First came the trainers with suits, then the quarter-zip sweater replaced the blazer, and now a new informal twist in men’s dressing has caused uproar: the scarf instead of a tie.
One recent champion of the look is Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham – whose recent campaign to return to Parliament was thwarted.
While he may have won a legion of admirers with his luscious eyelashes, his ‘scruffy’ statement when he stepped out in a navy cardigan with a matching woollen scarf will certainly have cost him votes on the best-dressed list.
Stylist Lisa Talbot said that the style crime is particularly egregious when the scarf is worn without a coat, pointing out that it’s a piece of outerwear and not a ‘shortcut to formality’.
‘Replacing a tie with a scarf, particularly when there’s no coat involved, rarely looks intentional,’ she told the Daily Mail. ‘More often than not, it comes across as unfinished, even slightly slovenly.’
The trend stretches all the way to Hollywood with Brad Pitt and Timothee Chalamet on the list of offenders as online fashion critics declared a coat-less scarf simply looks ‘stupid’.
The verdict was unanimous when one Reddit user tentatively asked whether it was ‘acceptable’ to wear a scarf with a sweater ‘no coat’ while another queried: ‘Should you wear a scarf with rolled-up sleeves or without a jacket?’
Replying, one person said bluntly: ‘You’ll look really odd walking around in the cold or whatever without a coat but still wearing a scarf. People will think you’re a weirdo who enjoys having a warm neck and cold arms.’
One recent champion of the look is Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham – whose recent campaign to return to Parliament was thwarted
Tesla founder Elon Musk swapped his tie out for a silk scarf during a recent visit to US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida
Another said: ‘If it’s cold enough for a scarf, it’s cold enough for a jacket.’
A third wrote: ‘No, it will probably look stupid. Scarves are meant to keep your neck warm when it’s cold out – too cold for rolled-up sleeves. If you wanna wear a scarf, wear at least a light jacket too.’
Like these Redditors, stylist Lisa Talbot feels that ‘unless the scarf is part of a considered, layered outfit’ it doesn’t usually work.
Explaining such an outfit can feel ‘limp and a little try-hard’, Lisa told the Daily Mail: ‘The issue is proportion and context. A scarf worn without a coat draws attention to the neckline, often creating bulk or drape where clean lines are needed, particularly with knitwear or casual jackets.
‘Rather than looking modern or relaxed, the overall effect can feel scruffy, as though the wearer is halfway between being dressed and undressed.’
Oriona Robb, a stylist with experience dressing both British and Hollywood royalty, agreed, telling this paper that the overall effect of layering a scarf over a sweater or shirt – without a jacket – is underwhelming at the very least.
‘When worn indoors or without a coat, it can look unfinished, as though the wearer forgot the final element of the outfit rather than made a considered choice,’ she said.
If wearing a scarf without a coat is generally considered a no-no, there are ‘rare’ – but ‘highly controlled’ occasions – when a scarf can successfully replace a tie.
The trend stretches all the way to Hollywood with Brad Pitt and Timothee Chalamet (pictured at the Golden Globes) on the list of offenders
Thomas Brodie-Sangster also put his own spin on the scarf-tie trend
Stylist Lisa Talbot feels that ‘unless the scarf is part of a considered, layered outfit’ it doesn’t usually work. Pictured: Hollywood actor Will Smith wearing a large scarf with a jumper – but no jacket
‘Without a coat or jacket designed to support it, the scarf can look more like an afterthought than a statement,’ said fashion expert Michael Beckford
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the creative director of men’s fashion brand Michael Whsky, Michael Beckford explained: ‘From a design standpoint, the tie has always served a very specific purpose: it anchors the shirt, defines the vertical line of the body, and signals intent.
‘When you replace it with a scarf, the result can feel vague, almost careless, especially when paired with classic tailoring that relies on clarity and proportion.’
Any departure from the rule means wearing the scarf with textured knits, while experimenting with eveningwear or deliberately subversive styling – much like for glitzy award shows.
‘Even then, it usually works best with outer layers involved,’ Michael continued.
‘Without a coat or jacket designed to support it, the scarf can look more like an afterthought than a statement, which is where the slovenly perception comes in.’
In short, scarves aren’t a substitute for ties, and when worn without a coat, they risk undoing the very polish most men are trying to achieve, Lisa concluded.
