A closer look at the popular fashion accessory through the years
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Bella Hadid seen on a night out with friends leaving Chiltern Firehouse on August 17, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Ricky Vigil M/GC Images)
Scarves have been around for centuries. Dating all the way back to Queen Nefrotiti, who was believed to wear a tightly wrapped scarf around her head to protect the jewels she wore. All throughout history, scarves were a key fashion accessory. When you think about the ’50s through the ’70s, celebrities like Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy wore a scarf elegantly wrapped around their hair, secured under their chin. In the ’90s it was all about a chic necktie scarf. And we can’t forget one of our favorite eras, in the early 2000s into the 2010s when Alexander McQueen’s iconic skull scarf was spotted on celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Nicole Richie, Hilary Duff, and Lourdes Leon, to name a few.
These days, we’re back in the space where scarves are being styled like a bandana. It first started on the runway (Versace Spring / Summer 2022 collection, for example) and over the last few months, “It” girls from Bella Hadid, to FKA Twigs, and Julia Fox, have all tried out the trend.
Get some inspiration to amp up your scarf style, below.
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From the runway to real life, the scarf is most notably being worn bandana-style these days. At the Versace Spring-Summer 2202 show, the brand featured several headscarves as well as KNWLS in 2021. From bright colors for a sporty vibe to more grunge stylings, FKA Twigs, Bella Hadid, and Julia Fox all showed off their take on the popular accessory.
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 24: A model walks the runway at the Versace fashion show during the Milan Fashion Week – Spring / Summer 2022 on September 24, 2021 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: A model walks the runway at the KNWLS show during London Fashion Week September 2021 on September 18, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/BFC/Getty Images)LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 25: FKA Twigs is seen at The Twenty Two in Grosvenor Square on May 25, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Ricky Vigil M/GC Images)LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Bella Hadid seen on a night out with friends leaving Chiltern Firehouse on August 17, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Ricky Vigil M/GC Images)PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 25: Julia Fox is seen on January 25, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/GC Images)
The Scarf in the 2010s
One of our favorite eras of the scarf was in the early 2010’s, when the Alexander McQueen skull scarf was at its peak. McQueen first released the skull scarf in 2003, and celebrities everywhere, from Kim Kardashian, to Hillary Duff, Nicole Richie to Lourdes Leon wore the skull scarf hung loosely around their necks to demonstrate a cool, rocker look.
Hilary Duff signs her new book ‘Elixir’ at Hotel Costes on February 3, 2011 in Paris, France.<> at Borders Books & Music, Columbus Circle on September 28, 2010 in New York City.LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 21: Kim Kardashian sighting on March 21, 2009 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage)LILONGWE, MALAWI – MARCH 29: Lourdes attend a briefing at Chinkhota Village with mother Madonna outside Lilongwe in Malawi on March 29, 2009 where a new school is been established with her backing (Photo by Michelly Rall/Getty Images)
The Scarf in the ’90s
The ’90s it was all about the sophisticated styling of wearing scarves knotted around the neck. On the runway, the wrapped-around styling was seen at Hermès, as well as Versace.
PARIS, FRANCE – MARCH: A model walks the runway at the Hermes Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 1989-1990 fashion show during the Paris Fashion Week in March, 1989 in Paris, France. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – MARCH: A model walks the runway at the Hermes Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 1989-1990 fashion show during the Paris Fashion Week in March, 1989 in Paris, France. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – MARCH: Nadege Dubospertus walks the runway at the Hermes Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 1990-1991 fashion show during the Paris Fashion Week in March, 1990 in Paris, France. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – JULY: A model walks the runway at the Versace Haute Couture Fall/Winter 1990-1991 fashion show during the Paris Fashion Week in July, 1990 in Paris, France. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
The Scarf in the ’50s-’70s
We can’t talk about scarves without mentioning Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy. They both draped the accessory over their hair, knotted under the chin (likely to protect their ‘dos from the elements) and they both looked effortlessly chic doing so.
Audrey Hepburn in Charade (Photo by Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty Images)Jacqueline Onassis at Heathrow Airport, London on 3rd January 1972. (Photo by Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images).
However you choose to wear your scarf, there’s a lot of inspiration to be found through the years. Whether you chose to follow today’s trend or one from the past, having a scarf in your wardrobe is must.
