Photo par smittenkittenorig via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)A scarf is there to keep you warm, but the way you tie it decides everything else. Draped carelessly, it just hangs. Thought about for two seconds, it shapes a silhouette and warms up a dull outfit. Six methods cover the basics, depending on whether you want heat, volume or just a touch of style.
The simple drape
The minimum. Lay the scarf flat around the neck, both ends falling at the front, no knot. It works over a structured coat, a peacoat or trench, where the scarf softens the rigid shoulders. To avoid the sloppy look, set the two ends to the same length or deliberately very uneven, never a hesitant few-centimetre gap.
The Parisian knot (loop)
The fastest of the warm knots. Fold the scarf in half lengthwise, pass it behind the neck, then slide both ends through the loop the fold makes. Tighten more or less depending on the cold. This is the everyday city move, because it holds without coming undone and closes the collar well.
The single wrap
One full turn around the neck, the ends falling at the front. More enveloping than the drape, freer than the Parisian. Ideal with a long scarf (1.80 m and over) in a fine knit, which wraps without forming a roll at the chin.
The double wrap
For deep cold and very long scarves. Two tight turns, the ends tucked under or left short at the front. It sits high on the neck and really protects. Keep it for thick knits: a fine scarf in a double wrap collapses and loses its volume.
The fake knot (ascot)
One turn around the neck with one end longer, then pass the long end under the turn and bring it back over, like a loose knot. The result is clean, almost dressed up. Nice over a plain wool coat when you want something other than the Parisian loop seen everywhere.
The scarf as a collar
For tube scarves or short, wide ones. Simply wrap around the neck in two or three close turns to build a standing collar. Handy under a collarless jacket, where it plays the part of a removable roll-neck.
Length and fabric, what changes everything
| Length | Suitable knots |
|---|---|
| Short (under 1.50 m) | Drape, scarf collar |
| Standard (1.60 to 1.80 m) | Parisian, fake knot, single wrap |
| Long (1.90 m and up) | Double wrap, loose single wrap |
The knit decides the fall. A thick wool or cashmere holds volume and takes double wraps. A fine viscose or cotton slides, perfect for a fluid drape but useless for warmth. In mid-season, a light stole in a loose Parisian is enough to dress a jacket without smothering it. In winter, go for thickness and length, which is where the double wrap earns its place.