How to wear silk scarves? - YouLookFab Forum

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How to wear silk scarves?

Roxanna

Veteran

Hello all,

In yet another installment of 'how do I wear what I have', I am curious about how you wear silk scarves.

My mom, the vintage shipping hound, has bought me quite the collection of beautiful silk scarves (mostly large, square, with elegant vintage floral patterns.)

I adore them. But I have a few issues:
1) one of my style descriptors is modern/urban, and I find it hard to wear these in a modern/urban way (except with ripped jeans, which I can't wear to work)
2) I run cold, so I often wear a blazer with a layering top underneath, and have a hard time figuring out how to add a scarf to that.
3) silk scarves can be slippery and fussy, and that is not my style.

Any ideas on how to work these beauties into my wardrobe with the above challenges? I do adore them and I love wearing the stuff my mum gives me as it gives me a warm feeling all day

Dressing

27 replies

Latest reply was from Aida

binkle

Veteran

I think of silk scarves as decorative accessories, mostly, as I live in a warmer climate. I don't see how they would not fit into an urban wardrobe - do the patterns read too fussy or retro to you? A distinctive, quality floral adds a nice spark of color to urban outfits, I think. Though urban can mean alot of things I guess .

I'd consider Angie's look as urban, and she integrates florals with mostly solids - see her travel capsules.

Menswear is a good inspiration - paisleys and patterns mixed with plaids, tweeds and pinstripes.

I usually tie my square ones (big squares, not kerchiefs):
--cowboy style (big triangle with ends tied in front or back, sometimes double wrap the ends around the neck if you don't want a big swath of color.)
--into long rectangles, then knotted on the side (adds volume at your neck)
-- rolled into a thinner length, wrapped around the neck - almost a turtleneck effect, good for itchy sweater collars.

There are videos on youtube, though I haven't looked in a while. And check out the Hermes website - a dreamland, but they've got videos too.

Anonymous

I love scarfs. I have never figured out how to wear them myself so I will watch this thread for ideas.

Sal

Veteran

I also struggle (I feel too much like the Queen - not that that is a bad thing though)

Here are some looks I saw that are a bit more work appropriate/urban - do any of these appeal.

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The Cat

Veteran

Silk scarves can absolutely look modern and urban. How about wearing them with a moto jacket or a jeans jacket? If that's too casual for your work style, of course silk scarves always look good with classic blazers and button-front shirt or fine knit pullovers.

I think #2 of Sal's pictures is a very good example of how you can wear a scarf with a blazer.

You could also wear the scarf as an "Ascot Knot" and then put the ends under your shirt/pullover. That way, the scarf is kind of fastened. While a scarf tied this way will not take up much space, it will still add a touch of colour and glamour (in addition to pleasant warmth, of course).

Scarf tying tutorials can be found on many websites. Here is one with lots of ideas for silk scarves:
https://texeresilk.com/article/Ascot_Knot1

Anonymous

I like to wear a silk scarf inside the collar of a jacket (any kind: blazer, leather moto, bomber, longer fingertip length etc) , just simply looped around my neck with no winding or layering. It hangs free and has a more natural, unfussy look that way. I love the luxurious feel of the silk and it seems so easy . I save the winding and tying and looping and all other sorts of fanciness for more casual wool, linen etc ones. I have a beautiful one that I kept from my mother's things that is a print I would NEVER wear as it's holiday themed in red and green holly, but inside the neck of my denim or a blazer, it feels nostalgic and hopefully looks like I am doing it with another purpose in mind.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Oh, Roxanna! I too am cursed with the same inheritance! I have a mother AND a grandmother who seem to have conspired together to fill a full drawer in my bedroom with wonderful silk scarves... that I seldom wear. And I too have picked up the goal of trying to wear them. Many times.
And, as the years have gone by, the scarves have been transplanted a few times into new drawers, in new places, new climates... yet, always staying snug in the dark. Meanwhile, I became older. And with age, discovered a traditional silk scarf was even harder to wear without feeling/looking like a motherly monarch (you get the picture).

With time, though, I have come to some conclusions which I will share here. Firstly, for a scarf to be desirable it has to be a little badass. A silk scarf is either super scrunched (into almost a neacklace, and worn low as a crew neck) or unfolds high above the collar, hiding part of your neck, without ever tightening around it. A tightly knoted scarf around a neck sends a message of sedatedness and is dangerous waters. So is it worn in any kind of obvious triangle (adds about 20 yrs to anyone). Yet what I just said can be proven wrong. But enough with how to tie it. That is not the issue here. The problem we share, I think, is that our scarves are silk. This fabric, althoug pretty and luxurious, is also perilous for anyone over 21 yrs old. And not only are they silk, but they come in large squares of it. So, lots of silk. My hunch is to try to make the scarf as rebellious, as irreverent as possible: pair it with leather, or sleeveless (frayed sleeves) rock tee shirt, or combine similar colors regardless of prints, and whatever you wear under has to be decidedly, purposely a bit bland, so that the scarf doesn't compete.

JAileen

Veteran

I think if the scarf is not paired with a skirt suit, but instead with jeans and a leather jacket, it will probably work better. Krishnidoux's remark about adding 20 years, though, makes me think, "Uh oh, what have I been doing? I must look as old as my mother."

The Cat

Veteran

I know several women in their 20's who wear silk scarves with all kinds of outfits. They look smashing and not one year older than they are.

Anonymous

Yes, I understand your situation. I like your idea of ripped jeans as well as the ideas of others in this thread.

What about sock booties with a block heel?

I totally agree that you need to foil the matronly look with something badass or very trendy.

binkle

Veteran

I don't think scarves are necessarily ageing. If it looks like the outfit is becoming "matronly" then I'd look to the outfit/cut/style itself, first.

Greyscale

Veteran

I wear a lot of silk scarves. I mostly go for bandana-like styling, though sometimes I do a narrow rolled scarf tied around my neck. I also use them to put my hair up.

And yes, I wear them in contexts that are as rock n' roll as possible. I don't wear business clothes (even business casual) very often. If I did, I might understand the concern about scarves looking fussy, but it hasn't been an issue for me in my style.

bella

(website)

Veteran

Sal posted some great examples. I, too, found some that I like that might inspire you. Pairing silk scarves with sweat shirts is a very interesting combination for ex.

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The Cat

Veteran

Great, inspirational examples, bella!

krishnidoux

Veteran

JAileen, binkle, I didn't mean to put down the silk scarf altogether. Bella's visual offer some very exciting alternatives! I think one has to play around to find their own vibe.

skylurker

Veteran

I like how Angie does it. The scarf is in harmony with the colours of her outfits. Most people I see (me included) wear a bright cheery scarf on a drab outfit to jazz it up and I think it doesn’t work.

As for tying them : depends on your neck. If you have a long neck, you tie them close to it, otherwise you tie them looser.

What’s your difficulty in wearing scarves with blazers, I don’t get it?

rachylou

Veteran

I love Bella’s examples. A complete set. I actually wear them on my head, because my ears get cold in the littlest breeze. I also like them with sweaters.

I do think it’s easy to skip into old-fashioned with a scarf. Or traditional. I think tops and toppers, including sweaters, need drape, or to have a modern cut to offset the traditional.

karen13

Veteran

I really like #4 that Bella posted. Tucked inside a v neck. If the colors are good but the pattern isn’t right I think that way might work well.

Lisa

Veteran

I've found Mai Tai's webpage helpful for figuring out scarf tying styles to try.
https://maitaicollection.com/pages/tutorials-1

Roxanna

Veteran

My gosh! I am overwhelmed by the wealth of comments and good ideas here.

Binkie: looking to menswear and pattern mixing are brilliant ideas. Pattern mixing always makes something stuff look fresh, doesn't it? I'll try that.

Sal, Bella: Thank you, thank you for the visual inspiration! This is just so helpful. My favourites are the scarf with the sweatshirt, the scarf inside the neck of the dress, the kerchief-style scarf with a moto (wonder if I can pull that off!) and the Extra Petite image of the scarf just worn long. I am now going to try all of these

the Cat - I love the idea of tying the scarf into an ascot knot and tucking into a pullover. I have a few cashmere sweaters with deep v necks that I will try this with.

Lisap - your way sounds exactly right for me - and as you said abotu your holly scarf, I have a few that I adore but are too stuffy for me to wear completely loose. Your idea of letting it peek out from a blazer seems so easy and very me - I will try it.

Krishnidoux - nice to hear we are scarf twins Your and jaileen's comment about wearing them with something a little badass liek a moto or a band tshirt really resonated - I had not thought of that before but I will definitely try it now.

Smittie - what are sock booties? Clearly i have been off the forum too long

Greyscale - I'd love to see some WIWs with your scarves!

Skylurker - I totally agree with you. The scarf has to tie in to the colours of the outfit to make sense. And I have found your statement to be true after years of experimenting - my shorter neck means I should wear less voluminous scarves, and ones that are tied looser.

Rachy - you are so right. Maybe that's why i find pairing silk scarves with my oversized cashmere sweaters works - because of teh drape and the modern feel of the cut?

Lisa - thank you! I will be checking these out tonight!

I tried a scarf this morning and what I found is that they can actually be quite good for fixing wardrobe orphans - tucking into a too-big v-neck, or brightening up a sweater in a colour that doesn't usually look good close to my face. So the scarf experimentation begins!

LaPed

Veteran

Oh, oh, I wore a silk scarf with a sweatshirt just the other day! I'll try to remember to post a WIW with a pic sometime this week.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Lots of great ideas! Here are a couple of posts from Angie that may give some food for thought, too:
6 ways to wear a neckerchief (which you can create a version of, from a larger silk square, by folding it in half diagonally)
and
a post on maximalism and how wearing multiple accessories (including scarves!) works to capture this current trend.

Gigi

Veteran

I happened to wear a silk scarf today (well, polyester). It was square. I first folded it in half diagonally to form a triangle. Then I started at the wide base of the triangle and folded it up in 1-inch increments toward the smaller end so that I had a very skinny scarf. I then wrapped it around my neck twice and then tied it in a knot. Hope that makes sense!

crst

I used Lisa P's method last night and loved it! Thanks for the new scarf tip.

Sisi

Veteran

I have the same problem as you. I have been given in the past a number of precious silk scarves that I rarely wear. I mean square silk scarves, the ones that give the ladylike look that is so not me. Generally I use them the way Gigi says. Sometimes I even think to have them transformed into blouses ....

Zibbets

Veteran

What a fabulous thread. I have a drawerful of scarves too, some I wear more than others. I agree that the square silk ones can be more difficult to wear but it didn't click until I read this thread that they look best when worn with a bit of irony or rebelliousness. Genius!

How fun that your mom brings you pretty scarves. I can't wait to see how you decide to wear them!

My daughter and I got a bunch of my scarves out a few months ago and tied them all different ways, including into halter tops which induced much frustration and hilarity. I think this can look AMAZING, but we either had the wrong scarves or the wrong undergarments or both.

krishnidoux

Veteran

I am happy to report that today, following this thread, I gave another try to one of my classic silk Hermes scarf (cream/gold/navy classic design). I wore it successfully with: heavily ripped jeans leggings (from Hue, bought at Nordstrom), low heeled leather olive booties, loose white cotton tee tied on the bottom side and worn in conjunction over a black tank; topper was a classic dark blue blazer. And TONS of silver jewelry, including multiple cuffs on both wrists. Several chains, some purposely hanging down inside the tee. One long earing, one stud. Two rings, one cocktail somewhat goth with a big black stone and another oversized in a snake shape). I scrunched the blazer's sleeves up to show bracelets, feeling very Madonna circa 1995. Happy factor: very high. It totally worked. It was in fact the perfect addition to this outfit. I went teaching like that (I teach young adults). Our classroom was a bit chilly, so it came in handy. It balanced an outfit that would otherwise have tipped too much into casual (like, delinquant-casual if there is such a thing). I am lucky to have a job where I can do things like that.

Aida

Veteran

Most of my silk scarves are hanging up prettily so I can simply look at them I will (very) occasionally wear the few large square ones in a muffler similar to these ladies.

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