The 7 Coolest* Ways to Wear a Headscarf (*Instructions Included)

There’s no one way to wear a headscarf: In fact, we’ve counted at least seven stylish knotting, tying and looping techniques that you may want to explore, should this be your next styling mountain to climb. And there are plenty of reasons as to why you may suddenly be feeling some foulard-related urges: Balenciaga put neat little matchy-matchy headscarves on the runway for autumn/winter. MSGM adopted the accessory, too—only you won’t expect the way either brand decided to style them.

Street stylers have also been experimenting, crafting elaborate turbans for nights out, and perfecting their Gucci-style eclectism by topping every look with a neat scarf headband (along with earrings, giant sunnies and a neckerchief, of course). While many are heading into the baker-boy hat trend or staying faithful to their berets, it’s the headscarf crew that’s holding our attention right now. Keep reading to see the seven coolest ways to wear a headscarf now, as well as our GIF guide to knotting them well.

1. The hippie

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Style Notes: This style looks best loosely knotted to the back of a modern ponytail, allowing the scarf tails to billow in the wind. See Gucci’s resort collection (above) for what-to-wear-with guidance.

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(Image credit: Who What Wear UK)

2. The Queen

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Style Notes: A neat knot at the chin from a square (often printed) scarf is required for this classic ’50s-inspired style. One would normally associate it with the queen when off duty (gilet optional), but most recently, the idea has been adopted in a tonal approach by Demna Gvasalia on the Balenciaga runway.

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(Image credit: Who What Wear UK)

Related: I Exclusively Wear Straight-Leg Jeans—These Are the Best I've Tried

3. The topknot

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(Image credit: Natalie Off Duty)

Style Notes: Part turban, part headband, this is a cuter take on the more adventurous turban seen below. It’s particularly good if you want to look a little boho—I’d suggest adding earrings and/or sunglasses and wearing your hair loose. Best achieved with a skinny scarf.

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(Image credit: Who What Wear UK)

4. The Turban

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Style Notes: For the more outré fashion lovers with access to bigger scarves and dexterous hands, this is the headscarf action to implement for parties. Catherine Baba (the stylist who navigates Paris on a bicycle in Saint Laurent heels—pictured above) should be your spirit guide for getting it wrap. This is all about wrapping and pinning in place.

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(Image credit: Who What Wear UK)

5. The Bandana Triangle

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Style Notes: This can err on noughties territory when worn at the front of your forehead (or with a smaller bandana-print scarf), so it’s chicer to pick a silver foulard and wear it further back on your head like Cipriana Quann has done here.

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(Image credit: Who What Wear UK)

Related: Summer 2018 Fashion Trends: The Only Looks You Need to Know

6. The Pony

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Style Notes: This scarf-styling idea ruled summer 2017—simply grab a mini silk or cotton scarf, and knot it into a bow around any ponytail or bun for cute-girl brownie points. Who says scarves can’t be for saving bad hair days, eh?

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(Image credit: Who What Wear UK)

7. the hollywood

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Style Notes: Originally a wrap-and-go style for Hollywood starlets travelling in style, this retro scarf-tying look has been adopted by fashion girls such as Miroslava Duma.

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(Image credit: Who What Wear UK)

Shop some of my favourite scarves below.

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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.