How to wear a scarf comes down to two choices: the tie and the colour. Match the tie to your coat's neckline, so a lapel coat gets a scarf that sits inside the collar and a collarless coat gets one that fills the open neck. Then pick a scarf colour that suits your face, because the scarf is the piece that sits right under it.
The tie is the easy part. Whether burgundy, camel or grey looks better under your chin depends on your skin, hair and eyes, which no list can see. The app we make, Wdrobe, can read your colouring from one face photo and say which shades to keep near it.
6 ways to tie a scarf
Most of these need a long rectangular scarf of about 180 cm (70 inches). The last two use a square or a large blanket scarf. Practise each one in front of a mirror with your coat on, because the coat changes how much scarf shows.
1. The drape
Hang the scarf around your neck with both ends falling straight down the front, level or one slightly longer. It is the simplest tie and the most relaxed.
Best with: an open long coat or a blazer, on a mild day. It adds a long vertical line and gives no warmth at the throat, so it is for style more than cold.
Outfit formula: long camel coat worn open + cream wool scarf draped + black polo neck + dark straight jeans + black ankle boots.
2. The once-around
Wrap the scarf once around your neck and let both ends hang in front. It covers the back of the neck and leaves the front loose.
Best with: a single-breasted wool coat with notched lapels. The scarf sits inside the collar, and the ends lie over the lapels or tuck behind them.
Outfit formula: navy wool coat + grey once-around scarf + white shirt + camel wide-leg trousers + brown loafers.
3. The Parisian knot
Fold the scarf in half lengthways, put it around your neck, then pull both loose ends through the loop and tighten it gently. It is neat, warm and stays put all day.
Best with: a tailored coat buttoned up, a trench coat, or a crew-neck jumper with no coat. It is the tie for the office and the commute. More ways to style the trench are in trench coat outfits.
Outfit formula: beige trench coat + burgundy scarf in a Parisian knot + navy jumper + dark jeans + white trainers.
4. The double wrap
Wrap the scarf twice around your neck, then either let the short ends hang or tuck them inside the loops. It is the warmest tie on this list.
Best with: a puffer, a parka or a coat with a stand collar or funnel neck. These coats have no lapels for a scarf to sit inside, so a thick wrap at the throat fills the gap. If you are still choosing a coat, our winter coat guide covers the shapes.
Outfit formula: black puffer jacket + chunky cream knit scarf in a double wrap + black leggings + black lug-sole boots.
Under a coat, two scarves that look different on the hook can sit almost the same. The question is whether the grey or the burgundy works better with the navy coat on you, and that is hard to judge by holding them up. Save each coat with the scarf that suits it.
5. Tucked under the lapels
Hang a scarf or a large blanket scarf around your neck and close the coat over it, so the scarf shows only in the V between the lapels. It works like a warm bib.
Best with: a double-breasted coat or a wrap coat that you belt. The scarf adds colour and texture at the neck without changing the coat's clean outline.
Outfit formula: charcoal double-breasted coat + red and grey checked scarf tucked under the lapels + black knit dress + black tights + knee-high boots.
6. The triangle
Fold a square scarf or blanket scarf corner to corner, place the triangle at the front of your neck, cross the ends behind and bring them back to the front. Leave them hanging or knot them at the side. A small silk square can be tied the same way as a neckerchief.
Best with: a collarless or cocoon coat, a leather jacket or a denim jacket. The triangle fills the open neck that these coats leave.
Outfit formula: collarless cream wool coat + camel blanket scarf in a triangle + brown roll-neck + chocolate midi skirt + brown knee boots.
Which tie goes with which coat
| Coat | Easiest tie | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Single-breasted, notched lapels | Once-around or Parisian knot | Sits inside the collar |
| Double-breasted or wrap coat | Tucked under the lapels | Keeps the coat's line clean |
| Collarless or cocoon coat | Triangle or drape | Fills the open neck |
| Puffer or parka | Double wrap | Warmth with no lapels to fill |
| Trench coat | Parisian knot | Neat with the belt and collar |
| Funnel or stand collar | Double wrap, worn low | The collar already covers the throat |
The general rule: the bigger and higher the coat's own collar, the smaller the scarf should be. A big funnel neck and a big blanket scarf together leave no room for your face.
Which scarf colours suit you
A scarf sits right under your chin and reflects colour onto your face, so it matters more than the coat. A colour that suits you makes the skin look clear; one that does not can make it look tired or grey.
Warm colouring (golden, peachy or olive skin, warm brown or red hair) usually suits camel, rust, mustard, olive, cream and warm red.
Cool colouring (pink or rosy skin, ash or black hair) usually suits charcoal, navy, burgundy, icy grey, pure white and berry shades.
Contrast matters too. If your hair is much darker than your skin, a scarf with strong contrast, such as black and white check, will look natural on you. If your hair, skin and eyes are close in depth, softer mixes such as camel and cream look better.
For more on this, see what colours suit you. For putting colour near the face in general, how to accessorize basic outfits covers belts, bags and jewellery as well.
Scarf colours for the most common coats
- Camel coat: cream, chocolate, burgundy, navy, or a camel and black check.
- Black coat: almost anything. Camel, red, cream and grey all look sharp. A black scarf on a black coat looks heavy unless the textures differ.
- Navy coat: grey, burgundy, camel, cream, or a red and navy stripe.
- Grey or charcoal coat: burgundy, cobalt, cream, or soft pink.
Knowing your colours and owning them are two different things. You may already have the right scarf for the grey coat and just never pair them. Check your scarves against your colours.
Fabric, size and when to wear each
- Chunky knit: the warmest and the most casual. Best with puffers, parkas and weekend coats. Use the double wrap or the drape.
- Fine wool or cashmere: warm but thin enough for any tie. Best with tailored coats.
- Blanket scarf: large and soft, about 140 cm square. Use the triangle or tuck it under the lapels.
- Silk square: not for warmth. Tie it as a neckerchief with a trench or a leather jacket in spring and autumn.
Frequently asked questions
How should ladies wear a scarf with a coat?
Match the tie to the coat's neckline. With a lapel coat, wrap the scarf once around the neck or tie a Parisian knot so it sits inside the collar. With a collarless coat, fill the open neck with a triangle or a drape. With a puffer, a double wrap gives the most warmth.
Should a scarf go inside or outside your coat?
Inside, for warmth and a neat look with a tailored coat: the scarf sits inside the collar or under the lapels. Outside, over the collar, when the coat is collarless or open, or when the scarf is the main feature of the outfit.
How do you wear a blanket scarf?
Fold it into a triangle, put the point at the front, cross the ends behind your neck and bring them forward. It also works tucked under the lapels of a double-breasted coat. Keep the coat simple, because a blanket scarf has a lot of fabric.
How do you tie a scarf so it stays on?
The Parisian knot and the double wrap stay in place best. Fold the scarf in half and pull the ends through the loop for a knot that does not slip, or wrap it twice and tuck the ends into the loops.
What colour scarf goes with a camel coat?
Cream, chocolate brown, burgundy and navy all work with camel. A camel and black check looks sharp, and a soft grey is a good choice if your colouring is cool.
If you are building the rest of the winter outfit, winter layering outfits shows what goes under the coat.
Now you know the six ties and which colours tend to suit warm and cool colouring. What is still open is which of your own scarves belongs with which coat, and whether that burgundy one really suits you. Wdrobe gives you a free colour analysis from one photo of your face, and lets you save each coat in an outfit with its scarf, so the pairing that worked is ready on the next cold morning. Find out which of your scarves to keep near your face.
