Words by Renee Washington
Charli XCX brought full-throttle energy and a healthy dose of Y2K fashion nostalgia to Glastonbury this year by reviving one of fashion’s most iconic accessories: the Alexander McQueen skull-print scarf. She wore it two ways, wrapped as a crop top and draped around her neck in a vivid pink and purple marine-inspired color-way. Styled with leather micro shorts and oval black sunglasses, the look was pure Charli: chaotic, brat girl summer, and totally club-kid.
Arguably the most iconic scarf in millennial fashion history, the McQueen skull print rose to fame in the early 2000s thanks to fashion legends like Kate Moss and Mary-Kate Olsen. Now, it’s getting a rave-ready revival on the Glasto stage.
Timothée Chalamet also recently made a case for the scarf. After appearing on Saturday Night Live in January, he was seen heading to the after-party bundled up in the skull print. In fact, trade the grey jeans for some skinny ones, and you’d really have to convince me that this wasn’t taken in 2008.
Born from McQueen’s Spring/Summer 2003 collection, the skull scarf quickly became a status symbol of the early and mid-noughties. Although I was just a toddler when it dropped (sorry), the accessory enjoyed enduring popularity for over a decade. It graced the necks, bags, and waists of everyone from Lindsay Lohan to Kim Kardashian, making it nearly impossible to miss. If someone were to ask me what defined the Indie Sleaze Tumblr aesthetic of 2012, this scarf immediately comes to mind. It had all the fashion girls in a serious chokehold.
Members of Gen Z (like me) who saw the tail end of the phenomenon were honestly happy to see it go, but some have been eagerly anticipating the scarf’s return. Under Tana Monageau’s viral video on the return of skinny jeans, she captioned her video ‘Are the scarves with skulls next’. To my surprise, the comments read, ‘I’m here for it,’ ‘Let’s manifest this.’
Now that Charli XCX has breathed new life into the scarf, we can only expect others to follow suit. Will you be one of them?
Shop the Skull Scarf
Alexander Mcqueen Skull Scarf, $199: SHOP NOW
This accessory ruled the early 2000s, and it’s surprisingly way easier to buy than a few years back.
Originally written and produced for GRAZIA UK
