Fantasies of easy summer style and the ability to throw on a dress and head out the door constantly flutter through my brain from September through March, but inevitably, right around mid-July each year, I hit a wall. After weeks of wearing T-shirts and tanks out of necessity, my style starts to feel a bit… uninspired. Sure, I can layer on accessories and swap out my shoes. Eventually, I need a styling trick or two to avoid feeling like I’m phoning in my outfits. Thankfully, just in time for my summer slump, A-listers and the collective fashion crowd have given me just that by way of the scarf belt trend.
The case for tying a silk scarf around your waist as the definitive summer style move is continuing to build. Last summer, style muses like Jennifer Lawrence and Alexa Chung were spotted forgoing traditional belts in exchange for the more unconventional alternative. The scarf belt has been a major trend again this season, and I think it will stick around well into the fall.
Whether you’re lucky enough to have a collection of vintage silk scarves sitting in your closet or opt to rush ship yourself an option to wrap yourself up in ASAP, the scarf belt is the upgrade to our jeans-and-tee uniforms that’ll carry us through to sweater weather.
How to Style a Scarf as a Belt: 2 Easy Methods
Spotted almost exclusively with simple bases—tanks and jeans, T-shirts and trousers, over maxi skirts—the scarf belt trend can be nailed with any existing scarf in your closet. Many brands also offer triangle scarves, eliminating the need to fold it yourself.
The Draped Triangle
Works with: Skirts, dresses, pull-on pants
- Fold your scarf in half diagonally to create a triangle
- Place the point of the triangle slightly behind one hip, leaving the two ends off-centered toward the other hip
- Secure it around your waist with a simple knot above your belt loops
The Classic Belt Loop Roll
Works with: Jeans, denim shorts, trousers
- Roll your scarf lengthwise
- Work it through your belt loops
- Tie a knot that allows the ends of the scarf to lie near your hip
How to Style a Scarf Belt for Mid-Size and Curvy Bodies
As a mid-size girl (I typically wear a size 14), I wasn’t sure how the scarf belt trend would fit my body type. I knew for a fact that trying to tie a bandana or bandana-sized scarf around my waist wasn’t going to end well. However, I’ve found many scarves that do work for me. The key is to look for bigger square scarves (35 inches and up) or larger triangle scarves that are made specifically for the waist or hips. Of course, you can also use a normal oblong scarf for the belt loop method.
If you want to try the trend without spending a lot of money, hit your local thrift store, where you’ll find plenty of scarves. I purchased many of my absolute favorites secondhand.
The Best Silk Scarves to Shop Now
Jessica Welsh, Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor
Jessica oversees and edits all fashion and beauty content on The Everygirl. She also writes in-depth styling stories, trend reports, capsule wardrobes, and more. She was previously the Commerce Editor for The Everymom, where she oversaw all shopping content on the site and social. She has created editorial content for major brands such as Nordstrom, Old Navy, DSW, and Kohl’s.
Madeline Galassi, Former Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor
Madeline Galassi is the former Fashion & Beauty Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversaw the fashion and beauty categories of the site. She brainstormed, wrote, and edited stories across a broad range of topics including trend reports, product reviews, celebrity style, and more. She’s always keeping a pulse on the latest trends to create timely, exciting content for our readers.
