How to Wear a Scarf With a T Shirt

Last Updated: May 24, 2021 References

Scarves aren't just for keeping you warm in the winter. With a few basic tricks, you can easily pair a scarf with a T shirt for a look that's both casual and stylish. Knowing how to match your scarf to your shirt (as well as how to tie it) will allow you to piece together outfits that make the most of the scarf and shirt you're working with.

Method 1

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Style Ideas

1
Pick a color that matches your shirt. Pairing colors that complement each other and avoiding colors that clash is an essential part of putting together an outfit. When you're working with scarves and T-shirts, there are just a few basic color rules that you may want to keep in mind. See below:^{[1]
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- When in doubt, use a color wheel.^{[2]
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  Research source} Shades that are directly across from each other on the wheel are complementary — that is, they look good together.
- Almost anything looks good paired with a neutral color. These include white, black, grey, and some shades of brown and tan.
- You can also pick a patterned scarf that incorporate the shirt color somewhere in the pattern. Sharing a color with your shirt makes your scarf look like it was meant to go with it.
2
Pair complex designs with simple ones. If you have a scarf with an intricate pattern, wear it with a simple, one-color shirt. Alternatively, if your shirt has a complex graphic or pattern you want to show off, wear it with a simple scarf. Balancing areas of simplicity and complexity ensures your outfit is never "too much" to look at.^{[3]
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- A good policy is to start with a solid color shirt and make this your base. Your base shirt can be long or short sleeved and can have whatever neckline you like since the scarf will most likely be covering the neckline. Pair this base with a patterned scarf that uses the same color, a complementary color or mostly neutral colors.
- Cashmere or pashmina scarves are versatile, and can be worn with everything from coats to T-shirts.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Chloée Ohayon-Crosby
  Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist
  Expert Interview. 23 October 2020.}
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3
Create exciting contrasts of texture. Color and complexity aren't the only factors in play when you're making your outfit. Different shirt and scarf fabrics have different visual textures based on the material and the size of the stitching. Pair textures together to create areas of visual contrast so that your scarf stands out from the fabric around it.^{[5]
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- For instance, if you're wearing a cotton T-shirt, you might want to pair it with a thick wool scarf with large stitching so that it contrasts with the shirt. You probably wouldn't want to pair it with a scarf made from material that's similar to the T-shirt.
- You might also want to choose your scarf based on the season. Silk is great for the summer because it's cooler, but a knitted scarf is better during the winter.^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  Chloée Ohayon-Crosby
  Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist
  Expert Interview. 23 October 2020.}
4
Experiment with tight and loose ties. The way you wear your scarf around your neck can affect how your overall outfit looks. Wearing a scarf loosely draped around your neck tends to direct the eye downwards — a good choice if you're wearing pants or a belt that you'd like to attract attention to. On the other hand, tighter ties that position the scarf around the neck attract attention to your face by isolating it from the rest of your body.^{[7]
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- In the section below, you'll learn a few basic ways to tie your scarf that you may want to try out.
5
Avoid uniform, "samey" outfits. This is the main faux pas that you'll want to avoid when pairing a scarf with a T-shirt. Scarves that are the same color or texture as your T-shirt are not generally a good idea. Since they have little contrast with your shirt, it's difficult to see where one begins and the other ends. To avoid this homogenous look, be sure to incorporate at least some contrast into your outfit.

Method 2

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Ways to Tie Your Scarf

1
Try a "loop" tie. Take your scarf and fold it in its middle point to double it. Grab both loose ends and thread them through the section formed by the fold. Slip your head into this loop. Pull on the loose ends to tighten and pull on the looped section to loosen.^{[8]
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Try a "coil" tie. Lay the scarf over one shoulder. Pull one end of the scarf to gather lots of slack. Take this end of the scarf and coil it loosely in a coil around your neck. Continue coiling until you only have a little slack left. Let the loose end of the scarf hang down over your other shoulder. Pull the loose ends to tighten and pull on the coil to loosen.
3
Try a "wrap" tie. Grab the scarf by both ends and press your neck into the middle point. Wrap one end in a complete circle around your neck, keeping it fairly tight against your skin. Repeat with the other end if you have enough slack. Let both loose ends hang down over your torso. Pull the loose ends to tighten and pull on the tight wrapped section to loosen.
4
Use an infinity scarf for a "necklace" look. An infinity scarf is a loose loop of material meant to be worn around the neck. Unlike a normal scarf, it's not made from a long, skinny strip, but a single continuous loop. You can loosely drape it around your neck or double it up several times for a much tighter "tie" — it's up to you!
- See our selection of infinity scarf articles for lots of related information.
5
Experiment with your scarf placement. You can wear a scarf around your waist, for instance. You can also wear them in your hair, or even wrapped around the handle of your handbag or purse.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Chloée Ohayon-Crosby
Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist
Expert Interview. 23 October 2020.}

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do you wear a scarf with a shirt?

Chloée Ohayon-Crosby
Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist
Chloée Ohayon-Crosby is a Costume Designer and Wardrobe Specialist in Los Angeles, California. With over eight years of experience in fashion consulting, Chloée specializes in personal, film, theater, and commercial styling as well as image consulting and costume design. Chloée has worked as an assistant designer for the distinguished fashion house Chloée and as a freelance stylist with Glamour Italia. Chloée studied Fine/Studio Arts at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and Fashion Design and Merchandising at the world renowned ESMOD École Supérieure des Arts in Paris, France.

Chloée Ohayon-Crosby

Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Weather is important, because you don't want to be wearing a knitted scarf in the middle of summer or a breezy silk scarf to stay warm in the winter. On a professional level, you can use a buttoned-down shirt with a tucked-in scarf. Cashmere or pashmina scarves can also be paired with everything from coats to T-shirts for a more casual look.
Question

Would the scarf still look good if I were wearing a winter jacket?

Izzy Migoya

Community Answer

Scarves and winter jackets are all the rage and look great together.