When I bought my first shawl, I remember I was clueless what to do with it. I bought it because everyone else was buying and wearing shawls and I did not want to be left behind. Of course, those were my teenage years when I was fashion-challenged so if I didn't know how to wear an evening shawl or any other kind, I could have been excused.

Today I am considered a connoisseur and expert of shawls and one of my main tasks is telling other people how to wear a shawl. You do not have to be a rocket scientist to know how to wear a shawl but there is a certain art to it.

The good thing about the shawl is that it is extremely versatile and that makes it easy to wear it in different styles. There are so many ways to wear a shawl elegantly that you no longer have an excuse to say that you do not know how to wear a shawl.

How to wear a shawl:
Here are some simple tips on how to wear a shawl. I give many of these tips to my clients and most of them come back to tell me how they have fallen in love with their shawls and cannot imagine being seen without one.

The belt style is the simplest way to sport a shawl.
I tell all my tall clients to wear this style either on pants or dress. The idea is to tie the shawl in such a manner so that it is loose yet tight enough not to fall down. Just folding the shawl into half and then tying it on one side of the body is sufficient to make you get noticed.

Of course for my lazy clients the ubiquitous shawl style is the easiest. This means draping the shawl around their shoulders to get an elegant look for the evening. I usually recommend that a Pashmina or cashmere shawl be worn this way. These are two every elegant shawls that enhance a lady's beauty and grace without even trying.

The poncho style is very popular way to wear a shawl, especially for those formal cocktails and dinners. Just drape the shawl over your shoulders and secure it in front with the help of a shawl pin or brooch. When I wear my shawl in this style, I sure do turn a lot of heads!

Of late the Hollywood style is quite rage. Many women take two contrasting shawls, intertwine them like braid and then drape it around their necks. I prefer to either leave both ends dangling in front or one end in the front while the other falls at the back. I would be very careful while wearing this style because the shawls have to complement the outfit without a doubt. Otherwise you will end up looking an eyesore.

I advice many young clients to experiment with the sash style. This style is nothing but wearing the scarf over one shoulder and then bringing the two ends to the opposite hip and securing them using a shawl pin or brooch. This style works with tall slim women who want to make a fashion statement.

These are just some of the styles that I tell my clients or friends. There are many more. If you want to learn how to wear a scarf to enhance your outfit, experiment with the different ways of wearing a shawl and then wear it in whatever style that makes you feel good and comfortable.

Gone are the days when scarfs used to be a fashion accessory for women only.

Now, men are increasingly becoming aware of latest fashion accessories to accentuate their looks. So, the mens scarf is becoming an important part of a man’s wardrobe too. It actually goes well with almost any style or fabric of man’s clothing. Moreover, it can be used in different ways to add special effects to a man’s personality.

One can choose from a number of scarfs available in the market. These include the most popular silk scarves, cashmere scarves and so on. The variety is unlimited and it solely depends upon your personal likes and preferences. While buying one, men can go in for bold patterns to gel well with regular suit or a pair of jeans.

Once the search for a perfect scarf is done, the next step is to tie it in a perfect manner. To begin with, you can fold the garment in half and tie a knot through the other end of the fabric. You are ready to cast a spell on anyone to almost everyone. This goes well with a jacket or a trendy coat.

If you live in a cold place and want to get cozy by wearing your scarf, then this is the perfect knot for you. You need to wrap it around your neck twice and keep one end extra long than the other end. Tied in this way, it will protect you from chilly winds and biting cold. It will keep your neck warm and make you look smart.

To get a Parisian knot, you need to fold the piece lengthwise. Place it around your neck and create a loop. Pass both the ends of the scarf through this loop. This is the Parisian knot and it is very much in vogue among the men. Apart from good looks, it gives you the much needed warmth on a cold chilly day.

Scarfs can be worn in stylish ways to give you those dashing looks. You can simply wrap your winter scarf around your shoulders to remain warm and look stylish too. You can even drape it just like a shawl. You can choose from any of the scarfs including silk, cotton, polyester or cashmere. Just take care to choose a color that goes well with a number of your outfits.

Another style that is quite popular among men is an ascot. Ascots go well with your formal suits, coats or even trousers worn over full-sleeves shirts. When trying an ascot, be careful to choose appropriate color by considering the color of the dress to be worn by you. A dark colored ascot goes well with light colored clothing. This style is quite unusual but very much in fashion.

Tying an ascot is not that difficult. Put your scarf around your neck and let the two ends hang on the front. Keep the left side a bit longer than the right one. Wrap the left end around the right end once. While wrapping for the second time, pass the left end through the loop and let it emerge over the top. Make sure to use a pin to keep your ascot firmly in place.

You can experiment different styles of tying mens scarfs and see which style suits you more. It adds color to your look whether you are dressed for your office or going to attend a party with your friend. If you haven’t tried it till now, begin now and see the difference in your personality. You will become the envy of all eyes and pride of your beloved ones.