How To Style A Scarf Like An Italian Woman

Adding a scarf to your outfits is one of the first things many women try doing when they want to elevate their everyday outfits.

Today, I’d like to show you how to style a scarf like an Italian woman — focusing specifically on lighter pieces, like the silk scarf.

So even if you’ve been wearing yours for years, simply changing how you tie it can make a big impact on your whole outfit. I’ll walk you through a simple tutorial for each method, plus one outfit example to see it in action.

PS: This post includes affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I have or would personally buy.

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Long Vertical Scarf

One of my favorite ways of styling a scarf, both a lighter and a winter one, is to let it hang down the front.

It has a very minimalist classic aesthetic that works at any age.

Here’s how it looks.

How to style your scarf this way:

1. Take a long silk scarf and place it around the back of your neck.
2. Let both ends hang down the front, keeping one side slightly longer if desired; symmetrically works well too.
3. If you’re wearing a top with a collar, or a coat or jacket, you can decide whether to tuck it in under the collar, or keep it over it. The first looks neater and more classic; the second way feels a little more modern and relaxed. Try both and see which ones you prefer.

Best outfits to pair with this:

I like how this scarf style looks with a longer coat, especially with a more monochrome outfit.

This also works with a midi dress, and any monochrome or tonal outfits.

You can choose to layer the same color scarf as the rest of your outfit. The art of layering different textures adds interest to your look in a subtle way. But you can also contrast your outfit with a different color scarf.

The Shoulder Wrap

I’d like to point out that not all of these methods originated in Italy. Unlike very popular ones, such as the Parisian knot, it’s difficult to trace back the exact origin. However, these ways to style a scarf are popular on Milan streets, so they are great examples of how Italian women style a scarf.

This next one is one you might have tried before, but if you haven’t thought about it, it can come very handy on vacation.

Here’s how it looks.

Do you get why I specifically mentioned a vacation?

This style is perfect to shield your shoulders from the sun while you’re walking throughout a city or town in the middle of a hot day, and it’s very quick to recreate.

How to achieve this look:

For this look you’ll need a larger square scarf, but you can also try it with a more rectangular one.

1. Fold a square scarf into a triangle.
2. Drape the center across the back of your shoulders like a shawl.
3. Bring the two front corners down and across your torso.
4. Tie them in a loose knot at your waist or just above it.

Best outfits to style it with:

This works over sleeveless clothing, whether it’s a dress or a top.

You can style the scarf this way both for day and nighttime, but it’s especially suitable for daytime, as it looks more relaxed and it’s also hands free, since you’re tying a knot to secure it as opposed to just holding the scarf over your shoulders.

Sweater-Style Shoulder Tie

This is one of my favorite ways to tie a scarf, and it’s one I recently discovered while doing the research for my white jeans article. I shared a really gorgeous look in that one; you can see it here.

I called it the sweater style because it feels like an alternative to the the very Italian over the shoulder sweater accessory. But this one works especially well with sweaters and buttoned up cardigans.

So if you’ve been looking for a way to jeuje up your knitwear, save this for the fall.

How to style your scarf this way:

1. Fold a medium large square scarf into a triangle.
2. Place it over your shoulders as if it were a lightweight sweater.
3. Bring the ends forward.
4. Tie a double knot at the center of your chest and adjust the drape over your shoulders.

If you’re trying this with a smaller scarf, you could bring it closer to the back of your neck, so it hangs more in the middle and in front, as opposed to draping at the back and covering more your shoulders fully. This is what I mean.

Best outfits to pair this with:
While you can make this work with dresses too, as I already said, I think it works best with sweaters and cardigans, especially if paired with tailored pants. Having said that, I can also imagine it styled with a pencil skirt or a more straight line skirt.

Scarf As a Waist Accent

This style had a moment on Instagram last Summer, but I can’t see why we cannot make it a staple in our warm weather wardrobe.

I found an image depicting this on Vogue, and it’s an outfit by Scandinavian designer Malene Birger; this makes me think that Birger might have been the designer that got this trend started.

Either way, this way of styling a scarf lends itself beautifully to looks that have that Italian Riviera vibe.

So whether you’re going to Amalfi, to the French Riviera, or to your country’s version of that, you might want to try this look.

How to style your scarf this way:

1. Take a medium square scarf or a narrow rectangular one and fold it into a long band.
2. Wrap it around your waist over a dress and tie a simple double knot slightly off-center.
3. Let the ends hang loosely instead of tucking them in for a relaxed finish.

Outfits that best suit this

This is another of those scarf styles that works best on monochrome outfits, or at least tonal ones. Of course, feel free to try it the other way.

Even Tuckernuck styled a beautiful white shift dress this way, using this stunning silk scarf (available in 4 prints).

PS: This post includes affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I have or would personally buy.

Central Knot Scarf

If you were a lot of shirts and blazers, this is a simple way to add an extra detail to those outfits.

The key here is to using a shorter and narrower thin silk scarf, so you can avoid adding bulk to the front.

How to tie your scarf this way:

1. Fold a light scarf into a slim strip.
2. Wrap it once around your neck and tie a simple double knot down the front.
3. You can tuck it slightly inside the shirt collar so it peeks out softly.

How to wear it:

Other than with shirts and blazers, this can be a softer more minimalist alternative to the shoulder tie I showed you in style n.3, meaning it can work beautifully over knits too.

Soft Neck Scarf

This style is very similar to the one I just showed you, but it has these two differences: the scarf must be one of those soft ones that feel like air, slightly larger, and it’s tied closer to your neck.

Here’s how:

1. Drape the scarf around your neck, keeping one end slightly longer.
2. Tie a simple front knot near the collarbone and let the longer end fall freely over the shirt/blouse, for an intentional accent.

Wear it like this:

I think this works beautifully styled like in the example above. However, you can also pair it over a blouse, or even over a knit or shirt dress.

Polished Bow Under Blazer

If you love the look of the Parisian knot, but think that’s a little too perfect and French looking for you, I feel the same way.

In that case, I think you’re going to love the next few methods I am about to share. They might not be all for you, but I am sure you’re going to find the one among them.

Let’s start with the first one, this one feels a little more voluminous, but in a polished way.

How to achieve this look:

1. Fold the scarf into a band and wrap it neatly around the neck. Tie a soft knot in the center, creating a relaxed bow look.
2. Then, wear it under a structured blazer so it looks refined but feminine.

If you love this look, feel free to recreate it over different types of layers. Having said that, I think the slightly oversized blazer creates a very interesting and balanced look that’s both feminine and modern.

The Softer Italian Knot

The Parisian knot is usually very precise, centered, and balanced. This version feels more Italian because it embraces asymmetry, softness, and a slightly undone look (what we call sprezzatura).

This softer more Italian look is less about perfection and more about effortless confidence.

How to tie the Parisian knot like an Italian woman:

1. Loop the scarf once around your neck.
2. Instead of a tight, symmetrical Parisian knot, tie it very loosely and let the ends hang unevenly.
3. Keep it slightly messy, with the scarf sitting lower on the chest rather than high and perfect.
   

Layered Scarf, Untied

If, like me, you still think the softer Italian knot feels a little too structured for your style, try this method with your smaller silk scarves.

It’s about layering it without tying it, but you must use the right length. Too short and it will fall off, and too long and it looks frumpy.

This, however, works best with at least two layers, and especially with one that’s a little more structured, like a blazer. You can also try it with trench coats, coats, and chic utilitarian jackets.

How to achieve this scarf look:

1. Drape the scarf around your neck and leave it completely untied.
2. Let it sit partially under the blazer and partially over it. The back is tucked under, but the ends are free to hang effortlessly. You might choose to tuck one end, but you don’t have to.

Elegant Italian Twisted Scarf

This is probably the most complicated one to explain in writing, but the final result is so beautiful, it’s worth both explaining and trying it.

You need a slightly longer and wider silk scarf to achieve this look.

How to tie your scarf this way:

1. Fold your scarf multiple times into a long band.
2. Wrap it around your neck with the fronts hanging; one needs to be longer.
3. Take the longer side and wrap it around your neck.
4. Once both ends are again in front, take the shorter end and pull it through (upwards) the band that’s hugging the front of your throat.
5. Then, take the longer end and pull it through the gap that’s created (downwards), letting both ends hang in front.
6. The result is a very elegant and soft twisted scarf look. The secret is not to pull it tight, so it stays soft and elegant.

Use Your Scarf like a Belt

The final way to style your scarf like an Italian woman works especially wear in summer, especially when there’s color and contrast involved. Here’s what I mean.

It’s about using your scarf like a belt. There’s no precise best way to do it. You can keep the scarf band thinner or wider, and you can decide whether to tuck it in your belt loops or tie the scarf over them.

I suggest you play with both ways. However, securing the scarf in the belt loops will feel more practical as you go through your day.

More Italian Style Inspiration

Did you find one or multiple new ways to style your scarf?

Numbers 3, 4, and 10 are my favorite.

If you’d like more Italian outfit ideas to pair with your scarves, I suggest looking at shirts and blazers first:

How To Style A White Shirt Like An Italian Woman

Blazer Outfits For Women You Can Wear Beyond The Office

And if you’re new here, hello and welcome. I hope you’ve enjoyed this read.

I’d love to suggest two things:

1. Join my Italian newsletter – Buona Settimana, if you want genuine Italian fashion, travel, life, and food chats in your inbox. You can join easily through one of the sign up boxes on this page.
2. Read this next: Italian Women Style: 20 Pieces To Dress Like An Italian Woman. It will give you an idea of the other key pieces in an Italian woman’s wardrobe, other than shirts, blazer and scarves!

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