Scarves are essential winter wear, helping you stay warm even when an icy wind is blowing or there’s snow on the ground. But knowing how to wear a scarf can be more complicated than it seems.
There are many ways you can tie a scarf, from simple to elaborate. If you’re sick of your usual go-to and want to mix it up, it’s worthwhile learning more ways to tie a scarf.
While there are many ways you can tie a scarf, these are some of the most popular options.
A basic wrap is one of the most common ways to wear a scarf. You simply wrap the scarf fully around your neck, with each end hanging loose down your front, at even lengths on each side. Typically, you wrap the scarf just once, but you can wrap extra-long scarves around twice for a fuller look.
This starts out the same as a standard wrap, but instead of letting the ends of the scarf hang loose, you tie them in a knot at your chest.
Again, this starts out like a standard wrap, but you continue wrapping the ends round and tuck them in at the back. If you don’t like the look or feel or the ends of your scarf hanging down, the tucked in wrap is a great choice. Your scarf usually fully encircles your neck twice with this way of tying it, but it may go round as many as three times with a very long scarf.
A drape is when you simply loosely drape a scarf around your neck with the ends hanging down your front without wrapping or tying it. You can also choose to tuck it into a buttoned V-neck jacket or blazer, leaving at least half of the width of the scarf exposed.
For this method, you start in the drape position, then toss one end over your shoulder so it hangs down your back. This way of tying a scarf is simple yet stylish.
To tie your scarf in the loop fashion, fold it in half lengthways and hang it over your neck so that both ends are hanging over one shoulder and a loop of fabric is hanging over the other. Then, poke the ends through the loop and pull them to tighten it up as desired.
Once you know how to tie a scarf, you need to select the right scarf for you. These are some factors to consider when choosing.
Consider the types of scarf available. Some are better suited to certain times of the year, but you can pick purely based on style preference.
Scarves come in a wide range of both solid colors and patterns. These patterns can be knitted or woven into the fabric and include basics like stripes and plaid, as well as more elaborate options, like leopard print and geometric designs.
These are some of the most common materials that scarves are made from:
C.C. Ultra-Soft Chenille Scarf
Made from an incredibly soft chenille yarn, this scarf is cozy and warm and since it’s quite long, it lets you experiment with more elaborate ways to tie it. You can choose from more than 10 colors, including black, taupe and dark purple.
American Trends Warm Woven Scarf
The woven acrylic fabric has the softness of cashmere, making this scarf warm yet thin enough to tie in a variety of ways. It comes in more than 20 prints, including various striped and checked designs, all in muted hues that work with most outfits.
With snaps on either end, it’s easier to wear this scarf in a range of ways, but you can still tie it in conventional ways if you want to. It’s made from a thin, lightweight material, which is great for packing on cold weather hikes.
Calvin Klein Solid Chambray Scarf
This scarf is crafted from a light chambray fabric that’s perfect for milder days but is long enough to tie using all kinds of methods. It comes in six hues, including ocean and eggshell, and has slight fringing on either end.
Lands’ End Fleece Winter Scarf
Since it’s made from fleece, this scarf is extremely warm and cozy, even on the chilliest of days. You can choose between eight colors and prints, including solid red, black buffalo check and leopard print.
Although it isn’t cheap, this pure wool scarf is stylish and incredibly warm. It’s available in five distinctive prints that make it an eye-catching choice.
If you’ve decided that working out how to tie your scarf stylishly is more trouble than it’s worth, you might prefer to wear a neck warmer. This one is fleece-lined to make it soft and warm, yet breathable enough to wear while exercising.
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