It has been said (with a lot of truth) that if you own a bandana or two, you have an extended wardrobe. And that applies to handkerchiefs as well. Bandanas and handkerchiefs are colorful, versatile, fashionable, and practical. They are suited for a lot more than just wiping your brow or your nose.

These popular fashion accessories impart a timeless look and can be worn just about anywhere and for any occasion. Whether you want to spice up your outfit for a special occasion or want your own iconic, everyday look, they are up for the job.

The primary attribute of bandanas and handkerchiefs that make them so popular and practical fashion-wise is versatility-from-simplicity.

Read on to find out how to create charming outfits with bandanas and handkerchiefs.

Wearing a Bandana as a Headband

The classic bandana-as-headband is a perennially popular look, as well as an easy one to pull off. It’s also great for keeping your hair away from your face without the discomfort that often accompanies other kinds of headbands.

Classic Headband

To rock this classic look, you have two basic options . . .

• Begin by folding your bandana in half, then fold it in half again, and repeat till you have a band of the desired width. This band can be anywhere from one to three inches wide – it’s totally up to you, though thinner is typically more popular.
• Or fold the bandana so as to form a triangle, and then roll/fold the it from the base of the triangle toward the point till your band is the desired thickness.

Once you’ve formed a band that suits you, place the middle of the rolled/folded bandana band in the middle of your forehead just below the hairline and tie the ends at the back of your head. This is a versatile bandana style that lends itself to almost any casual occasion and complements any outfit non-formal outfit.

Check out this video for an easy-to-follow demonstration . . .

Tied-in-Front Headband

 A quirky twist on the classic headband, the tied-in-front headband style adds extra spunk and sassiness to the standard headband look. Just fold your bandana repeatedly until you have a band (as with the classic headband) and then place it around your head and tie it in the front instead of the back. If you don’t like the ends sticking up in the middle of your forehead, you can tuck them into the band to create a larger-looking knot.

This is a great style for informal outings and casual occasions and works admirably with jeans and T-shirt or a sundress. Just make sure your bandana’s print and color serve to complement and/or accent the rest of your outfit. A perennial favorite for this classic style is the traditional paisley bandana, with tie-dye and solid colors coming in a close second.

Using a Handkerchief as a Pocket Square

The venerable pocket square is making a come-back owing to the blossoming interest in the retro look. A pocket square provides a great way to make a subtle fashion statement to accent and complement a suit or outfit. It’s an accessory that allows men to achieve a dapper, retro look, and a tool for ladies who want to push the boundaries a bit.

And affordable handkerchiefs can be used to make a highly stylish pocket square. Here’s what you need to do . . .

How to Fold a Handkerchief for a Pocket Square

If you want to get in on this booming style trend, you don’t have to lay out a lot cash for designer pocket squares. Nope, a simple handkerchief will serve admirably. And here’s what you need to do . . .

First, consider the occasion or setting for which you’re dressing. More formal events/occasions call for white or a subtle, understated pattern. But if the occasion is more casual, then you can be more ambitious and choose brighter colors and bolder and louder patterns.

Having selected the appropriate handkerchief for your pocket square, you have two main options (though there are more) for how you fold it . . .

The Straight Fold

• For this look, fold the handkerchief vertically, pulling the two corners of one side up (or down) toward the two corresponding corners of the other side.
• But fold it only about 2/3 of the way up, thus leaving about a 1/3 of it above the portion you folded up.
• Then fold it in half, pulling one side over to meet the other.
• Insert it into your breast pocket leaving about ¼ of an inch visible above the top of the pocket.
• If your breast pocket is fairly shallow, you can fold the bottom, non-exposed part of the handkerchief again so that only a ¼ inch will be visible above the top of your pocket.
• If the handkerchief is too wide for your pocket, you can fold it sideways into thirds rather than in half.
• Done right, the straight fold will add a touch of timeless, dignified style that also adds some pop to your look.

One-Point Fold

If you want a dapper look with a little more style zing, try the one-point fold . . .

• Again, lay your handkerchief on a flat surface, but this time fold the a corner at the top and bottom so that it looks like a diamond.
• Pull the bottom corner up to meet the top corner to form a triangle.
• Fold the left corner of the triangle 2/3 of the way toward the right corner.
• Then fold the right corner 2/3 of the way toward the left corner.
• At this point, the handkerchief should look much like an open envelope.
• Now, flip the folded handkerchief over so that the side facing you is the smooth side with no visible ends/corners.
• Again, if it’s too wide the pocket, just fold a little more on each side.
• Now, you’re ready for any formal affair like a dinner party.

Tie a Bandana Around Your Neck

This bandana style may be the oldest and even more of a classic look than the headband. So let’s take a look at your style options here . . .

The Cowboy/Cowgirl Look

For a little Western flair, try the bandana cowgirl look. This too is a classic look you can see in movies and still on cowgirls and cowboys today, one that guides the eyes of anyone looking at you to your face.

For the cowgirl look, just fold your bandana in half to form a triangle. Place it around your neck and then tie the ends at the back of your neck. Besides giving you that Western vibe, this style is also the perfect complement to a low-cut dress or shirt or to set off a long-sleeved shirt and jeans and boots.

But you’re not limited to this traditional look that typically uses a paisley bandana. You can also use more adventurous colors and patterns, say, a flag bandana, for the knotted look.

Knotted Look

To achieve this look fold your bandana diagonally to form a triangle. Then roll it loosely until it resembles a narrow scarf. And then place it around your neck (much in choker style) and knot the loose ends.

Where you place the knot will subtly alter the fashion effect. You can knot it in the front for a more traditional look. Or you can place the knot on one side of your neck for a more chic, European feel.

Wearing a Bandana or Handkerchief as a Belt

You can also wear bandanas and handkerchiefs as a belt. This is a style gaining in popularity today because it is slightly transgressive and also just looks good. And it’s pretty simple really.

Just knot together sequentially (at the ends) two or three (or however many you need to accommodate your waist size) bandanas or handkerchiefs. Then put the belt-like series of bandanas/handkerchiefs around your waist, either on the outside of your slacks/pants/jeans or through the belt loops if you have them.

Just keep in mind the bandanas or handkerchiefs will be at your mid-line. So be sure to select colors and patterns that will work well with both what is below and what is above. This often means something at either end of the spectrum – bright, bold patterns or neutral tones.

Considerations for Choosing Your Bandanas and Handkerchiefs

Before you go out and plop down your hard-earned cash, consider these things. We’ll concentrate on bandanas here because the options are far more numerous.

Fabric

The most common bandana fabric is cotton, but bandanas are also available in silk and satin. Generally  speaking, cotton is suitable for everyday wear and all kinds of casual occasions like, say, a music festival. Silk and satin, on the other hand, are better suited for smart casual occasions, things like a date or maybe a meal out with friends.

The rule of thumb here is that the smarter and less formal the occasion, the richer the fabric you should choose. For everyday wear, though, cotton rules.

Color and Pattern/Print

After the fabric, the color and pattern/print are probably the next most important considerations. And a lot of it has to do with what you’ll pair the bandana with, the clothes you want it to accent or complement.

• Bright solid colors such as red, yellow, and orange – These go best with a neutral outfit or ensemble
• Neutral colors and shaes – These are extremely versatile, but serve very well to tone done a very colorful outfit for a pleasant overall effect.
• Patterned bandanas – Patterned bandanas, such as the venerable paisley, also work very well with casual and neutral outfits like jeans and a T-shirt.

Quality

And, of course, you’ll want a quality bandana. But the trick lies in assessing and determining quality.

Certainly, you want it to look and feel like a quality bandana, but these are pretty subjective measures. There are, though, a few objective hallmarks of quality bandana construction.

One of these is the quality of stitching on the edges. The very top-of-the-line bandanas will have only a very slightly noticeable selvedge line on one or two edges, and those that aren’t selvedge will have folded and stitched edges.

Be sure to pay particular attention to the corners. Look for clean and precise stitching on the corners and the absence of anything that indicates hasty or shoddy stitching.

The way a bandana feels in your hand can also be a good indicator of quality. When you pick it up and rub it between your fingers and run it through your hand, does it feel soft and supple? If so, that’s a sign of a quality bandana. What you don’t want is a bandana that feels crisp or “papery.”

Durability and Washability

One thing you don’t want is a bandana that won’t stand up to use or washing. Of course, the bandana fabric will play a huge role in durability and washability, but you should also look at whether it’s colorfast so that it will retain vibrant color after many washings.

Your Source for Quality, Affordable Bandanas and Handkerchiefs

So there you have it: the top ways to create charming outfits with bandanas and handkerchiefs.

But don’t stop there. If you have an assortment you can experiment with colors and patterns and more styles. With all that’s available today, you’ll be limited only by your imagination.

And when you’re ready to purchase some bandanas and handkerchiefs, why not go to the bandana/handkercief source known for quality products and great prices coupled with superior customer service – Bandana.com

We offer a quality guarantee, and our customer service is legendary. And that’s a winning combination.