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Most often, when a trend starts to emerge on the opposite side of the world, we mentally bookmark it for a few months’ time. Flip flops, capri pants, and even the humble tank top are all trends we noticed emerging during our summer months, but really started to take hold as it started to warm in the northern hemisphere.
But as we watch on with jealousy while half of Australia gallivants around Europe, we’ve chosen to take the high road. Instead of unfollowing every celebrity, friend, or podcaster cruising the Mediterranean, we’re taking note of all the ways we can elevate our wardrobes for the spring and summer months ahead. And through all our doom scrolling, there’s one trend we haven’t been able to ignore.
Of course, we’re talking about bandanas.
Fans of Gracie Abrams would have spotted the star wearing not one but two bandanas while performing (and hard-launching her relationship with Paul Mescal) at Glastonbury. But she’s far from the only person embracing the affordable ‘00s accessory this summer.
Hailey Bieber and Alexa Chung were separately spotted using a bandana to hold back their windswept hair while out on the water, and Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley has been spotted wearing a bandana every summer since 2022.
The bandana’s versatility is one obvious reason for its rise in popularity. Whether you’re opting for a soft silk headscarf or a classic cotton bandana, there are a few ways to style them for totally different effects.
At Chanel’s cruise 2025/26 show, silk scarves were draped over the head and tied at the nape. On Gucci’s autumn/winter 2025 runway, silk scarves were styled over baseball caps and tied snugly under the chin — an obviously modern interpretation of a style favoured by women in history like Jackie Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Queen Elizabeth II, and babushkas everywhere.
The latter tie technique was also favoured by Chung, and follows Kendall Jenner’s dedication to the under-chin tie last summer. Meanwhile, Bieber interpreted Gucci’s styling in her own way; that is, over a cap but tied at the nape of her neck.
If you’re committed to keeping it classic, summer-ready brands are now releasing patterned bandanas in prints like gingham and polka dots, and much like the scrunchie of years past, matching co-ords and bandanas are now commonplace. And as Abrams proved at Glastonbury, there’s still a strong case to be made for the printed cotton bandana favoured by most of us in the noughties.
If all this has you wanting to embrace the bandana for winter, there’s an option for that too. Knitted styles have also increasingly been on the rise this year, which is a relief for Australians wanting to embrace the trend right now, while it’s still blustery outside.
A capsule collection of knitted bandanas by boutique label CLÒIMH, owned by content creator Holly Mercedes, is a great option, if you can get your hands on one. When the three-colourway range dropped in early June, it sold out within a day. (I failed to secure one of the red bandanas, and no, I’m still not over it.)
For a winter outfit with a bit of whimsy, a delicate knitted bandana like those released by CLÒIMH can make even the simplest jean, boot, and coat outfit formula feel fresh. There are of course no rules against wearing a lighter-weight cotton of silk headscarf in winter either. In fact, that’s exactly what we’ve been doing.
The post You’re Not Imagining It — Bandanas Are Suddenly Everywhere appeared first on ELLE.
