Here at Sara Anderson Design, we are a bit partial to scarves. We think they make any outfit an ensemble and we can’t live without them. The way they can add color to basic pieces is one of our favorite ways to inject a little style extra into our everyday wardrobe.

From basic black to always stylish neutrals, scarves will elevate any outfit and create a statement for all occasions.

We also understand that not everyone looks at a flowing piece of fabric and thinks, ‘I know just how to wear that!’ – quite the opposite in fact. Scarves are most traditionally thought of as something for warmth, but our favorite scarves are those that can be worn all year round.

While there are infinite ways to style a scarf, here are our favorite styles.

1) The Basic Horseshoe

This traditional style is the simplest way to wear a scarf. This Style works directly on top of your outfit, or you can adorn your outerwear, just under the lapel, with a colorful scarf to add some additional style to a classic jacket.

Simply drape the scarf around your neck so there is an equal amount of fabric on each side.

2) The Wrap Around

Just like the name says this style is a wonderful way to wrap yourself with style. We use this style mostly when we’re interested in staying warm because the wrapping of the fabric tends to create an insulated layer but that’s not the only time we wear this style.

Start with a quarter of the scarf draped around your neck. Then wrap the rest of the fabric twice around your neck and adjust the hanging ends so they are even. Easy!

3) Around your Neck

We don’t advise utilizing this style while wearing a pencil skirt and button down for fear that you will look a little too much like you fly the friendly skies for a living – we love all our flight attendant clients! This is a favorite style when we want to dress up simple jeans and t-shirt with a little more color and flare.

All you have to do is wrap the scarf around your neck and knot with a simple knot. Just make sure to adjust the knot so the ends are pointing down and not up into your hair.

4) The Infinity

An infinity scarf is different from a traditional scarf because it is a single ring of fabric with no beginning or end. We love infinity scarves, but they can be a little limiting in how to style them and the styles that they come in. Use this method to make any traditional scarf an infinity with just two steps!

First, knot two opposite corners of your scarf as close to the ends as possible. Finally, wrap the scarf around your neck twice and adjust it so the knot is hidden. Voila!

5) The Shoulder Cover

To say this is our favorite way to style a scarf would be an understatement. This is probably our most used style. It dresses up any outfit and doubles as a way to stay warm when it’s chilly. We love how we can keep wearing our staple clothing pieces but create totally different looks with different color or style scarves. We can use silk, cashmere, knitted, cotton blend, and more.

There are a few options for how to achieve this style. For extra-long scarves you can not only drape them over your shoulders, but you can also tie two opposite ends together to create a shawl. You can wear that knot visible in the front or loop your arms through the scarf to have the knot hidden in the back.

If you just want to drape your shoulders and leave the ends hanging, that works great for all scarves. Or add a broach to close the scarf or to affix it to your outfit to keep the style in place as you move. The options are endless.

BONUS – Short Scarves: In your Hair

This style can be a bit of a throwback to the 50’s if you pair it with petal pushers and a fitted button down shirt. Or you can create a feminine moment while wearing a leather jacket.

Simply wrap the scarf around your ponytail and tie with a knot. If you have fine hair and your scarf tends to fall out of your hair, loop the scarf through your hair tie before tying and let the elastic do the work of keeping it in place.

ANOTHER BONUS – Scarf on your Handbag

This option is found to be most popular with luxury bag designers as a way to protect your pricey purchase. But it’s a great idea for anyone to customize your handbag to reflect your outfit or just your sparkling personality.

For shorter scarves, knot your scarf around your bag handle for a quick and easy style. For longer scarfs, wrap the entire handle of your bag and knot the ends. The options for this expressive style are truly endless.

We hope we have given you a peak behind the curtain of How to Style Scarves and given you some ideas on how to punch up your accessory game.

Tell us: What is your favorite way to style a scarf?