The Kerchief Trend Will Make You Feel Like You’re on a European Vacation

When it comes to getting dressed, a piece’s vibe is just as important as its style or function. For example, flip flops have a special nostalgic feeling—no matter the season, they can transport you to a beachside getaway or a summer spent around the pool. A blazer can make you feel sophisticated and boardroom-ready, even if you’re tossing it over pajama shorts. And kerchiefs capture the essence of Euro summer, whether you’re jet-setting off to Nice or not.

Worn by muses like Hailey Bieber and Hunter Schafer, the celebrity-approved accessory is equal parts laidback and chic, and it’s shaping up to be the must-have accessory of the summer. Of course, the hair scarf isn’t anything new—it’s been a fashion staple for over a century. But with both the popularity of the Y2K revival and the “tomato girl” aesthetic, the look is popping up on our Pinterest boards and favorite celebrities with a vengeance.

Ahead, everything to know about the trend and how we’re styling it through the warmer season.

The Trend

Kerchiefs can be dated all the way back to Medieval Europe. Women commonly covered their hair with a piece of linen or silk in the Medieval Ages, but hair kerchiefs didn’t take off as a fashion statement until around the ’40s. Hermés debuted its first silk scarf in 1937, and the luxury accessory quickly earned the stamp of approval from socialites and the monarchy. Queen Elizabeth of England styled the scarf, along with icons of the time like Jackie Kennedy, Sofia Loren, Audrey Hepburn, and Marilyn Monroe.

In 2024, Hailey Bieber wore a trendy cheetah print style to Coachella, causing the phrase “Hailey Bieber head scarf trend” to trend on TikTok. In videos, users attempt to re-create the trend, wearing the scarf like Bieber over a baseball cap. The look is also a favorite of Rihanna, who Bieber says she was referencing for her festival look.

While a scarf tied under the chin feels firmly Old Hollywood and seems to pop up every summer—Kendall Jenner loves to wear one on a yacht or in her vintage convertible—the “milkmaid” style, tied behind the ears, feels especially prevalent this year. Bella Hadid has been spotted in one more than we can count, and her fellow It Girl Devon Lee Carlson just wore one on vacation. Kacey Musgraves styled the accessory for a recent Tonight Show performance, and Hunter Schafer wore the ultimate Sophia Loren tribute at Cannes, pairing a Prada headscarf with a milkmaid-esque dress.

This way of tying the scarf perfectly encapsulates where we are in fashion right now, as it’s the perfect amalgamation of both the pastoral vibes that are running rampant in summer fashion—cottagecore, milkmaid dresses, tomato girl—with a little bit of ’90s and Y2K nostalgia thrown in—the look was a favorite of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and the Olsen twins.

No matter which way you choose to style the scarf, it instantly adds a touch of glamour to any outfit, and makes you feel ready to run through a field or hop on the back of a Vespa. Fantasy aside, a scarf is the perfect solution for greasy summer hair or protection from a dreaded scalp burn.

How To Get The Look

Like many of the best trends, there’s no one way to style the hair kerchief, and it pretty much goes with anything. For a little edge, make like Bieber and her bestie Justine Sky and tie it around your go-to baseball cap. Follow Schafer’s lead and pair it with an ultra-feminine white dress for some retro milkmaid cosplay. Or, just add huge sunglasses and a tiny bikini—the options are truly endless here.

If you’re looking for an easy way to elevate an outfit this summer that feels more unique than your typical trendy top or color, try the kerchief out for yourself. With tons of options and different ways to style it, you can make the look all your own.