The beauty of a silk square is its range: the same 53 or 68 cm of cloth can finish a dozen different looks. Here are nine to start with.
- The neck knot. Fold into a bias strip, wrap once, and tie a small knot to the side. The everyday classic.
- The Parisian. Fold to a triangle, drape point-down at the front, and tie the ends behind the neck. Instant polish over a plain top.
- The bag tie. Knot a folded square to a handbag handle — the fastest way to make last season's bag look intentional.
- The headscarf. Fold to a triangle over the hair and tie under the chin or behind the neck. Equal parts Riviera and old Hollywood.
- The headband. Roll into a thin band and tie around the crown, with a knot or bow on top.
- The ponytail wrap. Tie a folded strip around a hair elastic and let the ends fall.
- The halter. A larger 68 cm square, folded to a triangle and tied at the neck and back, becomes a top for warm evenings.
- The belt. Thread a rolled square through belt loops and knot at the hip.
- The wrist. Wind a thin strip twice around the wrist, over a watch. The smallest flourish.
One square, nine outfits — which is rather the point of silk.
Larger prints (our 68 cm squares) suit the halter, headscarf and shawl folds; the 53 cm size is ideal for the neck, hair and wrist. Find your square →