There’s something a little unserious about a scarf top. Perhaps it’s the gap year-adjacent attitude, or the fact that it requires putting all of your faith in a scrap of knotted fabric to conceal your modesty. From squares of silk secured with little more than a prayer, to the classic, Beyoncé-style bandana, the scarf top is for the fun-loving, footloose and free. A staple of the early Noughties, the scarf top can instantly transport you to a simpler time of chunky highlights and glittery lip gloss – no complicated straps or fiddly buttons here.

The scarf top is the versatile friend we all need come heatwave season. Below, we present six ways to wear the retro piece without straying into Christina Aguilera territory.

Pair a handkerchief scarf top with a low-slung midi skirt and flip-flops for a look that feels very Sex And The City seasons 5 and 6. Best accessorised with an Aperol spritz, this is peak Instagram carousel fodder.

Denim capris and the kind of tan that comes from spending five days at a festival make the ideal partners for a defiantly knotted scarf top. If you’ve got a spare £1,000, why not pair with Michael Rider’s wristband-style cuffs, from Celine’s spring/summer 2026 collection?

For a little early Noughties charm, pair a handkerchief style top with the daintiest kitten heel you can find. Bonus points if you throw in a pair of cargo trousers, for a look that any early ’00s fashion mag would have deemed “day to night”.

Live the Italian Riviera fantasy in a halter style. Think: patterned Pucci, polka dots and a vaguely obnoxious attitude towards EasyJet staff.

A silk scarf top worn with a sparkly mini and strappy sandals is a shortcut to a Studio 54 meets Saint-Tropez beach club state of mind. Bring a second scarf option for twirling around your head once that magnum of Whispering Angel inevitably descends into dancing on tables.

Boho style isn’t going anywhere (at least, not until next season when we all rediscover tailoring). Luckily, the scarf top has been plucked straight from the ’70s school of thought. Wear with a gauzy maxi skirt and jewellery you’ve picked up on your travels over the years.