How to Wear a Scarlett: 8 Styling Ideas You Haven't Tried Yet
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Most people who own a scarlett use it one way. Usually in the hair, or tied to a bag. Both are good choices. Neither one is the full picture.
A scarlett is one of the most versatile accessories in a wardrobe precisely because it doesn't have one obvious use. The narrow format suits situations that a full square scarf is too large for and that a standard hair tie or bracelet is too plain for. Here are eight ways to get more out of the one you own or the one you're thinking about buying.
How Do You Tie a Scarlett in Your Hair?
The most common use, and for good reason. The narrow width and lighter weight of a scarlett make it significantly more comfortable to wear in hair than a full square scarf.
Three specific techniques:
The bun wrap: Gather your hair into a low or high bun. Take the scarlett and wrap it around the base of the bun, tying a knot or bow at the front or side. The print wraps around the bun like a band, adding colour and detail to a hairstyle that would otherwise be plain.
The headband: Fold the scarlett into a narrow band. Tie it across the top of your head, either flat like a traditional headband or knotted at the front for a more structured look. This works with both straight and curly hair and takes under thirty seconds to do.
The ponytail wrap: Tie your hair into a ponytail and wrap the scarlett around the base, covering the hair tie completely. Knot it at the front or leave the ends hanging for a looser finish. This is the quickest of the three techniques and one of the most effective.
The scarletts at Laurel & Stich are designed with hair styling in mind - the prints are bold enough to read well in hair without being so large that they overwhelm a hairstyle.
How Do You Wear a Scarlett as a Neck Accessory?
The neck knot with a scarlett works differently from the neck knot with a square scarf. The narrower width creates a more defined, refined knot - closer to a neck ribbon or delicate neck tie than the looser, more relaxed knot you get with a larger scarf.
Fold the scarlett into a band and tie it at the front of your neck in a loose knot. Let the ends fall at different lengths for an asymmetric look, or trim them to equal length for a more symmetrical finish. This works over a collared shirt, over a kurta, or directly against the skin over a round-neck or V-neck top.
The choker-style variation ties the scarlett higher at the neck, sitting closer to the collarbone. This works well with off-shoulder and V-neck tops where you want a neck detail without adding volume.
Can You Wear a Scarlett as a Wrist Accessory?
Yes, and this is one of the least-used options that tends to get the most compliments when people try it. Wrap the scarlett around your wrist two or three times and secure it with a loose knot. It sits on the wrist like a fabric bracelet - lighter than metal, more textured than a plain ribbon.
Layer it with bangles or bracelets for a mixed-material wrist stack. The print adds colour and visual interest to a wrist combination that would otherwise be all metal and glass. Or wear it alone on a bare wrist when the outfit is simple enough that a single detail reads clearly.
The botanical and floral prints in the scarletts collection work particularly well as wrist accessories because the softer colour palettes sit naturally against skin.
How Do You Tie a Scarlett to a Bag?
Loop the scarlett through the handle of a tote or the ring of a crossbody strap and tie it in a loose knot. Let both ends hang or fold one end through for a cleaner finish.
This is the most styling-flexible use of a scarlett because it doesn't require wearing anything on your body. The print adds a detail to a plain bag - a black tote, a tan leather crossbody, a structured work bag - without requiring coordination with your outfit. The bag does the work; the scarlett adds the character.
Bold and high-contrast prints in the scarletts range work best for bag styling because the print needs to read from a distance to have an effect. Softer prints can disappear against darker bag colours.
Can a Scarlett Work as a Belt?
For lighter-weight outfits - linen sets, slip dresses, flowy trousers - yes. Thread the scarlett through belt loops and tie at the front, or wrap it once around the waist and knot it at the side. The narrower width of a scarlett creates a more delicate waist detail than a full square scarf would.
This works best when the outfit is plain enough that the print at the waist becomes the focal point. A white linen set with an equestrian-print scarlett tied at the waist is a complete outfit. Nothing else needs to happen.
How Do You Layer a Scarlett with a Scarf?
Wear a square scarf at the shoulder or neck and add a scarlett at the wrist or in the hair. Keep the prints in the same colour family - similar warm or cool tones - so they read as a deliberate pairing rather than an accidental collision.
This layered approach to scarf styling is common in European fashion and underused in India. The key is restraint: one larger statement piece at the neck or shoulder and one smaller detail piece at the wrist or in the hair. The two formats complement each other because they operate at different scales.
Browse both scarves and scarletts together at Laurel & Stich to find prints that pair well across the two formats.
How Do You Wear a Scarlett with Ethnic Wear?
A scarlett in the hair or at the wrist adds a layer of styling detail to ethnic outfits without competing with the primary fabric or embellishment of the kurta, saree, or suit. The print adds colour and interest as a supporting detail rather than a leading one.
For women in heavily embellished ethnic wear, a plain or lightly printed scarlett at the wrist works better than a bold print that fights with the main fabric. For women in plain or minimally embellished ethnic wear, a bolder scarlett print in the hair or as a neck detail adds the visual interest the outfit needs.
Can Men Wear Scarletts?
Yes. The ornamental and linear prints in the Laurel & Stich scarletts range work well as collar accessories for men - tied at the neck over an open-collar shirt or linen kurta in the same way a bandana or neck ribbon would sit. The narrower format is less imposing than a full square scarf for men who want a styling detail without committing to a full drape.
Shop scarletts, printed scarves, and accessories at Laurel & Stich - buy twilly scarletts, scarf rings, and printed scarves online in India at laurelandstich.com.
