striped shirt (top photo, only $14.50!) | denim shorts (middle and bottom photos…I live in these) | brown sandals (middle photo, love these for adventures!) | gold Birks (bottom photo…I wear these daily)
Have you jumped on the bandana train yet? I did a few months ago and seem to keep turning to it again and again! It took me a little courage to wear it for the first time but now I’m hooked. I haven’t gotten the confidence to wear one around my neck yet (not sure if that would look silly in Hawaii), but I love wearing one in my hair or tied onto a purse. I have a few of them, but the one I get the most use out of is a blue and white Liberty of London floral print that I found at J.Crew last summer (only available in scrunchie form now, but this one is similar!). It’s so versatile because of the classic color combination, and the small floral pattern allows it to work well with many different colors and it even play well with stripes. J.Crew has 3 new Liberty patterned bandanas now and I would love to add one to my collection!
One way I like to wear it is with a low side ponytail. Just part your hair on the side and then gather a loose and slightly messy ponytail on the opposite side, very low and a little bit back from your ear. Make sure it’s not pulled too tightly and even loosen it up a bit by covering the tops of both ears or all of one ear with your hair. This is supposed to be an “effortless” look so you want things on the loose side rather than too tight. Secure with a hair tie. (I love these from Anthropologie and have been wearing them daily, even to work out in…that’s actually one on my wrist in the photo above! They come in a pack of 8 and the colors are really on trend, but the reason I love them is that my hair doesn’t slip out of them.) Then roll your bandana up and tie it around the ponytail! You can also do this same thing with a high or low ponytail on the back of your head.
Another way to wear a bandana is with a high bun. I paired it with a striped shirt and red lips- my version of French girl chic…on a Hawaiian vacation 🙂 Just put your hair in a high bun/topknot (I just twist my hair up and then secure it using the same hair ties linked above) and and then tie the bandana around it. I place the middle of the bandana at the bottom of bun, then wrap around so that the bandana loops all the way around and ends back at the bottom. Then tie the bandana together at the bottom.
The third way I like to wear it is with my hair down, like a headband. I’ll part my hair on the side and then tie the bandana around my head with the ends on top. Once it’s tied I just tuck the two ends under the bandana so that they don’t poke up. It’s a great way to disguise hair that hasn’t been washed in a day or two!
Here are some of my favorite bandanas as well as a few scrunchies (some with ties that make them look like bandanas). They’re a great substitute if you don’t want to mess with tying a bandana yourself!
Simple yet creative — and so cute! Thanks for sharing Katie! This may sound like the most basic request, but can you do a quick tutorial (maybe instagram stories?) on how you put your hair up in a bun? I don't know how to do a high bun like that but this bandana idea is way too cute not to give it a try! Just need to see how you do it! 🙂
Hi there! That is absolutely something I can do. I'll record it in stories and will save it as a highlight. Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment!
I love, love, love this look! I haven't been brave enough to try it yet myself, but this post has convinced me I could do it!
Thanks Kait! They're so fun once you finally muster the courage! I know you could totally rock one 🙂
Simple yet creative — and so cute! Thanks for sharing Katie! This may sound like the most basic request, but can you do a quick tutorial (maybe instagram stories?) on how you put your hair up in a bun? I don't know how to do a high bun like that but this bandana idea is way too cute not to give it a try! Just need to see how you do it! 🙂
Hi there! That is absolutely something I can do. I'll record it in stories and will save it as a highlight. Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment!