How The Hell Do I Wear A Scarf Without Looking Like An Elitist TV Mother-In-Law?
It’s much easier than we thought.
Image: HBO
by The Candidly Team
Scarves are one of those things that sound so lovely in theory. They turn clothes into looks. Add that pop of color stylists are always on about. Make you look more elegant and elevated … and French.
The trouble is when we picture ourselves in a scarf, we usually see something like this:
Image: Emily in Paris | Netflix
Image: Love Story | FX
Image: Monte Carlo Baby | Hoche Productions
However, when we actually go to tie one round our necks, we worry we look like this:
Image: BBC
There is indeed a youthful and elegant way to wear a scarf. And the only thing that lies between us and all those stunning, Pinterest-worthy scarf looks we lust after, is knowing PRECISELY how to tie one.
There are four unbelievably easy hacks for how to tie a scarf in four different ways. All are perfectly polished and practically effortless.
So let’s break it down:
1. The Carrie Bradshaw Head Scarf
Image: Sex and the City | HBO
WHY IT WORKS: For starters, we’re not interested in washing our hair every day (nor should we be now that we’re 40, and it’s one of the things that makes our hair dryer and more brittle). But more importantly, a scarf tied on our head is one incredibly effective way to add zhuzh to an otherwise simple or minimalist outfit. It’s a tiny, artful expression of our truest taste, which is what wearing a scarf is all about, especially when it’s acting as the crown of our entire look. Play with pattern and print as much as you like - just make sure you get the right size if you want the full Bradshaw triangle. You can choose something more narrow or rectangular if you’re doing a more headband style. Either way, the below method is brilliant and ensures it won’t budge.
SIZE YOU’LL NEED: At least 28x28 inches
HOW TO TIE IT:
OUR FAVORITES
2. The Faye Dunaway Chic Outlaw
Image: Bonnie and Clyde | Warner Bros
WHY IT WORKS: This is the one tie that every human can do, and it also happens to be the hardest to screw up in terms of making you look “cool girl” chic. If you’re a true beginner, just tie any scarf you like a lot into this bandana-style triangle over a plain white tee. It will give you a sort of Parisian-in-America, street-style look. If you’re a pro, you can mix and match patterns over button-down shirts and sweaters, but the trick is to use the below tying method so you don’t have a big poofy bow in the back that reads a bit bank robber.
SIZE YOU’LL NEED: At least 18X18 inches
HOW TO TIE IT:
OUR FAVORITES
3. The Neck Tie With A Twist
Image: My Best Friend’s Wedding | TriStar Pictures
WHY IT WORKS: This is the classic tie everyone thinks of when they picture a silk or bandana scarf, However, it’s also the trickiest in many ways because it tends to poof out and sit eschew very easily. There’s one foolproof way to make it sit just so, which you can learn in 8 seconds in the below video. After that, you really just have to choose a print that doesn’t look too much like your great-grandmother’s curtains, and the results will be *chef’s kiss.*
SIZE YOU’LL NEED: At least 22x22 inches
HOW TO TIE IT:
OUR FAVORITES
4. THE SCARF AS A SHIRT
WHY IT WORKS: This has always been the most intimidating of all the scarf looks, and yet, we’ve always wished we could be one of those people who just magically whip their scarf from a pareo by the pool to a chic top we wear to lunch on vacation. The problem, aside from how to tie it without procuring a fashion and design degree, is the lack of bra. Fortunately, we completely eliminated that obstacle when we discovered THESE* nipple covers that actually lift and shape our over-40, over C-cup boobs. After that, it was just a matter of learning the right tying hack. Both of the below methods feel like something we should have thought of ourselves. So, so divinely simple to execute.
SIZE YOU’LL NEED: At least 35x35 inches
HOW TO TIE IT:
And here is the second method that we love just as much.
OUR FAVORITES
Finally, we’d be remiss not to show you our favorite Candidly model and mascot, Bunny, exhibiting all four of these looks with what might be our favorite scarf*on this entire list:
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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