Five Fresh Ways to Wear Scarves this Fall

I have to admit, I chuckled a bit while doing some trend research for fall.  In this Vogue.com article on accessory trends for 2014 they said that, for this upcoming season, the scarf is the new necklace.  Um, what?  When were scarves not a trend?  This is like saying leopard is going to be hot for fall.  When isn’t leopard popular?  Either way, I am glad that this article addressed scarves because, a new trend or not, everyone loves scarves as an accessory when the weather gets cold.  Problem is, however, few women know what to do with them besides wind them around their neck a few times.  Additionally, cold weather aside, many women want to wear scarves all day long as work accessories or as casual finishing pieces.

What I did like about the photos in the article above was some of the fresh ways they are showcasing how to wear a scarf the upcoming season.  For today’s Accessorized Five Ways, I am deviating from my normal plan of showcasing one accessory and using it in five different outfits and, instead, taking a few of the ways scarves were presented by designers on the runway and recreating the looks in a more realistic manner.  Below are five fresh ways to wear scarves this fall.

Five fresh ways to wear scarves this fall

Outfit #1- Tucked in a belt

I thought this way of wearing a belt was quite interesting, especially for women who find wearing a belt to be fussy because it moves around a lot.  In this look, by Burberry Prorsum the scarf is held to the body with a belt.

To pull something off like this successfully there are a few things to keep in mind.  First, the scarf you choose needs to be lightweight enough so it won’t create too much bulk when it is belted.  Lord knows, nobody wants a big ol’ scarf adding the look of extra weight.  Second, make sure the scarf is long enough to be tucked in.  How annoying would it be to keep fussing with your scarf so it stays in your belt?  Third, make sure the belt is tight enough to fit securely to your waist.  An belt with some elastic is probably your best bet.  Lastly, this type of look will probably look and feel best with a dress.  Can you imagine wearing a skirt and top and then layering a scarf and belt over it?  All I can picture is a lot of tucking and adjusting.  The whole point of this look is to feel fuss-free.

Do I think this approach to scarf wearing is realistic and practical?  No, not really.  It looks good but I am still trying to wrap my brain around what it will look like off the runway or on someone with a larger chest.  Try it out for yourself and see if it works.  I’d love to hear from anyone who tries this and loves it.  Despite my wariness that wearing a scarf like this, I created a look using this approach.

In this outfit I took a Reiss dress and styled it with a long Topshop scarf and belted the outfit with a Lauren Ralph Lauren belt.  The outfit is finished for work with a pair of navy pumps, navy tote and simple gold earrings.

Outfit #2- A cravat or ascot

Next, the cravat or ascot scarf will also be very popular for fall.  While tying a scar in this manner is as old as the hills, wearing a scarf this way is just coming back around again.

Personally, I’ve never been a fan of the ascot or cravat look.  It just comes across as really uptight.  However, tying a scarf like this does have a few things going for it.  First, it brings color right up near the face, which can be a real benefit.  Second, it fills in a neckline and can offer coverage for women who would rather not show off this body part.  When choosing a scarf to wear as cravat or ascot a square is usually the preferred shape.  You want to make sure it is long enough so you can tie it but not too long that it will create bulk when you tuck it in your shirt.

Not sure how to tie an ascot or cravat scarf so it stays put and also looks polished vs. smushed up around the neck?  Here is a very quick video that shows you how to tie it.

A white shirt is the perfect pairing with a scarf tied as an ascot or cravat because it brings color up near the face.  In this outfit I used Boden’s classic white shirt, a paisley scarf by Lauren Ralph Lauren.  For a casual, pulled together look, I used a pair of bootcut jeans, orange Sperry flats, a teal handbag and teal stud earrings.

Outfit #3- A scarf pin

The scarf pin is another oldie that we haven’t seen in a while but is resurfacing this fall.  With this happening, you can probably expect to see other scarf accessories emerging.

Using a scarf pin or clip is a another great way to keep your scarf from flopping around or feeling too fussy.  A decorative brooch is fine to use as a pin for your scarves but there are also plenty of other pins and clips designed particularly for scarves.  One resource to check out is The Shawl Pin Store and there are plenty of artisans and sellers on Etsy creating their own too.

If you purchase a scarf pin or clip here is a video showing a few ways you can use it.

In this outfit I used a scarf pin similarly to how it was used in the runway photo, by attaching the pin to the sweater.  You can do this if your scarf clip comes with a pin.  You can also find clips that don’t have a pin and it won’t attach to your clothes.

This outfit is styled with a turquoise cable knit sweater from Reiss, a printed Tory Burch scarf, grey Topshop pants and flats, an orange Aldo handbag and gold and turquoise earrings from Max & Chloe.

Outfit #5- With a deep neckline

When they say the scarf will be the neck necklace for fall I think this is what they mean, wearing it with a deep neckline.  Clearly this approach isn’t offering any function or warmth, but some nice detail around a bare clavicle.

When I look at wearing a scarf like this I can’t help but sing the first few lines to Grease Lightening, it just looks so 50’s, but is also very Parisian and elegant.  If you’re getting tired of your necklaces, or are craving a change, filling in your vacant neckline with a scarf around the neck might feel like a nice change.

In this outfit I used a black and yellow scarf from Echo to add some color to this all black outfit consisting of a classic French Connection dress (that happens to be reversible), black pumps from BCBGeneration, black stud earrings from Stella & Dot and black and gold House of Harlow bracelet.  This scarf also gave me the opportunity to add this bold yellow handbag from Steve Madden.

Outfit #5- Pattern Mixing

Plaid is definitely not a new trend, nor is the town and country look.  However, what is new to the mix is pattern mixing, particularly with florals.  Floral prints will continue to fall.  Imagine summer florals in darker, richer colors.  To mix plaid an florals takes some skill.  While this last look isn’t a new way to tie a scarf, mixing these patterns together is.

There are a few rules of thumb you can follow when mixing patterns.  First, scale is usually one of them.  To pull off pattern mixing, typically, one of the prints needs to be larger than the other.  However, when mixing plaid and florals, this isn’t necessarily the case.  Second, choosing colors that work harmoniously together.  You want to find colors equal in tone and shade.  The colors you are mixing don’t have to be exact but they should complement each other.  The last tip is just trial and error.  Often, when I am styling a client, I’ll try something out and it fails miserably.  Sometimes you just have to see if it works to be pleasantly surprised.  If two patterns work together your gut will know it.

Here is an example of this trend using a Boden tweed blazer, Diesel plaid scarf and floral Jessica Simpson top that have been paired with a pair of skinny jeans, Steve Madden boots and a cognac Frye bag.  As you can see the colors of the jacket, top and scarf all harmoniously work.  This is definitely not a look for the meek, but, for those of you looking to step out a bit, it is worth trying.

Shop for scarves

Now that you have some fresh ideas on how to wear a scarf this fall, check out these additional scarf styles from around the web.