Don't Save Your Scarves. Here's How to Wear Them in the Summer

Don’t think these are the only ways you can wear your scarves in summer. I am sure there is a boatload of other ideas. The fact is, there are so many sizes of scarves which makes them so versatile. Think of this as origami with fabric.

1- Wear Your Scarf on a Hat

Hats seem to be such a great way to add flair to a simple summer outfit. Yet their functionality for for keeping the sun off our face and neck is unbeatable. Thus there is no reason not to decorate your hat with one of your fabulous scarves.

The easiest type of scarf to use for this is either a skinny scarf or a square scarf that you fold and roll into a long tube.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try other scarves for this trick. If it’s a longer scarf, it can hang down the back of your outfit, because as I always say, just as many people see you from the rear!

2-Belt?

The reason I ask this as question is many of you say no to belts, especially in the summer. And now that I’ve been living in Arizona, I get it. But I will say that I find a fabric belt less oppressive than a leather belt.

And as a “glass half full” girl, I will say that it can hide some sweat stains too!!

Insider tip: Maybe this is obvious to everyone, but a belt does not have to be tight at your waist. I usually make it looser in the summer.

3-Decorate Your Purse with Scarves

I think this is the easiest way to use your scarves in summer. Just tie it around your purse handle and let the scarf give your purse some sass.

Insider tip: You can also wrap your scarf around the entire handle of your purse as seen in this video.

4-Headscarves

Now I am in no way an expert at wearing headscarves. I have dabbled with them from time to time, and I just love seeing them on other women. My crew made fun of me that I was wearing this scarf as a “do-rag” which I had no idea what that was until I googled it.

While a head scarf may seem even more conspicuous than a hat, it’s certainly a great way to style those scarves for the summer as well as hide a bad hair day.

One thought is that they don’t have to cover your entire head. You can always use them like a headband.

Related post: How to wear a head scarf

5-One Shoulder Poncho

I always think one disadvantage of wearing scarves around our neck, is that you scrunch up the material and don’t notice the beautiful print. Therefore, when a request came about wearing scarves as tops a couple of years ago, I decided to see how to showcase the beauty of the scarf.

Now there are many options of having your scarf be your top, as I will show below. But this is one of the ways to make it a tad more modest if you are so inclined.

This idea requires no tying or advanced science degree. I draped the rectangular scarf over a shoulder and then attached it in two spots (you can see this in more detail in the blog post). At that time I used a scarf clip and clip-on earring, but I think today I would use my magnets ( found on Amazon).

Of course, I did wear a sports bra under it, but you could also wear a camisole or swim top.

6-Top with a Necklace

Wearing your scarf as a strapless top can be done by using a necklace as a band around your neck. Now just because my “top” is showing my belly, doesn’t mean you can’t do this and have yours covered. Just choose a wider scarf!

This is another wonderful way to “show off” the print of the scarf. In fact, I came up with this idea for this exact scarf only so I could join a group of women showcasing birds. I have very few bird-decorated clothing items. (and chickens/roosters count as birds, right?)

Insider tip: I am wearing the best and most comfortable strapless bra called Gatherall. It’s different and that’s why it works so well. Gather10 gives you 10% off. I have a video showing how I put it on if you’re interested and a blog post that tells even more.

For this idea, you attach the necklace and then tie the ends of the scarf around the front of it. If you aren’t comfortable leaving the bottom edge just hanging, you can use fashion tape to make sure it stays shut.

7-Sew a Poncho

If you happen to know your way around a sewing machine, then you can transform your large scarf into another type of poncho.

Charlotte cut a hole in the middle of this large square scarf so she could easily pull it over her head.

In the blog post showcasing this, you can see how she could change up the neckline by turning it.

This could be worn without another top under it very easily. And you could use a chain belt to give it shape which wouldn’t be as confining as a leather belt.

If you didn’t want to wear a belt, you could always play around with magnets or elastics to keep the ends from flying up.

Insider tip: I’ve learned from a brain coach that playing with our clothes is actually a good activity to create new pathways in our brain. That means it’s just as productive as cooking dinner and even better for you than watching tv.

8-Drape a Camisole

There are more ways to wear scarves in the summer by creating tops out of them. I saw this idea on Maggie’s Snaps video ( found here with the brown scarf). I didn’t have a tube top but I played around with a camisole instead.

The ends of the scarf are where you see each of the magnets in the front ( magnets found on Amazon). I started on one side and then draped it around my body and up over the other side.

I have to say, I almost like the back the best, but I don’t think I could figure out how to work it backward. Unless I just take it off and put it on in one piece…I’ll have to try that.

This is another way to wear your scarves in the summer and really show off the beautiful print.

9-Scarves in Summer as Sarongs

Now let’s not get caught up in terminology. Because what is a sarong, exactly?? It’s basically a dress. So you could get creatives with your large scarves in summer by making them into a dress.

If you aren’t comfortable wearing them by themselves without something underneath, do what Lesley did and tie the scarf around an existing outfit.

This would be the perfect option for that dress that feels too skimpy, or maybe you just want to add something of interest over a solid base. Your scarf can be the coverage you need without adding a heavy extra layer.

And you can do this over a dress, swimsuit, shorts, and top, jeans and top…the options are endless.

EXTRA IDEA: You can have your scarf be a skirt as I showed in this video.

Don't stop here. There are 2 more great ideas for using those scarves this summer on my site.