Wrapped around the body, scarves make great cover-ups for all sorts of situations. Many different cultures and religions have traditions of modesty that centre on the humble scarf.

In Islam, both men and women are advised to dress 'modestly' and interpretations of the Qur'an differ greatly on what this means and whether it is compulsory. Modest dressing is often known under the term hijab, which covers a range of customs surrounding modesty and privacy. For most Muslim women, hijab includes covering at least the head and hair with different types of scarves and head scarves are the most commonly seen form of hijab in western countries. Head scarves vary in colour depending on traditions, and many young Muslim women choose subtle but beautiful scarves to cover their heads. Read about how to tie a traditional hijab head scarf in our How to Tie Scarves section.

Orthodox Judaism has codes of modesty that fall under the collective term tzniut. As in Islam, the ways in which these codes affect clothing vary between traditions. Some traditions state that all married women must cover their hair, leading to the wearing of the tichel, a traditional Jewish scarf. Reform and Conservative Judaism does not generally require women to cover their heads, but covering the hair for attending synagogue is very common. Many modern Jewish women use a variety head coverings and beautiful scarves are a great way to observe tradition whilst expressing yourself.

Many other religious traditions include covering of the hair and head for modesty, especially in places of worship. These include Mennonite Christian denominations, who believe in modest dress at all times, as well as Hindu traditional dress, in which the dupatta is an enduring symbol of modesty. The dupatta is a long scarf draped in various styles over the head and shoulders. Dupatta are often produced in rich colours and intricately embroidered, making them a beautiful yet modest part of South Asian traditional dress. Even outside religious tradition, many women chose to wear scarves to cover up, especially when travelling. Larger scarves such as bright pashminas are for cover up without sacrificing a stunning outfit.