10 French Girl–Approved Ways to Style a Silk Scarf

Eugénie Trochu is a Who What Wear editor in residence known for her transformative work at Vogue France and her Substack newsletter, where she documents and shares new trends, her no-nonsense approach to fashion and style, plus other musings. She’s also working on her upcoming first book that explores fashion as a space of memory, projection, and reinvention.

The neat little silk square tied demurely under the chin can go back in the drawer, somewhere between the pearl necklace and the matching gloves. Whether in Paris, in Biarritz, or on the Île de Ré, the scarf has moved down to the hips, replaced a shoulder strap, twisted itself around a handbag, and covered the hair, Monica Vitti style or like a pirate on holiday. Here are 10 ways to let it do exactly as it pleases.

1. As a Belt, Never Through the Loops

Mine is a Louis Vuitton scarf from the cruise collection shown in Japan, printed in collaboration with Kansai Yamamoto. Red, yellow, blue, green—far too much happening on less than a square metre of silk. I tie it very low on my hips, over a slightly oversize white shirt or a black spaghetti-strap dress. It never goes through the belt loops. The ends hang to one side, the knot slips, and it rarely finishes the day where I placed it that morning.

2. Pirate, No Half Measures

Folded into a triangle, worn low on the forehead, and tied at the back of the head, with a few strands of hair escaping around the ears. Black swimsuit, striped shirt, slim flip-flops.

3. Instead of a Scrunchie

Wrapped twice around a low ponytail with the ends left loose.

4. Over the Head, Monica Vitti Style

Eugenie Trochu wearing a silk scarf.

For a wedding in Italy, I packed a Dolce & Gabbana scarf covered in Venetian motifs, openly kitsch and therefore perfect. When we came out of the church, the sun was so strong that I tied it under my chin, having failed to think of a hat. In the photographs, the scarf sits slightly off-centre, its two ends falling over my collarbone, and for a few minutes everything looks rather L’Avventura. I had, however, already lost an earring and spilt red wine on my jumpsuit before dessert.

5. Around the Wrist

Wrapped three or four times with a small knot tucked between a watch and a few gold bracelets, the ends kept short.

6. As an Impromptu Skirt

The word pareo rather spoils the effect. I prefer a large silk square tied firmly at the hip, printed with equestrian motifs or slightly faded flowers. Worn over a one-piece swimsuit, it gets you to lunch without having to get dressed again.

7. As a Bow Tie

Eugenie Trochu wearing a silk scarf.

Roll a bandana tightly and tie it at the front of the neck with both ends almost the same length. Wear it with a partly unbuttoned shirt or a jacket against bare skin. Parisian waiter above the neck, spaghetti Western below.

8. On a Bag That Takes Itself Too Seriously

I like scarves that quite clearly have no business being there—an orange square wrapped around the handle of a very classic handbag, flowers on an ecru canvas tote, a red bandana tied to an old black bag that is already a little battered. You can cover the entire handle with almost obsessive precision or simply let the scarf hang from one of the attachments. Sometimes, I add several. None of them really goes with the others, which keeps the whole thing from looking like a shop-window display.

9. As a Shoulder Strap

Wrap it around the strap and knot it over the shoulder. The makeshift nature of it should show.

10. All at Once

One over the head, another around the hips, a bandana at the wrist, a silk square on the bag. Three at once—why not? As long as the prints begin to openly fight with one another.