There Are Precisely 8 Stylish Ways to Wear Your Winter Scarf

Rather than being based on what you actually own, or how much you can constantly afford to buy, looking truly stylish does comes down to styling. It's those little (often free) details that can shift from year to year, or season to season, and therefore it's good to stay on top of them. Like, how you tuck a shirt in. Or combine a blazer with jeans. What length your skinny jean hems sit at. How to wear your scarf. And the latter is what we're here to talk about today because after a relatively mild winter things are feeling glacial, and it's time our trusty knitted and woolen scarves were allowed out of hibernation. 

I don't believe there's a need to purchase a new scarf unless yours somehow doesn't fulfill its purpose of keeping you warm (in which case, a mystery!), but there are new ways to wear this cold-weather staple to make it feel oh-so-2019. For inspiration, we've looked to influencers who are embracing what winter wardrobes have to offer and taking outfit pictures outside, complete with that final flourish—an artfully wrapped, knotted, looped, draped, caped or belted scarf.

There are more advanced options should you want to be truly dedicated to a "look" as well as simple scarf-styling ideas that you'll probably be already doing automatically—only now you just get a big fat fashion seal of approval. We're feeling warmer, and chicer, already.

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THE ONE-SIDED SWOOSH
(Image credit: @_jeanettemadsen_)

Loop around the neck once and leave one long end draped forward, with the other over one shoulder—and you have a very chic, streamlined effect. Extra points if you have a matching jumper, like Jeanette.

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(Image credit: @isabellath)

This also works well with larger scarves where you can create a gap between your neck and the swooshed front of the scarf—great if you tend to overheat or are wearing a roll-neck (or necklace you'd like to show off).

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THE LET-IT-ALL-HANG-LOOSE MOVE
(Image credit: @wethepeoplestyle)

Less of a keeping-you-warm move and more of a look-at-my-new-scarf option, simply throw your favourite scarf over a coat or jumper and leave it open.

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(Image credit: @symphonyofsilk)

There's something particularly rich-looking about this move, especially when in soft neutral tones like Lorna's combination here.

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THE RETRO HEADSCARF
(Image credit: @lindatol_)

Not to be done with a chunky woolen scarf, but very useful for keeping your ears and head toasty in the colder months, a silk (or other fabric) foulard knotted around your chin has come back into fashion. Linda's Rika scarf is inspired by Jackie O—how chic.

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(Image credit: @hannamw)

It's not for the fashion-shy, perhaps, so if you're more adventurous, check out Hanna Mw and her headscarf styling nous.

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THE CLASSIC WRAPAROUND
(Image credit: @charlottekuhrt)

Perhaps the easiest and most natural of them all, here's the classic wrap-around-the-neck move, leaving the two ends of your scarf dangling at the front.

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(Image credit: @gxiayan)

If you've got an extra-long scarf, wrap it around your neck twice for a doubly cold-fighting barrier.

Related: How Influencers From Some of the Coldest Places on Earth Stay Stylish in Winter

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THE JUMPER-SCARF KNOT
(Image credit: @slipintostyle)

Not technically a scarf, but acting up as one, many girls are using this double-jumper trick as a neat/cosy styling trick for winter.

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(Image credit: @tamumcpherson)

Some jumpers come with scarves attached, but you can easily replicate this with a couple of tonally-matched affordable knits from, say, Uniqlo.

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THE JUMBO CAPE
(Image credit: @darjabarannik)

Got a scarf bigger than the square footage of your flat? Then you'll want to simply drape it over your shoulders as a cape, rather than wrap it around and feel like the Michelin man.

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(Image credit: @stylememos)

Cape-scarves work particularly well with trousers and suiting—add them to a dress and they can look a little boho 2004.

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THE FRONT-TRIANGLE LOOP
(Image credit: @annabelrosendahl)

Proving to be a popular scarf style choice among the Scandi set, this styling move is essentially the same as the wraparound, only you're using a square-shaped scarf, which means a triangle forms at the front.

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(Image credit: @msorrig)

Very chic with lighter weight options, like Mette's printed silk scarf here.

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THE ASYMMETRIC BELTER
(Image credit: @ouymaymaboumeshouli)

Want to make a real statement? Then this is the scarf styling trick to replicate: Fasten a one-sided statement jumbo-scarf in place with a belt.

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

It adds interest to a worn-out winter coat, as well as reining in a roomier, oversized silhouette with a bit of waist nipping.

Shop our favourite scarves

Related: This Easy Winter Outfit Formula Is All Over Pinterest

Hannah Almassi
Editor in Chief

Hannah Almassi is the editor in chief of Who What Wear UK. Hannah has been part of the the Who What Wear brand since 2015, when she was headhunted to launch the UK sister site and social channels, implement a localised content strategy and build out the editorial team. She joined following a seven-year tenure at Grazia magazine, where she led front-of-book news, fashion features and shopping specials as fashion news and features editor. With experience in both print and digital across fashion and beauty, Hannah has over 16 years in the field as a journalist, editor, content strategist and brand consultant. Hannah has interviewed industry heavyweights such as designers including Marc Jacobs and Jonathan Anderson through to arbiters of taste including Katie Grand and Anna Dello Russo. A skilled moderator and lecturer specialising in the shift to digital media and e-commerce, Hannah’s opinion and work has been sought by the likes of CNBC, BBC, The Sunday Times Style, The Times, The Telegraph and MatchesFashion.com, among many others. Hannah is often called upon for her take on trends, becoming known as a person with their finger of the pulse of what’s happening in the fashion space for stylish Brits.

Hannah currently resides in Eastbourne with her photographer husband, incredibly busy son and highly Instagrammable cat.