If there’s one thing that we absolutely love about winter, it’s a cashmere scarf. They’re versatile, keep you warm, add a touch of elegance, and can make or break an outfit. In short, a cashmere scarf is the absolute best accessory you can have this season because it allows you to dress an outfit up, making you look chic and elegant in the process, while also making sure you stay toasty warm underneath, protecting you from the cold weather.
“A scarf has to be the most beautiful thing ever invented to wear! It's a winding, a continuity, an infinity! I love things that are endless, I hate them to stop. It's like order and disorder: I rather love disorder and things that move, it's a state where one gets more things done!”
Sonia Rykiel
Accessories have the power to bring an extra special touch to any outfit. Some accessories are decorative while others are functional. Cashmere scarves are the best of both worlds. You have a beautiful, soft, warm garment that can help shield your body from the cold. But you also have an amazing extra piece that can bring a touch of color, elegance, and unexpected fun to your wardrobe.
To help teach you the best ways to tie a scarf, we’ve divided the styles between men and women in order to provide the best approach to each person’s individual looks. But just like with any of our accessories, they are unisex and free to use however you like regardless of your gender. Remember, it’s about style. And when it comes to your style, your rules reign highest.
How To Style A Scarf for Men: 4 Different Ways
Here are our favorite 4 ways to tie a scarf for men, all wrapped up into a pretty little video made just for you.
Or if you prefer, we discuss each of them below with a small summary on how to accomplish the look and an explanation of why we love them so much.
1. The Classic
It gets its name from being the most common way to tie a scarf to date. You start by folding the scarf in half lengthwise. Then, you grab both ends: the one with the loop and the other side with the two ends of the scarf. You place the middle of the scarf on the back of your neck. Then, much like tying your shoelaces, you simply pass the side with the two ends through the loop on the other side. Pull the ends through the loop until the scarf is tied comfortably around your neck.
This is one of our favorite ways to tie a scarf because it looks effortlessly elegant and chic, no matter where you’re going. It’s also one of the easiest ways to tie a scarf and making sure it stays in place wherever you go.
2. The Casual
“Scarves, mittens, and hats are a great way to express your personality in the cold weather.”
Brad Goreski
This is the best way to tie your scarf if you’re not one to overcomplicate things. The casual is, quite simply, one of the easiest ways to tie and style a cashmere scarf. Grab the scarf and place it on the back of your neck around the ⅓ mark. Grab the longer end of the scarf and loop it around your neck, front to back, until the end of the scarf comes around the other side. Adjust the ends as necessary so that they end up hanging at approximately the same length down your front.
You will end up with a very symmetrical, simple, and elegant style to finish off your look. This is a typical, vintage way to tie a cashmere scarf. And when it comes to elegance, simplicity is always a friend.
3. The Metropolitan
A basic, no-fuss approach to tying a scarf. To do it, you start by placing the scarf on the back of your neck with both ends hanging down your front, Then you simply flick one of the ends back and let it fall as it may.
This is the style for busy city folk who just don’t have time to lose. They are always on the run but are also always aiming to look their best. This is an effortless way to tie your scarf that denotes an air of cool aloofness, of active and hustling individuals.
4. The Gentleman
For the elegant, the classy, the chic. Those who aren’t afraid to put in the extra effort to look fantastic. Start by placing the middle on the scarf on the front of your neck. Cross the ends at the back and have them come to the front (this is similar to The Casual, but the other way around). Once both ends are at the front, grab them and tie them as you would a shoelace, with one end going around and below the other end. This is a great way to ensure your cashmere scarf doesn’t move or budge, regardless of what you’re doing that day. We also think it looks especially elegant since it adds a sort of bow as an extra bit of design. It’s a bit like wearing a tie, but a lot more chic, elegant, warm, and above all, soft.
“In terms of fashion, I love adding a fun scarf to whatever I'm wearing - it's a great way to dress up a plain outfit!”
Bridgit Mendler
How To Style A Scarf for Women: 5 Different Ways
Women’s styles tend to be very similar to men’s. There are a few exceptions where the finished look has a more knotted and tied up appearance, which lends a touch of sophisticated femininity.
To make it easier to recreate them, we’ve created a video showing how to create each individual style.
1. The New York Style
“I'll add a nice scarf, maybe a hat, some cool sunglasses. It's all about the accessories.”Alessandra Ambrosio
There’s nothing more glamorous than the lovely streets of the City That Never Sleeps. Start by placing the middle on the scarf on the front of your neck. Cross the ends at the back and have them come all the way to the front. This way you have tied your scarf in a way that will not mess up your look while you walk around 5th Avenue or stroll through Central Park. This is one of our favorite styles because if you’re a true New Yorker at heart, you know that it’s in your blood to walk everywhere. With this styling, your scarf will stay put every step of the way.
2. The 50th Glamour
The glitz and glamour of the fifties was visible everywhere - from the cars driven to the clothes worn. Remember those beautiful women with tiny silk scarves tied around their necks? This is a style that renders tribute to the beautiful and elegant time they lived in. To recreate it, place the middle of the scarf on the back of your neck. Take one of the ends and tie it over and around the other, creating a nice knot. This style is often overlooked, but it’s one of the classiest ways to bump up your look as if you were in the fifties.
For an extra touch, we recommend choosing a scarf with a color block, chequered or design pattern that really pops.
3. The European Elegance
"Money doesn't buy elegance. You can take an inexpensive sheath, add a pretty scarf, gray shoes, and a wonderful bag, and it will always be elegant."
Carolina Herrera
When we think of winter fashion, we are immediately transported to a fancy European cold season. This is why we believe this elegant way to tie your scarf is reminiscent of a quiet stroll through cobbled streets, drifting snow, and Christmas markets.
To recreate it, first grab the scarf and fold it in half. Place it behind your neck and pull the ends forward. Take both loose ends and pass them through the loop on the other side. Scrunch and readjust as necessary to give your style a cozy, warm, European feel.
4. The Warm Neck
This is the go-to style for the coldest winter days. Those days when it feels almost like a blizzard and you need every single tool to help keep you safe and warm.
To do it, divide your scarf into thirds and place the point that marks the first third behind your neck. Your scarf will have a “longer” end with two thirds of the fabric and a “shorter” end with remaining one third. Grab the longer end and loop it around your neck, twice. This will bring a toasty, warm, and cozy feeling to your outfit. Not to mention that it will also help keep your neck safe from any cold winds or drafts.
5. The British Bow
“When I wear a silk [or cashmere] scarf I never feel so definitely like a woman, a beautiful woman.”- Audrey Hepburn
This is by far our favorite. The British are known for their elegance, sophistication, and style. And this way to tie your scarf will ensure that your key accessory get all of the attention. To do it, place the middle of the scarf behind your neck. Take one of the loose ends and cross it over the other one. At the same time, grab the other end and make a loop. Pass the end that you crossed over through the loop to make a small knot. Pull both ends to get the scarf as close to your neck as possible. After that, grab one end and pull it into another loop. Wrap the remaining end around the bottom of the loop to create a bow. Twist it until you find the best possible angle.
A cashmere scarf can take a winter look from nice to great. And when it’s tied off correctly, it can take any outfit from great to amazing. It adds a touch of elegance while also keeping true to its main purpose: keeping you safe and warm. Now, there are a lot of materials you could choose from, but cashmere is simply the best due to its lightweight nature, amazing insulation, sustainable properties, and buttery, out of this world softness. If you want to learn more about cashmere, check out our Cashmere 101 article here, where we discuss everything you ever wanted to know about this amazing fiber.
Aside from this, a cashmere scarf can come in all sorts of shapes, colors, woven patterns, and lengths. The best part is that scarves are an absolutely unisex accessory that you can use to show off your winter style to the rest of the world. Because remember, a cashmere scarf can make or break an outfit. Check our incredibly soft cashmere scarf collection and choose the style (or styles, plural!) that best suits your personality. Winter is here and it’s your time to shine.