How to Style a Scarf: Fall Outfit Ideas for Chic Looks
Want to add loads of style to your Autumn wardrobe? One of the best ways to look fabulous is to style a scarf with a fall outfit.
Today, I’m sharing three good reasons to wear a scarf in the fall and how to style a scarf to create Chic Fall Outfits.
3 Reasons to Wear a Scarf in Fall
Scarves are Transitional
A scarf is the perfect layering piece. It helps transition a summer outfit into fall and winter and a winter outfit into spring. You can wear a scarf with dresses, pants, skirts, or jumpsuits!
Scarves Add Color
Dressing head to toe in a dark fall outfit can be chic, but it can also sometimes be a bit drab. Perk things up with a gorgeous, colorful fall scarf. Your perfect scarf complements your skin, eyes, and hair and will make you glow. A scarf also redirects the focus off other parts of your body and puts it where it should be: on your pretty face!
Scarves Add Texture and Dimension
Sometimes, all an outfit needs to make it more interesting is a little texture, and a scarf is perfect for that. Look for boucle, cashmere, and chunky knit scarves to add variety and depth to your Fall outfit.
How to Style a Scarf : Fall Outfit Ideas
A scarf can dress up a casual look or bring a relaxed vibe to a dressy outfit. Here are 4 great ideas for what to wear with fall scarves and how to style them to look modern and on trend.
1. A Bouclé Scarf, Dresses, Up Jeans
If you’re a sweater-and-jeans gal, nothing better than a scarf to pull your look together and turn everything into an outfit. See how I’ve done it here with this chic yet affordable, multicolored scarf woven from super soft and cozy bouclé yarn?
This rustic scarf adds color and great texture to an otherwise plain outfit. Chic suede slides and this creamy bag create a harmonious, high-end look.
2. Pair a Colorblock with a Sweaterdress
One of my favorite fall-style recipes is a cozy sweater dress with booties or tall boots. It’s comfortable, keeps you warm on chilly fall days, and is easy to wear when you’ve slept through the alarm and only have five minutes to get ready for work.
Adding a scarf to a sweater dress makes it extra chic and polished. See how I’ve done it here? I started with a neutral-colored black sweater dress and a pair of luxurious suede booties. By adding a bright, modern scarf, I’ve taken a basic outfit from pretty lovely to pretty wow!
3. Add an Animal Print Scarf to a Leggings Outfit
Do you love leggings and want to find a cool new way to style them? Adding a scarf is an excellent option.
Start with a pair of faux black leggings, and add a flowy tunic. Next, layer on an animal print scarf, and watch the magic happen. Different scarves produce outfits with other vibes. I like the look of animal print, like this python-print scarf worn with faux leather leggings. It gives this outfit an exotic, edgy vibe.
A floral scarf or striped scarf would create an entirely different feel. That’s the beauty of scarves.
4. Try a Classic Plaid Scarf with White Jeans
A scarf is a good way to make a white jeans outfit look more fall-like. Pair a plaid scarf with a pastel boucle turtleneck and white jeans. This peach and gray plaid scarf is refined and elegant and looks fabulous worn with a dusty peach boucle sweater and skinny white jeans.
Add sleek riding boots and a trendy bucket bag for a sophisticated look that is all Equestrian.
Scarves…..Are you ready to tie one on?
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I love your ideas. I can’t wait to try them. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of style.
Thanks for the scarf reminder. I have the wardrobe, but I seldom remember to add the scarf. I worry the scarf will ‘ wear me ‘ instead of the other way ‘round, but now I realize it keeps eyes on the folds of the scarf rather than my wrinkles????
Thanks!
Deb, it will be hard for me to continue following you when you featured a sweater costing $300.00. I rarely spend more than $100.00 on a casual item.
How would you tie the scarf with the off-the-shoulder sweater? Even my ballet-neck shirts don’t look quite right with a scarf. Maybe it’s how I connect them? Usually a slip knot. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Lindsey, I wouldn’t get fancy as you don’t want to take away from the off-the-shoulder detail. Try wearing the scarf around your neck with the ends hanging straight down on either side ( super basic, but it doesn’t take away from the off-the-shoulder neckline), or you can wear it the way it is tied in the collage, so it is wrapped once around the neck with the ends hanging down on either side. Try adjusting the scarf tighter or looser around your neck and see what looks best. Every off-the-shoulder is a little different, so you must play around to know what you like.
I love the look of scarves and have bought many, only to have them sit in my closet. I feel they hide my neck and create too much volume on top. Am I doing something wrong? I’m 5’5″ and am not overweight or very curvy. Could it be that scarves are better on taller women? Thanks for your advice; I ly on your blog for good information!
Hi Debbie, It could be that you have a short neck, making you look too bundled up, or perhaps you are tying them too close to your neck. It might also be that you are buying scarves that are too big for your frame. A vast, voluminous scarf on a fine-boned gal or petite gal can be overwhelming. The other possibility is you may not be comfortable wearing scarves. I have scarves too, and I rarely wear them. I’m a minimalist at heart. Maybe they are not your style personality.
Try switching up some of the things I have talked about, and look at scarves boards on Pinterest for ideas. If they still don’t feel right, maybe they aren’t for you.