How to Wear a Bandana in Autumn 2026 in 7 Unexpected Ways

I wish someone had shown me how to wear a bandana before – à la Jennifer Lopez at the 2000 VMAs – I folded a garishly-coloured Tammy Girl scarf across my forehead and draped two very bouncy pigtails atop it. I was fifteen years old, granted, but as proven by the savvy of the Copenhagen Fashion Week street style set this month, there are so many other great ways to style a bandana that some painful photographic evidence wishes I’d been privy to.

Of course, if nothing else, the fact that I, Kate Moss (seen backstage in a blue bandana in 1994) and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy were all donning bandanas way-back-when proves the style transcends time, seasons and occasions. Tracing back to the late 18th century, the humble bandana – a triangular or square scarf, typically in a paisley pattern – is still relevant all these years later. Oh, and they’re not just a summer thing. Bandanas were big news on the AW26 runways, with Maria McManus showing a bandana worn tied around the neck in New York, and Ralph Lauren showing a bandana-style head-wrap moment for Fall 26. Among others.

When it comes to how to wear a bandana for the new season, of course you can always tie it around your hair with a few strands left out to frame your face, or there’s the option to fold the piece up and use it as a makeshift headband. That’s just scratching the surface, though. On the streets of Copenhagen, the fashion set has been reimagining the classic accent and wearing it in intriguing, make-you-look ways. They’re making a case for ditching your trusty black leather belt in favour of a bandana; the perennial pattern is sure to add some personality – and perhaps a pop of colour – to your look. Another pro tip from style insiders? Set your bag charm aside and accessories your tote with a bandana instead.

Ahead, how to wear a bandana in 7 unexpected ways.

1. Around Your Neck

Moritz Scholz