How to Choose a Scarf

Solid color, print, long, short, infinity, ruffled, square, triangle... how's a girl to choose?

While you may have several scarves in your closet, each one should be in one of your best colors and tied in a way that draws attention to your face and away from any trouble spots.

>> Here I'll walk you through how to choose a scarf with the following in mind <<

- print versus solid
- which color
- which shape
- how to tie it to flatter your shape

PRINT VERSUS SOLID COLOR

What's your wardrobe lacking?

The simplest way to answer this question is to look at what you've already got a lot of in your wardrobe, and what you have room for more of.

If you've got a ton of solid colors in your wardrobe already, a scarf in a print that coordinates with a bunch of the colors will get a lot of wear. You might want a couple just for some variety, but it won't take many to go a long way.

On the other hand, if you're already full up on prints, I suggest a solid color that actually shows up in a lot of the prints you have. That will give you more wear than any other color in your palette, even if it coordinates with the prints you already own.

YOUR BEST COLORS

Coordinate with your natural coloring

I always start with color because it's the most powerful tool in our style toolbox. Color has the most impact on our overall look.

If you haven't learned your best colors yet, click here to take my three-minute color quiz. It will tell you your best neutrals, accent colors, and which colors will make you pop. It will also tell you which colors to stay away from.

When it comes to choosing a scarf, I suggest a pop color because it will bring attention to your face. However, using one of your best neutrals is also a great place to start because it will work with so many other things in your wardrobe.

Remember that not all neutrals will be YOUR best neutrals, so be sure to take the quiz if you haven't already.

HOW LONG AND WHAT STYLE

Length and detail create a balanced shape

In 2024 the long, bulky, rectangular scarves we've been seeing for the last few years aren't as popular now. They've moved aside to make way for the daintier silk scarves of the past.

But if you know me, you know I don't care much about trends. I'd rather know my own personal style, stick with it no matter what anyone else is doing, and feel confident that I'm dressing for ME and not anyone else.

So, with that in mind, the length and shape of style of scarf you get is really up to you.

When it comes to dressing your body well, it's more about the overall shape it creates on you as you wear it than the shape it is on its own.

If you know your body well, you know if you tend to be wider in the shoulders and bust line or if you're wider in the hips. That will inform how to wear (and tie) a scarf and create balance.

HOW TO TIE A SCARF FOR YOUR BODY TYPE

A bajillion ways to tie, but only one BEST way

When it comes to tying a scarf, though there are pins upon pins on Pinterest showing different options, they can be grouped into two basic categories.

One is more flattering if you have a larger bust. The other is great for balancing out wider hips.

If you're wider on the top, you'll want your scarf to be the opposite -- long and narrow. You can tie it in a way that creates one or two horizontal panels, or even leave it left untied and just draped in two long sides.

If, however, you find yourself wider in the hips, you'll want your scarf to be short and wide to create visual balance. That can be achieved either by tying your scarf in a way that creates that shape or by using something like a bulkier scarf that doesn't get tied at all, but ends up as just a single loop.

I go into a slight bit more detail on tying a scarf for your shape in these two articles here: How to Tie a Scarf if you have a Large Bust AND How to Tie a Scarf if you have a Small Bust.

WELL ON YOUR WAY

Time to start shopping

Now that you've got your three pillars of style -- color, shape, and personal style -- nailed down, you're well on your way to finding the perfect jean jacket for you.

But, if you feel like you could use a little more help putting all the pieces together, or you'd like some suggestions of where and how to shop, I've got you covered.

What we talked about here was just the start of each of these topics. I have a complete course called CURATED that walks you through the steps of building a wardrobe you love from the ground up.

In it, I go more in depth into each of the three topics I touched on here. I also give you a plan for building a wardrobe around your lifestyle so that you always have something to wear for every even and activity that comes up in your daily life.

You'll find that you'll actually have what you need, and need what you have. That means you won't find any extraneous pieces shoved in the back of your closet that never get worn, and that you don't buy things that never see the light of day.

If this sounds like the right place for you, click here to join the waitlist for CURATED. It's a high-touch course, so it only opens once a year!