During summer when I was wearing mostly skirts I tried out variations of the trend of wearing a scarf tied around the waist or hips, some of which I’ve posted previously. Now that the weather is cooler, I’ve been trying out the same idea with jeans and long pants.

What I like about this look is the diagonal line that it creates at my hips and thighs. That’s flattering for my curvy shape. Like an asymmetric top. I miss asymmetric tops! I wore them a lot during the skinnies era.

The vibe is a bit music festival. Insouciant. Bohemian. I like.

For me, it doesn’t move around when walking. But, yes, it is a bit tricky going to the bathroom. You have to readjust or re-tie afterwards. More so with pants than a skirt. And it sometimes needs re-adjusting after sitting.

I think the idea of this look is to throw it on when you go out, much like you would a scarf worn around the neck. It’s not a wear all day look.

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Pictures

I wear this look in 2 slightly different ways. Low and under my top (pics 2, 3, 4) which is a more minimal look. This creates one diagonal line over my hips. The second way is a little higher and over my top (pics 5, 6). This creates 2 diagonal lines (one over my torso and one over my hips). A crossbody bag creates another diagonal line. I think the zig zag effect is quite flattering. (I have fond memories of a Bailey 44 dress that made a feature of this zigzag effect.)

The more low slung, “sarong” look shown by the model in pic 1 does not work for me. It feels a bit too skirt like for me, and it moves around a lot.

Pics 2-3: This is a large rectangular scarf (in a very fine wool) that I’ve had for years. I just folded it down to a triangle for this outfit. I love finding new ways to wear dark floral.

Pic 4: This is an Alexander McQueen-ish scarf that I thrifted. I think it’s viscose. Quite thin. Finer fabrics seem to work best for this look.

Pic 5: This is a silk modal scarf that I bought last year from the National Gallery in London. It’s a print of a famous William Turner painting. I’m a big Turner fan.

Pic 6: This is a very old cotton scarf from Zara. I like how the colours echo the side pieces of my jeans. The beads (which I thrifted) are blue, purple, teal and gold. I love that colour combination but I don’t get to wear it often. That was an added bonus for this outfit.

Pic 7: One of the reasons why wearing a hip scarf feels natural and not contrived for me is that for some years now I have been in the habit of wearing a long sleeve top or sweater tied around my waist when I go out if I think I might need it. I deliberately wear it to the side, rather than at the back, to create that magical diagonal line and make it a more intentional part of my outfit. I think the hip scarf is just a more “styled”, less casual version of the same look.