Head Scarf With Sheer Maxi Dress
A sheer maxi dress is dreamy and dramatic, and a black head scarf grounds it so it doesn’t float away entirely. There’s something a little mysterious and a little glamorous about the pairing.
Wrap the scarf turban-style if you’re feeling bold, or keep it simple and tied back. Layer a slip underneath the dress and you’re good for a warm evening out.
Big Printed Scarf With Slip Dress
A plain slip dress is one of those pieces that goes anywhere, and a big printed scarf turns it into a statement. Wear the scarf across the shoulders like a wrap, or twist it and knot it as a bold belt at the waist.
I once tied one as a halter over a slip dress for a friend’s garden party and got asked about it four separate times. Of course I told everyone it was my grandmother’s.
White Neck Scarf With Striped Shirt And Jeans
And we end where we should, somewhere easy. A classic striped shirt, good jeans, and a small white scarf at the neck. It’s the outfit I could put on half asleep, but that little scarf makes it look like I gave it real thought.
Knot it neat and close. Roll the shirt sleeves. Slip on canvas sneakers or espadrilles and off you go into your day.
