How To Wear A Scarf With A Leather Jacket (6 Tips)

Scarves present the ideal balance between utility and appearance. However, due to the versatile nature of scarves, it’s easy to go wrong, particularly when wearing one with a leather jacket. So, can you wear a scarf with a leather jacket?

A leather jacket can easily be worn with a scarf. The color of your scarf should almost always be a neutral tone, and the length of your scarf should be relative to your height. There is no best scarf knot; it’s mainly up to preference.

Although that’s the general gist, there’s a lot more to it. 

That being said, let’s explore further.

1. Stick To Neutral Tones

Being the first thing that most people will notice about your scarf, its color is arguably one of the most important factors.

When deciding what colored scarf to wear with your leather jacket, you should always take into account the color of your jacket.

Leather jackets typically come in two colors: black and brown. Despite these both being neutral tones, there are still some guidelines that differ between the two.

If wearing a brown leather jacket, it’s important to avoid solid brown scarves. Patterened brown scarves can be okay alongside your brown jacket, as long as the brown isn’t too prominent.

A fantastic color option for your scarf when wearing a brown leather jacket is dark olive. A dark olive scarf excels with a brown leather jacket – regardless of the shade of brown – adding a touch of sophistication to your outfit.

Gray is another good color choice for your scarf with a brown leather jacket. Any shade of gray works well alongside any shade of brown leather jacket.

However, it’s recommended that the shade of your gray scarf be a bit lighter than your brown leather jacket, where possible.

On the other hand, pretty much any scarf color works well when wearing a black leather jacket. This is because black is a very versatile color.

Having said this, it’s still best to stick to neutral tones such as charcoal, tan, beige, olive, and navy.

2. Ensure It’s The Right Length

Despite seeming like a minimal factor, the size of your scarf can have a pretty significant impact on your appearance. While the scarf is typically a very simple garment, it’s important to ensure your scarf is the right size.

This is particularly true when wearing a leather jacket. The leather jacket is a garment that simply radiates style, and something as seemingly minimal as scarf size could make or break your outfit.

Having a scarf that is too short could mean that you cannot tie more complicated scarf knots and potentially look awkward. At the other end of the spectrum, having a scarf that is too long would undoubtedly look clumsy.

Typically, there isn’t much variation in the width of your scarf, and – since the visible width will change depending on scarf knot anyway – it isn’t a hugely important factor. The main element of your scarf size is length.

Scarves can most commonly be found with a width of 6-8 inches (approximately 15-20cm) and will often be folded in half.

Length, on the other hand, is a different matter entirely. Scarves can range from a length of 50-inch scarves up to 82-inch scarves. 

For men of smaller stature (5’6 or under), a 50-65 inch scarf is best. For men of taller stature (6’0 and above), a 75-82 inch scarf is recommended.

The standard scarf size is 70 inches; however, any sized scarf between 65 inches and 75 inches is suitable for most men.

3. Material Matters

Scarves come in many different materials; however, when deciding which scarf material to wear, it’s important to remember why you are wearing your scarf. Is it for style? For warmth? Maybe even for both?

When wearing a leather jacket, there could be many reasons to wear a scarf alongside it. It’s therefore essential to understand the different materials scarves can be made of, and when it’s best to wear each with your jacket.

The most common scarf material is cotton. Cotton is a relatively inexpensive and very versatile material – allowing for many different colors and patterns.

Additionally, cotton is breathable, comfortable, and suitable for sensitive skin. A scarf made of cotton will keep you warm while looking great, making cotton scarves overall a fantastic option to wear with a leather jacket.

If, however, wishing to take your style to the next level, as well as have even more warmth, cashmere is an excellent option for scarf material – particularly with a leather jacket.

Cashmere can be costly; however, it’s worth every penny. A cashmere scarf can be worn all year round and with a leather jacket, as it won’t make you sweat, despite keeping you warm.

On top of this, cashmere is incredibly lightweight and soft, allowing for maximum comfort. Available in a wide range of colors, the luxurious look and feel make cashmere scarves one of the best options to be worn with a leather jacket.

Wool is another commonly used material for scarves; however, it is not the best material to wear with a leather jacket. The textured nature of wool can look out of place with the crisp look of a leather jacket.

This can make the outfit look slightly awkward, so – while wool may be a good option for a general-use scarf – you should try and avoid it if possible.

Scarves can also be commonly found made of acrylic. Acrylic is an affordable, synthetic material that is lightweight and easy to take care of. Acrylic scarves look good with pretty much anything – leather jackets included.

Although acrylic is a good option, it’s important to keep in mind that it isn’t as soft and breathable as the other materials mentioned.

4. Pick Your Scarf Knot

Alongside color, the knot of your scarf is one of the first things people will notice. Understanding the different knot types and which ones work best with a leather jacket is important.

The drape is the most basic “knot” – because it’s not really a knot. It’s the quickest and easiest way to wear a scarf and is done by simply draping (hence the name) the scarf over your neck. 

This can be a good knot option to wear alongside a leather jacket; however, if choosing the drape, it’s important to make sure your jacket isn’t done up. 

The lack of neck protection, however, means that the drape is best worn as a statement piece, rather than for utility. Also, because there is no actual knot, the drape is best for shorter scarves: longer scarves should be avoided.

The French knot is another scarf knot that goes well with a leather jacket. Perhaps the knot that provides the most “bang for your buck”, it is simple to tie and looks fantastic.

The French knot is incredibly versatile and will therefore go with pretty much any outfit and is suitable for any scarf.

A variation on the French knot, the French twist is more complicated to tie but can take your style to the next level if performed correctly.

The French twist can be worn with a leather jacket – whether it is done up, or not. It’s also worth noting that the French twist can look great under your leather jacket as well as on top of it.

This can be done by simply tucking the bottom ends of your scarf into your partially done-up jacket. 

The once around is the most generic way to wear a scarf, but you shouldn’t discredit it because of this.

A scarf tied with the once around is a great accompaniment to your casual leather jacket outfit and will add extra flair and personality to it. This knot is best for medium-sized scarves and is most suited for casual occasions.

5. Weather Shouldn’t Matter

The weather and time of year should always be considered when planning an outfit.

Wearing a scarf is typically associated with the winter and cold weather because of the scarf’s ability to keep your neck warm.

While this may be mostly true, there are exceptions; scarves are more than just utility accessories – they can, and should be, worn as a fashion statement as well.

If you are wearing a leather jacket with your scarf in warm weather, the chances are you’ll get quite warm. In which case, a cashmere scarf worn as a drape is the ideal solution.

Cashmere is very lightweight and, despite being warm, will help you avoid excessive sweating. 

Combining your cashmere scarf with a simple drape will subtly show off your scarf and add a touch of flair to your outfit while not being prone to overheating.

6. Assess The Occasion

It’s always important to assess the formality of the situation before picking your outfit, and wearing a scarf is no exception.

Generally, wearing a scarf with your leather jacket is acceptable in any casual scenario.

There is a lot of controversy on whether or not it’s acceptable to wear a leather jacket to a formal event. However, if deciding to, there are certain guidelines to wearing a scarf alongside one.

In fact, in some situations, a scarf can add a sense of extra formality to your previously more casual outfit.

When attending a formal event wearing a leather jacket and scarf, it’s best to ensure your scarf is one color (no patterns or color variations) and that a particular knot has been tied.

The recommended knot for formal events is the French knot. The French knot has the ability to dress up an outfit – arguably more than any other scarf knot. 

Alternatively, you could go for the faux knot, which looks much simpler than the French knot but is just as dressy.