How to Wear a Winter Scarf

How to Wear a Winter Scarf: Several Ways

Long Scarves

You could be feeling overwhelmed and wondering how to wear a winter scarf that seems way too long. One of the easiest ways to get some wear out of it is to fold it in half first. Drape it around your neck. Take the two loose ends and push them through the loop of the folded end of the scarf. Tighten as necessary. You drastically cut down on the apparent length of the scarf and this is also one of the warmest ways to wear the scarf.

Another way to wear an average-to-long winter scarf is to drape it around the front of your neck so that the ends dangle behind you, then criss-cross them in the back and pull them back around to the front. Make sure the scarf is centered. You could leave it like that.

Dress It Up

From there, you could make your scarf look more interesting by tying it in front, flattening out the knot and the ends, and scrunching the top of the scarf around the neck as if it were a turtleneck. Stylist Amy Salinger shows you how in one of her YouTube's How to Tie a Winter Scarf videos. For those who prefer a dressier way to wear a scarf, this is it.

Loose and Casual

A casual way to wear your scarf that is anything but boring shows up in that same video. Tie a knot in one end of the scarf, then push the other loose end through that knot. Slide the knot up or down depending on where you want it to fall. On a warmer day, you may want the knot further down; colder days may inspire you to push the knot up closer to your neck for extra warmth.

Pashminas as Winter Scarves

Don't forget about pashminas used as winter scarves. It's not just a boring shawl. You can wrap one end around your neck and throw one end over your shoulder. If you feel like adding even more color to your attire, wear two at once for a layered look (and a lot of warmth!). You can also find embellished pashminas to wear with your eveningwear.

Additional Scarf Pairings

For a casual look, you can pair a matching beanie with your scarf. Want something a bit more sophisticated? Try a matching beret instead. If you know how to knit or crochet, you can make your own from matching yarn lots. If not, don't despair! You can find matching sets almost anywhere you can find scarves.

When you wear a coat with your scarf, you have the option to leave the ends free or tuck them in. Tuck them in so that just the turtleneck illusion peeks out of the top or show off the whole length of a beautiful scarf by leaving them free. Allowing the ends to stay inside the coat may give you a bit more warmth due to the closer fit.

As for attire, you can wear a scarf with almost anything. Choose a nice knit scarf in non-scratchy wool to wear with your casual clothes. This is the time to play up patterns and colors. For dressier clothes or work clothes, play up the texture of a scarf more than patterns or colors.

A Final Word

Next time you're wondering how to wear a winter scarf, remember that scarves are incredibly versatile and can be tied or tossed over your shoulders in laid back and business-inspired looks. Keep the colors and patterns to the casual looks and opt for textured, solid-color scarves for the dressier looks to be safe. Fringe can work well for either type of look.