Five ways to tie a neckerchief without looking like a Girl Guide

Telegraph

13-04-2025

Hands up who spent this winter wearing a snuggly knitted triangle scarf. Popular with women of all ages (I am a fan, as is my mum, who is in her seventies), they've been hugely successful and with good reason, being both practical – warm for indoors and out – as well as a stylish way to pep up even the most plain outfit.
So this summer, will we be embracing the lightweight alternative, the cotton neckerchief? And if so, how do we do that while avoiding looking like a Girl Guide, or even a cowboy? (For the record, neither of these style references is a bad one in my book, but we don't want to stray into fancy dress territory, do we?)
As well as being a very affordable wardrobe update, which also makes them a great gift, there are seemingly endless ways to wear them, meaning you can get lots of looks out of just a small piece of fabric. You could even make your own. Here are a few ideas to get you started…
The double triangle
Block printed scarf, £18, by Humphries & Begg; organic cotton 'Cleo' T-shirt, £65, by Toast
If you got hooked on the knitted triangle scarf this winter, this may well be the look for you. It's very straightforward with a cotton triangle scarf – simply knot it at the back – but if you can find a square big enough, like this one, you can create a double triangle for bonus neckwear points.
I like wearing the point of my scarf at the front rather than the back, especially if it boasts a beautiful print like this one, as it means I can enjoy looking at it rather than just leaving that pleasure to anyone walking behind me. Humphries & Begg has a lovely selection of neck scarves, designed by founder Alice Begg in Stroud, then printed onto cotton in Jaipur, India.
The cowboy knot
Cotton bandana, £49, by Toast; organic cotton striped 'Hannah' tee, £55, by Ivy; linen 'Saltings' trousers, £65.95, by Seasalt Cornwall; leather trainers, £150, by D-Stock by Grenson
Head to YouTube or Instagram, and you'll find a plethora of videos of women demonstrating imaginative, and often rather complicated, ways to tie your neckerchief. My favourite, however, is this simple one that I found on a vintage menswear account. If your scarf is a small square, fold it into a triangle first to gain maximum length. Then fold or roll it into a long, thin strip, and loop a knot into one end where it will sit at your neck. Pass the other end through the loop, and pull to tighten.
This technique works really well with the smaller, bandana style scarfs, but I love the effect that this longer triangle style gives; you could leave the triangle point loose at the back to show off more of this lovely illustration. Tying a scarf can sometimes be time consuming, but if you leave the knot in place once you've perfected it, you can throw it on easily next time you want to wear it.
The collar
Brushed cotton scarf with frill, £40, Ira & Isla; T-shirt, £65, by Toast; linen 'Mabel' trousers, £119, by Beyond Nine; leather shoes, £180, by Dr Martens
There's nothing wrong with a straightforward top-to-toe navy outfit like this one, but the addition of a neckerchief can liven it up a bit if that's the mood you're in. Choose a scarf with a fancy finish, and it can double as a removable collar-style.
This scarf is technically from a kidswear brand, but Ira and Isla's founder Jasleen Kaur, a former womenswear designer, tells me that its accessories are just as popular with adults. I love the frill detail on this soft brushed cotton scarf, which, when added with the tartan, will transform even the most plain outfit into something a bit more special.
The tie
Cotton blue checkerboard scarf, £32, by TBCo; striped 'Sea Path; shirt, £62.95 (on sale for £37.95), by Seasalt Cornwall
This one feels a bit like a pussy bow, but less frothy, and looks especially good with a heavyweight, oversized denim shirt, particularly if you're wearing that with some matching jeans. However, I couldn't resist this pattern clash today.
Roll your scarf up (remember to make it into a triangle first if it's a small, square one), then feed it through the top and second buttons of your shirt. Secure in place with a single knot and allow the loose ends to fall like a tie. This scarf is from TBCo, a Scottish brand whose triangle wool scarves were a sell out this winter more than once. In May, it is launching a collection of illustrated cotton neckerchiefs with matching T-shirts.
The classic kerchief
Organic cotton hand dyed bandana, £20, by Indigo Wares; organic cotton reversible dress, £100, by Damson Madder
It's great that there are so many different ways to wear a scarf, but sometimes the tried-and-tested methods work the best. A simple knot at the side of the neck, for example, is quick and easy and always looks great.
While I love the neckerchief's ability to add interest to my hard-working basics – plain white tees, cashmere sweaters and denim shirts work especially well with the addition of a scarf – I'm not averse to the idea of wearing one with a dress, even if that's a busy one with stripes, shirring and puffy sleeves. The key is to keep to the same or a similar colour palette. Founder of Indigo Wares, Lisa Reddings, tells me that this scarf was created on her friend's natural dye farm in Uttarakhand, India using madder root.