Scarves are simply glorious. They help you switch things up, dress you up, keep you warm, and highlight your face. And they make it easy to feel fabulous any day of the week.
The answer to all your style needs is a large square scarf.
You’re sure to find tons of scarves in the big wide world, but the large square scarf is queen. For a great refresher on basic scarf types, check out The Ultimate Scarf Guide. It’s groovy.
For today, let’s focus on the large square scarf.
This scarf guide has five parts:
Part 1: Why your large square scarf is your new BFF.
Part 2. How to wear your large square scarf.
Part 3. Why you won’t wanna live without your large square scarf.
Part 4. How to choose your perfect large square scarf.
Part 5. Bonus shopping and care tips.
Seven great ways a large square scarf saves the day.
Part 1: Why your large square scarf is your new BFF.
Before we look at different ways to wear your scarf, let’s talk about style fixes. Ain’t nobody perfect around here and we could all use a superhero now and again to save our butts.
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superscarf!
Ladies, if you don’t have a large square scarf in your closet, run out and get one. Now.
Think about how often you use your jewelry and bags. Well, all your fashion accessories are vital for your wardrobe. Along with your basics, they’re your closet staples. Your fashion accessories are part of your look and should always add to your outfit.
And scarves are right up there with jewelry and bags (and shoes). That said, get ready to find out why the large square scarf is perfect for all your style needs and fixes.
• When you want to highlight your face.
The next time you’ve got a meeting or a date, toss on that tried-and-true scarf. You know which one I mean. It’s the one that always gets you compliments because it accentuates your beautiful eyes.
No matter your outfit, you can use a fun colorful scarf to bring attention upward to your face. Choose colors that highlight your eyes and hair. It’s such an easy way to experiment with bright colors or unusual color combinations. Just toss it on and tie a knot. Hello, fabulous!
• When you want that easy-breezy fancy look.
Ya know how some people always look so put together that they make the rest of us look like slobs? Well, apart from the fact that they’re so easy to hate, they can teach us something.
They know exactly how to wear their scarves with style. If you don’t believe me, start paying attention. Because in their day-to-day, they're simply wearing casual basics like white shirts and khaki slacks. But they’ve got their accessories down to a science. Their jewelry, scarves, bags, and shoes make them look like a million bucks. (Of course, they’ve got great haircuts and perfect nails too, but we won’t go into that here.)
The fact is, without spending a lot of money you can use a scarf to dress up any casual outfit. The same goes for turning your work look into a night-on-the-town look. Take off your blazer, roll up your sleeves, and toss on an easy-breezy fancy scarf. You can even wear it as a halter top over your camisole. Oh, yeah.
• When you’ve got a spill cover-up emergency.
Honestly, it’s Murphy’s Law. I don’t care if it’s tomato sauce, coffee, ice cream, grape juice, toothpaste, or baby vomit. It will end up on your shirt where everyone can see it. Guaranteed.
Carry an emergency scarf wherever you go. The large square scarf is so thin and lightweight, that you can fold it and tuck it away in the pocket of your purse. And if you’re wearing one of those tiny purses, you can tie your scarf to the strap. You’re welcome.
• When you’re all dressed up and feeling chilly.
The next time you’re heading out the door to a fancy event or party, grab your large sheer scarf. It’s less bulky than a party jacket or blazer any day.
Because you won't know ahead of time if where you’re going will be warm or cold. But knowing you’ve got your scarf at the ready, means no more carrying around your jacket all night. And no more scrunching your shoulders up to your ears to keep your neck warm, either. Hallelujah.
• When you’re in a big-time hurry.
Sometimes you can’t help but rush. One appointment goes over and your plan to go home and change your clothes flies out the window. Use a scarf when you’re in a hurry. When there's no time to change, figure out an outfit, or figure out your hair for that matter.
That’s when you can use a scarf as a quick fix to upgrade whatever you’ve got on. And if you’re having a bad hair day, you can use it to tie your hair back or as a headband. Done.
• When you’re bored with your wardrobe.
Sometimes your decision-making power has run dry. And just looking at your closet puts you over the edge. Am I right? But before you dive into the depths of I’ve-got-nothing-to-wear despair, consider how scarves can extend the life of your wardrobe.
Use a fun colorful scarf to breathe new life into what you’ve already got in your closet. You can create lots of outfits with your wardrobe basics by just switching things up with scarves in different colors and textures. Like your favorite black top and pants. Throw on a colorful scarf and your outfit just got a whole new vibe. And the more scarves you have to choose from the better. Smile.
• When you’re feeling blah.
Who the heck knows why we get those blah days. They just show up uninvited. The only thing to do is figure out how to boost your mood. My advice? Delight your senses. Immerse yourself in color, texture, scent, and sound. Try this:
Take a quick shower and rinse off with cold water. Blast your favorite upbeat song and spritz on some perfume. Throw on something super-soft or silky that feels luxurious. Get your glow on with some moisturizing makeup. And last but not least, tie a colorful scarf around your neck or head to accentuate your face.
Dressing up is a glorious way to self-express and influence your psyche. Before you know it, you’ll be heading off to work in a better mood. And if it’s the weekend, you’ll be feeling way too spunky to stay at home. Mission accomplished.
Six fun ways to wear a large square scarf.
Part 2. How to wear your large square scarf.
Because of its square shape and large size, it’s the most versatile scarf type. The more you master the art of folding your scarf, the more versatility you’ll discover. You can wear it on your head, in your hair, around your neck, over your shoulders, at your waist, as a halter top, etc.
• On your head.
Worn as a headcover, the traditional way is to fold it in half like a triangle. It gets tied with a knot under your chin or at the nape of your neck. It usually can wrap around your neck at least once.
It can also be wrapped around your head and worn as a turban.
• In your hair.
Worn in your hair, it can be folded and tied with a knot at the nape of your neck. The trick is to take the opposite corners of the scarf and fold them both in towards the center. After three or four folds, you’ll end up with a narrow length of scarf you can use as a headband.
• Around your neck.
Worn around your neck, the traditional way is to fold it in half like a triangle. It gets tied with a knot to hold it in place. It usually can wrap around your neck more than once. The larger the scarf, the more ways you can wrap and tie it. You can wear the knot in the front or on your shoulder for more pizzazz.
• Over your shoulders.
Worn over your shoulders, it can be worn open. Or loosely tied in the front. If large enough, it can wrap around your neck at least once.
• On your upper body.
Worn as a halter top, two corners get tied with a knot at the nape of the neck while the other two corners get tied behind the back.
If you’ve got two large square scarves of the same size, you can tie them together to make a poncho. The top two corners of one scarf get tied to the top two corners of the other scarf. Then you slip it on so that you’ve got your neck between the two knots you just made. Next, you’ll wanna tie the bottom corners together. You’ll end up with a knot on your right and left sides.
• At your waist.
Worn at your waist, it can be folded and tied with a knot. The trick is to take the opposite corners of the scarf and fold them both in towards the center. After three or four folds, you’ll end up with a narrow length of scarf you can use as a belt.
Five reasons the large square scarf is your ideal fashion accessory.
Part 3. Why you won’t wanna live without your large square scarf.
Okay, so we’ve gone over why the large square scarf is perfect for all your style needs and fixes. And we’ve looked at different ways to wear your scarf. By now, surely you're convinced that the large square scarf is the answer to looking stylish and feeling fab forever and ever. Amen.
But since I can’t seem to shut up about it, here are a few more reasons to love the large square scarf:
• It’s the classic scarf type for a reason.
There’s not a single stylish European woman who doesn’t have one in her closet. Next to her khaki trench coat and ballet flats, her large square scarf (preferably from Hermes) is her pride possession. Uh-huh.
As a result, when you’re shopping for a scarf the square scarf type is the easiest to find. Because the Europeans can’t live without them. If you don’t believe me, open up a fashion magazine and check out the ads by the European high-end fashion brands.
• It’s the easiest to buy according to your budget.
Yes, the ones we’re used to seeing in magazines are made of silk. But even Hermes has come out with a polyester version of their scarves. And get this, they're even more expensive than the silk ones. I’m not sure why. But don’t worry. It's easy to find a scarf that fits your budget.
Large square scarves are made of many different materials. They come in silk, satin, polyester, rayon, organza, chiffon, cotton, linen, and blends. The price will depend on the material, the quality, and where it’s made.
Your scarf is a wardrobe workhorse. You won't regret investing in a quality scarf that fits your lifestyle.
• It’s the easiest to carry with you wherever you go.
As I mentioned in Part 1, the large square scarf is so thin and lightweight, that you can fold it and tuck it away in the pocket of your purse or cargo pants. There’s no bulk and no weight to bother you. And if you’re going to a party and wearing one of those tiny purses, you can tie your scarf to the strap.
• It’s hands down the most versatile type of scarf to wear.
As I mentioned in Part 2, because of its square shape and large size, it’s the most versatile scarf when it comes to use. It can be worn on your head, in your hair, around your neck, over your shoulders, at your waist, as a halter top, etc. The more you master the art of folding your scarf, the more versatility you’ll discover.
• It’s a travel wardrobe staple.
Lastly, when you’re traveling with a limited wardrobe, its compactness and versatility make it a fabulous choice to pack for your trip. You can change your look wearing the same clothes just by choosing to wear a scarf at your waist or over your shoulders.
Six basic questions to ask yourself before buying a scarf.
Part 4. How to choose your perfect large square scarf.
Before you run out and buy a scarf, review the following questions and the scarf tips below:
• Is it made of a material that will irritate your skin?
• Does the color flatter your face?
• Does it fit your lifestyle?
• How will you wear and layer it? Can you use it in more than one way?
• Does it work with what’s in your closet?
• Is it easy to care for?
Bonus scarf tips.
Part 5. Bonus shopping and care tips.
Go for a cheerful design with vibrant colors. You’ll want it multicolor so that it’s easy to mix and match with your existing wardrobe. And you’ll want to wear it with both formal and casual outfits.
But no matter what type of scarf you buy and what it’s made of, you’ll never go wrong taking extra care when washing your scarf. Follow these steps and your scarf will last you pretty much forever:
Depending on the material, you’ll either wanna hand wash in lukewarm water or use a delicate cycle in cold water. Always hang dry or lay flat. Never hang in direct sunlight. And do not wring or twist to remove water. If necessary, squeeze gently with a soft towel.
Conclusion.
The large square scarf is perfect for all your style needs and fixes. It’s easy to find one that fits your budget and that you can carry with you wherever you go. It’s super versatile, fun to wear, and it extends the life of your wardrobe. You’ll love wearing one because of how it makes you look and how fancy it feels. And you’ll love how well it fits your busy lifestyle. It’s a wardrobe workhorse and a travel staple. Trust me, you won’t wanna live without at least one large square scarf. And by asking yourself a few basic questions, you’ll be sure to always find the perfect one for you.
For a great refresher on basic scarf types, check out The Ultimate Scarf Guide. You’re gonna love it too.