How to wear a silk scarf: 6 ways, step by step
Six ways to wear a 90 cm silk scarf, step by step: around the neck, as a shawl, on the head and in the hair, on the wrist, on a bag, and for men.
How to wear a silk scarf? Three moves cover almost everything: fold the square into a triangle, fold it again into a band, then tie it where you want to wear it. The large 90 cm square (35 inches) goes everywhere: the neck, the shoulders, the head and the hair, the wrist, the handle of a bag. Here are six ways to wear it, step by step, and how men wear it too.
Folding the square into a band: the starting move
Almost every way of wearing a silk scarf starts with the same fold. Once the band is formed, the knot itself takes a few seconds.
The triangle fold
Lay the square flat, wrong side up, and bring one corner over to the opposite corner. You get a triangle whose long side is the diagonal of the square: close to 1.3 m, or 50 inches, on a 90 cm square, enough to go around the neck, the head or the shoulders with room to spare. Only the shawl skips this fold.
The band: rolled fold or accordion fold
From the triangle, there are two ways to form the band. The rolled fold: fold the long side toward the point, two or three times, until you reach the width you want. The band is supple and slightly rounded, and it is the one for knots at the neck. The accordion fold: fold in a zigzag, one strip up, one strip down. The band is flat and shows several colors of the motif, and it is the one for the headband.
Which width for which style
| Style | Fold | Band width |
|---|---|---|
| Simple knot at the neck | Rolled | 4 to 5 cm (1.5 to 2 inches) |
| Shawl over the shoulders | Triangle, or the square left open | No band |
| Headscarf | Triangle, long side folded once | No band |
| Bun | Tightly rolled | 2 to 3 cm (about 1 inch) |
| Wide headband | Accordion | 6 to 8 cm (2.5 to 3 inches) |
| Wrist and bag handle | Tightly rolled | 2 to 3 cm (about 1 inch) |
Wearing a silk scarf around the neck and over the shoulders
Two ways cover almost every occasion: the simple knot on a band for everyday wear, the shawl for the evening. The ascot knot, more masculine, is shown on video further down.
1. The simple knot, on a band
The fastest. A narrow band, a knot to one side, and the scarf stays put all day.
- Fold the square into a triangle, then into a rolled band 4 to 5 cm wide (1.5 to 2 inches).
- Place the middle of the band on the back of your neck and bring both ends to the front, at equal length.
- Tie a simple knot, then a second one over it, without pulling it tight against the throat.
- Slide the knot to one side, under the ear, and leave the ends free.
Over a shirt, pass the band under the collar before tying: the knot takes the place of the first button.
2. The shawl, over the shoulders
The evening way, the one that shows the whole motif. It calls for a large square: the 90 cm format is made for it.
- Fold the square into a triangle, or leave it open for a fuller drape.
- Place it over your shoulders, one point in the middle of the back, the two other points in front.
- Cross the points over the chest, or tie them in a simple knot, low, at the sternum.
- Loosen the silk over the shoulders so that it falls softly.
Over a flowing dress, hold the square in your hand rather than tying it.
Wearing a silk scarf on the head and in the hair
On the head, the square protects the hair from wind and sun; in the hair, it replaces the elastic. Silk is also a hair treatment: it glides over the hair without breaking it, and it moisturizes it.
3. The headscarf, tied under the chin
The seaside and convertible way. It holds without a pin and frames the face.
- Fold the square into a triangle, then fold the long side once, about 5 cm (2 inches), for a clean edge.
- Place that edge at the hairline, the point of the triangle toward the back, over the nape.
- Bring the two side points under the chin, pulling slightly so the silk lies flat over the temples.
- Tie them under the chin with a simple knot, then a double knot.
Another version, for daytime: cross the two points under the chin and tie them behind the neck. The neck stays open.
4. The tied bun
The way for hair worn up. It hides the elastic and holds all day.
- Tie a low bun with a thin elastic.
- Fold the square into a triangle, then into a tightly rolled band, 2 to 3 cm wide (about 1 inch).
- Wrap the band around the base of the bun, twice if the length allows.
- Tie a simple knot, then a double knot, and tuck the ends under the knot, or leave them free.
For a wide headband: fold the band accordion style, 6 to 8 cm wide (2.5 to 3 inches), place it at the hairline and tie it at the nape, under the hair, ends tucked in.
The thin headband and the ponytail ribbon, which also work with a long scarf, are explained in our guide on how to tie a silk scarf.
Wearing a silk scarf on the wrist and on a bag
On the wrist, the square becomes a silk bracelet; on a bag, it dresses a handle. The band is the same, tightly rolled and narrow.
5. The bracelet, on the wrist
The way that never gets in the way, on a bare arm in summer as under a sleeve in winter.
- Fold the square into a triangle, then into a tightly rolled band, 2 to 3 cm wide (about 1 inch).
- Place the middle of the band on the inside of your wrist and wrap it around two or three times, without pulling tight.
- Tie the two ends on top of the wrist, with a simple knot, then a double knot.
- Leave the ends free, or slip them under the wraps for a clean bracelet.
On a bare arm, wrap it looser: the silk should turn freely around the wrist.
6. The bag handle
The way that dresses a plain bag in a minute, without wearing anything on yourself.
- Fold the square into a triangle, then into a tightly rolled band, 2 to 3 cm wide (about 1 inch).
- Tie one end at the base of the handle with a simple knot.
- Wrap the band in a regular spiral along the handle, leaving no gap.
- Tie the other end at the top of the handle, and let both ends fall.
On a structured bag, a single knot at the base of the handle is enough, with the ends left free.
The silk scarf for men
The silk square is first of all a woman’s accessory. It still has its place in a man’s wardrobe, with the same 90 cm square, in the daytime and for a relaxed evening. As soon as the outfit calls for a tie or a bow tie, it comes off.
The men’s knot par excellence is the ascot knot: the square folded into a band, passed around the neck, then slipped inside the open collar of a shirt, under a jacket. Julien, from the Homme d’élégance account, shows it step by step on video, with one of the Maison’s squares.
How to tie a silk scarf into an ascot knot, by Homme d’élégance with Dare in Paris
Which silk scarf to wear
Every way in this guide uses a single format, the large 90 x 90 cm square (35 x 35 inches). Its diagonal goes around the neck with room to spare, covers the head down to the nape and opens into a shawl over the shoulders. At Dare in Paris, it is the only format we make, and it does everything.
The silk. Our squares are 100% silk, printed in Italy with a high definition process: the colors go through the fabric and the motif stays bright on both sides.
The hand rolled hem. The edge is rolled by hand in our Paris workshop, holder of the Fabriqué à Paris label, the official Made in Paris label. This fine, slightly irregular roll gives the band its body and keeps the knot from going flat.
The motif. The designs are exclusive, drawn in Paris for the Maison. On a band, the border and the corners of the design show; as a shawl, its center. Dare in Paris silk scarves are priced at 325 euros and ship worldwide from Paris.
Care. The safest option is a dry cleaner who specializes in silk; point out the hand-rolled hem. Hand washing is possible at home: cold water, a mild soap, no rubbing or wringing; dry flat, away from the sun; press with a cool iron on the reverse side, without flattening the hem. Untie the square in the evening rather than storing it knotted.
Frequently asked questions
How do you wear a silk scarf around your neck?
Fold the square into a triangle, then into a band. Place the middle of the band on the back of the neck, bring both ends to the front and tie them, in front or to one side. That is the simple knot of style 1. For the evening, the shawl of style 2 goes over the shoulders.
How do you wear a silk scarf on your head?
Fold it into a triangle, fold the long side once for a clean edge, place that edge at the hairline and tie the two side points under the chin, or cross them under the chin and tie them behind the neck. For hair worn up, the band wraps around a bun or sits at the hairline as a wide headband.
How do you wear a silk scarf with a dress?
In the evening, open it over the shoulders as a shawl, the point in the middle of the back. In the daytime, a narrow band tied to one side of the neck, or wrapped around the handle of your bag, is enough. Pick up one color of the dress in the motif, not the main one.
How do you wear a silk scarf as a top?
Like a summer top, under a jacket. Fold the square into a triangle, place the long side across the top of the chest, the point downward, then tie the two points in the back with a double knot. For a bare back, tie them behind the neck.
Can you wear a silk scarf all year round?
Yes. In summer, silk is light and lets the air through: at the neck, in the hair, as a top or on the wrist. In winter, a band tied at the neck cuts the wind under a coat collar; for more length, our long silk scarves, longer than they are wide, take over.
The silk scarves to wear
Exclusive motifs drawn in Paris, printed in Italy and hand rolled in our Paris workshop, holder of the Fabriqué à Paris label. One format, 90 x 90 cm (35 x 35 inches).
