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How to Wear a Scarf Dress?

by 陈菁 15 Apr 2025

Whoever first started combining a dress and a scarf together must be a genius! There are many dresses with belts, and now there are also more and more dresses with scarves! Of course, scarf dress is not simply adding a scarf and a dress together. On the contrary, it is a great test of the designer's skills to see whether he can match the scarf with the dress in the most elegant and beautiful way.

Nowadays, there are even more daring fashion gurus who directly transform scarves into dresses, winning a huge rate of turning heads. If you want to overturn your unchanging clothing style in the coming summer, you might as well try a scarf dress! Either of these two methods will make your outfit more creative!

a lady in a white tweed bow tie neck jacket and skirt two-piece set
a lady in a red scarf neck coat

What Are Scarf Dresses?

As mentioned in the introduction, there are mainly two types of scarf dresses now. Then we will introduce them respectively. The first kind of scarf dresses we are talking about in this section are not the combinations of a scarf and a dress that made by yourself, but the dresses that come with their own scarves. In fact, many times, for the sake of beauty, these dresses look like halter dresses, or add ribbons at the neck instead of simple scarves. Therefore, the “scarf” in this kind of scarf dress may actually refer to a scarf-like element. The dress with this kind of element added will look more elegant and graceful.

Another scarf dress is more creative. In people's minds, scarves are usually just an accessory. However, transforming scarves into dresses undoubtedly enhances the subjectivity of scarves. Compared with the former scarf dress, this one allows you to leave the designer of brand clothing behind, and to give full play to your creativity. After all, the raw material you need is just a scarf, and you can easily create different styling effects by folding, knotting, twisting, etc.

The differences between the two types of dresses also lie in their wearing occasions. Due to its elegant and formal temperament, the dresses with scarf elements can be worn on high-end banquets, business occasions and office. Compared with it, the dresses transformed from scarves appear too informal. They are more suitable for wearing on parties, shopping or other informal occasions, but not very suitable for various formal occasions. You can choose the types of the scarf dress according to your dressing demands.

Then when choose a suitable scarf dress, you also need to consider about the fabrics of the dress. For the dresses with scarf elements, it is suggested to choose those made of chiffon and silk. Because these fabrics have a better touch and texture, and at the same time, the scarf decoration on the neck will appear more elegant and airy if it is made of silk or chiffon. However, if you want to make a dress out of a scarf, silk and chiffon may not be the best choices. First, both fabrics are very smooth, so you need to consider about fixing the scarf dress when making it into a dress, that is, how to prevent the scarf dress from sliding down. Secondly, if you only use a scarf to make a dress, it is likely that the dress will not have sleeves because lack of material. Therefore, in spring or in early autumn, this dress will easily make you feel cold. You can probably only wear this dress when it is very hot, and the utilization rate will be relatively low. On the contrary, a scarf dress made of cotton and linen is a good solution.

a lady in a white shirt with a black ribbon and a black floral printed mamianqun
a lady in a blue floral printed dress with a scarf

How to Wear a Dress with a Scarf?

But of course, if you can't find the dress with scarf elements you like on the market, and you don't have time to make a dress with a scarf yourself, then you can of course match the dress and scarf yourself. When matching a dress with a scarf, there are many factors to consider, such as colors, fabrics and styles.

First of all, in terms of color, you can choose a scarf in the same color as the dress but with a different depth, so that the overall color will appear more harmonious. Alternatively, if you already have a scarf in the neutral color such as beige or white, don’t hesitate to pair it with your dress. No matter what color your dress is, you can’t go wrong pairing it with neutral colors like white or beige. The above two methods are relatively conventional and suitable for beginners of clothing matching or ladies who prefer the understated dressing style. If you prefer a bold style and have enough experience and skills in color matching, then of course you can also combine a dress with a scarf in its contrasting colors. For example, the combination of a blue dress and a yellow scarf can be more energetic and eye-catching.

In terms of fabrics, it is necessary to follow the principle of “heavy dress with heavy scarf, light dress with light scarf”. Because the combination of a heavy scarf with a light dress will appear top-heavy, while a light scarf with a heavy dress will appear solid. So in spring and summer, when you wear a dress made of chiffon and linen, pair it with a silk dress. While in autumn and winter, match a woolen scarf with a tweed dress.

As for the ways of wearing a scarf with a dress, in the first place, Just follow the example of a dress with a scarf element and tie it around your neck like a ribbon. If you want to choose this method, then remember to choose a smaller square scarf. If you choose a scarf that is too large, the agile and light feeling will be gone. Or, of course, you can choose a large scarf and unfold it as a shawl over your dress. This approach is definitely more suitable for autumn and winter than spring and summer. Especially for a high-end banquet, such a look will make you look more elegant and charming, like a socialite.

a lady in a white tweed dress with a scarf
a lady in a red sweater, a yellow plaid skirt, a beige wool coat and a beige scarf

What Accessories to Wear with a Scarf Dress?

Why are accessories so important for a scarf dress? If you wear a dress with scarf element to attend a high-end banquet, then if you go without wearing any accessories, you will probably look out of place in such a glittering and dazzling environment. A dress made from a scarf needs more accessories, because unless you are a professional designer, the style of your DIY dress is probably relatively simple.

So let us start from jewelry. Since the scarf or ribbon on your neck is already the highlight of your outfit, a necklace is not very suitable as a piece of jewelry. Wearing a necklace on top of a scarf will make your neck look very cumbersome. Therefore, when wearing a scarf dress, the more suitable jewelry includes earrings, bracelets and rings. If you like simple jewelry, then choose a pair of delicate pearl stud earrings. If you want to modify your face shape, then a pair of longer pendant earrings will make you more elegant. In addition, you can also use metal or diamond bracelets and rings to match various scarf dresses to show a unique sense of fashion.

A classic leather handbag in neutral colors such as black and brown is a versatile choice to match with a scarf dress. It can add a sense of capability and sophistication to the overall look, so it is suitable for matching with a simple scarf dress on business occasions. For the demand of attending a high-end banquet, you can choose a delicate clutch bag. The fabric can be velvet or satin, showing a noble and elegant temperament.

To attend a business occasion, a pair of high heels is still the best choice to show your feminine charm and your capability. If you want a more comfortable wearing experience, you can choose lower thick heels. But in winter and autumn, we still keep warm first. Nothing can keep you warmer than a pair of boots. If your dress is shorter, then choosing a pair of long boots will balance the look. Conversely, if your dress is long, then choosing a pair of slightly shorter ankle boots will be better.

To attend a formal business occasion, of course you do not need a hat. But if you would like to wear a scarf dress at a party, you can wear a bucket hat or even a straw hat to create the sense of relaxation. Of course, a scarf dress in retro style is compatible with a beret.

Sunglasses are a great tool to enhance your fashion sense. Round sunglasses have a retro feel and are suitable for matching with a retro scarf dress. When wearing a floral silk scarf dress in the summer, pairing it with a pair of round sunglasses can add a retro and fashionable touch.

You can also choose whether to wear a belt. If the dress is loose, a thin belt can create a waist-hugging effect; a wide belt is more unique and suitable for matching with a simple scarf dress to add a sense of fashion and layering.

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