Just to be clear, this post is not about wearing a blanket and a scarf as separate entities, it’s about how to wear a blanket scarf, you know those scarves that are humongous enough to also use like a blanket. Although if you want it, I could also do a tutorial on how to be snug in your blanket (cats will be involved FYI). Or not. Whatever.

So if you’ve just bought yourself one of those pretty scarves that are large enough to plonk a picnic group on, because they looked so cute on Olivia Palermo, this tutorial should be helpful. So far if you’ve been struggling with the drapes, and are now thinking you have no idea how to wear an oversized scarf, I got your back. I know, the allure of the comfort that blanket scarves provide is difficult to resist. But it’s important to know how to wear a rectangle blanket scarf in a chic way to avoid looking like a homeless you-know-what addict.

I’ll walk you through the different steps and ideas of how to wear blanket scarf in the next 5 minutes. Try to stay warm until then.

How to tie a blanket scarf

Okay, first up, let’s tame that monstrous piece of fabric. With so much volume and length, you could get totally overwhelmed in the style, especially if you’re a petite girl like me. Here are 10 different ways to tie a blanket scarf that should make it look like a scarf and not a blanket. Also, keep in mind that I name my styles the best way I can remember them so don’t go looking for these terms on Google. You’ll only find pretzels and spaghetti in the results. Possibly.

How to wear a blanket scarf –Basic knots and loops

The no-knot simple loop –Bunch up the scarf lengthwise and simply drape it around your neck twice to create a loop around the neck with the end of the scarf hanging on the front.

The classic loop – Fold the scarf diagonally to create a triangle. Then twist the triangle length-wise to form a thick roll of fabric that is pointier at the ends. This makes the amount of fabric more manageable. Now fold the scarf into half its length and take the loose ends and pull them in through the other looped end, like you would with a stole, draping it around the neck.

The one side knot –Roll the scarf lengthwise and drape it around your neck. Now take one end and make a knot, tightening it to secure close (but don’t choke on it!) around the neck. Shift the knot over to one side of your neck, letting one end of the scarf fall to your back and the other end hang in the front.

The infinity loop –Folding the scarf diagonally and then rolling it into, well, a roll, tie the very ends to make it look like a huge ring (“ring of roll”; what is life?). This goes around your neck multiple times to create that turtle-neck effect that is the most convenient because it keeps us warm like scarves should normally do.

The partial loop –This looks part like the one side knot and part like the infinity loop. Take the aforementioned role of the scarf and drape it across the neck with one long end hanging on the front. The other end, instead of going back, goes around the neck in multiple loops (as much as the fabric allows), so you have both the comfort of a loop and the casualness of an overhung scarf. Win win!

The Bandana style –Start with the diagonally folded triangular scarf again. Take the pointy ends and tie them around your neck. It should look like a Bandana in the front (of course) but since it’s a blanket scarf and not a Bandana, the ends are long enough to come back on the front. Tuck them under the triangle to make the Bandana style clearly visible.

The Bandana style knotted –From the Bandana style described earlier take the ends and tie them again in the front and this time, tuck the triangle under the knot, so the result is chunkier with the knots showing. It’s also understandable if all this Bandana and triangle talk is making you crave an adventurous holiday at Bermuda.

The multiple knots style –It is easy to take the Bandana style and transform it into the multiple knot style by adding –you guessed it –multiple knots. Twist the scarf into loops and eights and you’ll end up with a very knotty style that works great because there’s a lot of fabric to play with.

The loose, linear style –A very classy and fuss-free tutorial on how to wear a blanket scarf would be to simply sling it lengthwise around your neck and let it hang loose on the front, basically making my job of tutoring easier. But also because it’s a great style to go with long overcoats and dusters.

The loose, linear and belted style –If you want to get a little extra with the previous style, simply cinch in with a slim belt at the waist. It will also help secure the scarf in place.

How to wear a blanket scarf in different styles

A scarf doesn’t have to be strictly, a scarf. If you clip your regular bra straps to wear with a backless dress when you run out of strapless bras (instead of just buying the damn thing), you’re cheap like me, and you know what I’m talking about. A blanket scarf is perfect for many fashion hacks, so let’s talk about how to wear an oversized scarf in styles other than that of a scarf.

How to wear blanket scarf like a poncho

Besides the loop style, another way to make sure your picnic blanket of a scarf works overtime is by making it look like a poncho. Or a cape. Whatever you kids are calling it these days. Take the triangle-shaped scarf and drape it across your shoulders letting the pointy ends hang out front. You could either opt to tie the ends or add a belt to secure the waist.

How to wear a large scarf shawl

Another fabulous way of working that scarf is to wear it like a shawl (it’s called a blanket for a reason). Either just drape it loosely across your body and channel the IDGAF attitude, or fold it lengthwise into half the thickness and then drape it across the body. But you still need the IDGAF swag. And then go play with knots and belts and even other accessories like faux fur collars to really make the look stand out.

How to wear a large silk scarf

If your blanket scarf is made of a lightweight fabric like silk, ditch the clothes, just wear the scarf, because who needs clothes when you have a giant mass of silk? Kidding. Or am I?

General instructions on how to wear a large rectangular scarf have already been enlisted above but for a silk scarf, you could opt to wear it as a cover-up on the beach or even make a Grecian drape that will make it look like a flowing maxi dress. Definitely add a belt here and lots of dangly earrings for a complete Bohemian chic look. Silk-made scarves are also the best scarves to be worn with lady-like dresses, both midi, maxi or sheath.

How to wear blanket scarf with different outfits

What you choose to pair with your blanket scarf is what ultimately decides how fashionable or otherwise you’ll end up looking. Let’s talk about what clothes to wear with a blanket scarf because it’s essential, but mainly because I’m looking for a reason to clean out my wardrobe (lazy, messy girl alert).

The holy trinity of jeans, cardigan (or pullovers) and boots –You can never go wrong with this classic combination. This combo is to the scarf what thin crust is to pizza –perfect base!

Leggings and long overcoat –This is a really polished look, and if you’re the kind that spills food on your clothes often (Whaddup personal reference!) it stays polished ‘cuz the scarf catches the morsels! Seriously though, a long scarf just casually slung over an overcoat is very Parisian chic.

Miniskirt and thigh high boots –Don’t dismiss scarves for accessories that just go with jeans. You can take the already-popular miniskirt and thigh high boots combo and elevate it further with a blanket scarf tied in an infinite loop.

A little black dress –You wear that LBD every time because you love it so much, but you’re fidgety each time because it looks the same. Change that by draping a scarf over your dress like you would a pashmina and see that dress transform. Of course, that would mean you’ll wear it even more often now.

Overalls and sneakers –Sporty and wintry? That’s practically my look for the whole of Fall! Comfortable and very this-moment stylish, this athleisure look gets a feminine twist with the draping of a scarf.

Now you would think that blanket scarves are only a valuable item in the winter but there are ways you can still make them useful and fashionable when the weather gets warmer. To make your outfit cozier or to add a touch of color, blanket scarves can be a trendy piece of your wardrobe all year. Let’s go through five looks you can wear to gently leave winter.

The cozy thrown over blanket scarves

We talked about how blanket scarves bring a cozy feel to any outfit and by any weather. If this is the vibe you like about blanket scarves, you can go all the way and wear them as a cozy warm top. Paired with a light tank top or t-shirt, it will bring a cozy and warm touch to your outfit. Tie it around your shoulders and make it cover your whole top as if the blanket was a top of its own. Paired with good denim pants, it can give you a very chilled vibe without trying. If the weather is too warm or you want to switch it up during the day, you can also nonchalantly put your blanket scarf over one shoulder, maybe even stick it beneath the strap of your bag for example if you don’t want it to fall over. This will give you a very chilled feel and also allow you to show your outfit by only covering one side. Pair it with a long skirt and a shirt, both with a lightweight fabric, to mix up both the warmth and the slight heaviness of the blanket scarf with a lighter outfit. This way of wearing your blanket scarf makes your outfit casual and prevents you from being overwhelmed by an oversized scarf.

Leather and blanket scarves

Leather is a fabric that easily go through seasons and that you can easily wear all year. Night or day, it adapts to different styles and keeps you warm as well as trendy. Another outfit you can wear to gently leave winter and get into spring is the combination of leather and an oversize scarf. Leather jackets can give you this very trendy vibe as the oversize scarf can add a bit of warmth and style, making it cozier and giving it a comfier feel when you wear them both in a spring weather. Choose a light fabric for your scarf and gently put it on your neck without trying it for a more chilled and down-to-earth vibe. If you’re not into leather jackets, you can pair your blanket scarf with leather-like pants. Add a light-colored knitted sweater and match your blanket scarf with it for a cozy but yet very trendy vibe.

Dresses and blanket scarves

A good way to wear your dresses as soon as the weather gets warmer is to pair them with a blanket scarf. A light shirt dress will automatically get cozier with a good oversized scarf, especially if you pair them with a fabric like plaid that we usually see more of during the winter. You can wear them with high boots and a sleeveless jacket if you want to reinforce the warm and cozy feeling we don’t always want to leave as soon as the weather gets a bit warmer. You can also pair your blanket scarf with a lightweight dress and a pair of flats for a more casual everyday look. You can tie your blanket scarf around your neck to wear it as a patterned neck piece or casually put it on your shoulders to add a bit of warmth and make your outfit comfier and give it a slight nonchalant feel.

Jackets and blanket scarves

The best thing about blanket scarves is how cozy they can make you feel outside of your home. Warm and comfy, it’s like taking a bit of it with you when you leave your house. Now, there are ways you can make cozy and comfy fashionable. As the weather gets warmer but is not all warm yet, you can add a blanket scarf to your best light jacket. Cause, after all, the key word here is lightweight. Blanket scarves come in many colors and fabrics that can easily go through the season and adapt to the weather. You can go for the denim jacket, which will go with any fabric or pattern. If you want to match the oversize of your scarf, you can also go for an oversize denim jacket to reinforce that big cozy feeling. As the weather gets warmer and sunnier, you can also go for a light colored jacket that gives a light and fun touch to your outfit. If you’re more sensitive to the cold, you can replace jackets with a cardigan or add it underneath your jacket to make sure you stay warm on colder days.

The casual over the shoulders blanket scarves

We’ve talked about knots and all the ways you can wear your blanket scarf but the good thing about wearing it when the weather gets warmer is that you can concentrate on the way to make them look stylish without trying to keep warm. One of the many ways to wear your blanket scarf is to just casually throw it over your outfit. Skirts, shorts, ripped denim pants, you can add them to any outfit and make it look good. You can go for colors or patterns that go with everything, or for patterns like prints that can add a bit of style to any outfit and make your blanket scarf the item to look at.

Blanket scarves are comfy and cozy, and the good thing is that you don’t have to get rid of them as soon as the weather gets warmer and the outfits lighter. If you want to keep wearing your trendy blanket scarves all year, you can go for fabrics that are lightweight and pair them with your chilliest casual outfits to add a bit of coziness and warmth to them.

How do you like to style your blanket scarf though? Do you have tricks up your sleeve on how to wear blanket scarf? I’d love to add them to my list, so do list them down below!