The Paisley Print Trend Report: Where It Came From and Why It's Back
Paisley print is back, and that bandana balled up in your drawer just became a fashion decision. From Vera Bradley to Marc Jacobs and Veronica Beard, we are seeing paisley print all over the place!
I put together a paisley print trend report as a Reel, and this is the full version, with the history I ran out of time for. My answer to "how do I wear this without looking like I'm headed to a rodeo?" is around your neck. The new Bandana Neckerchief Charm Necklace in Moss Green and Orchid Pink ($118 each) tie like a scarf and finish like a statement necklace, so one piece does both jobs.
Paisley Isn't Cowboy. It's Persian.
Most people think the swirl started with the cowboy bandanas you see out on the range. It didn't. The paisley swirl isn't American at all.
That teardrop shape is Persian. It's called boteh, and it has long symbolized life and eternity. Some sources also connect the shape to a cypress tree and to a flame.
Here's the short version of paisley print history. It traveled west on Kashmir shawls, the cashmere wraps that Europe couldn't get enough of. Then a mill town in Scotland started copying those shawls in the 1800s, and the town's name stuck. Paisley, Scotland is why we call the pattern paisley.
So when you tie on a paisley bandana, you're wearing a motif with centuries of history behind it. That's a better starting point than "home on the range."
Why Paisley Is Back
Celebrity style always trickles down to the rest of us. When names like Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid start wearing a print, brands and tastemakers take notice. You can see both of them in paisley in my TREND REPORT REEL.
From there it shows up everywhere: jeans, necklaces, bags, and quilted jackets. Fashion editors are calling bandana-inspired paisley a bridge print, one that carries you from summer into fall. And a bandana is small, so you can add the print without rebuilding your outfit.
The bag Charleston Magazine picked for its Style File is covered in How to Wear Bandana and Paisley Print, along with five ways to wear bandana print. This post is about the story behind the print and the one place I'm loving it most: the neckline.
Three Ways to Make Paisley Feel Modern
If bandanas and paisley feel a little too home on the range for you, these three moves bring it up to date.
1. Mix it with leopard
It's unexpected and it looks cool. Paisley is swirly and cool-toned, leopard is scattered and warm-toned, so your eye reads two separate ideas instead of a clash.
Here's the Orchid Pink over a plain white ribbed top with a leopard coat. The pink and the gold charms hold their own against the spots, and the plain top keeps it from getting busy.
SHOP the Bandana Neckerchief Charm Necklace, Orchid Pink — $118
For a smaller dose, start with the Green Leopard Print Scarf with Fringe ($58). Tie it at your neck, knot it on a bag handle, or drape it over a coat, and pair it with a bandana. More leopard ideas are in Leopard Print Accessories.
SHOP the Green Leopard Print Scarf with Fringe — $58
2. Wear it in unexpected places
Tie a bandana around a ponytail, around your wrist next to a gold cuff, even around your ankle. Knot one onto a bag handle. Moving the print off the obvious spots keeps it from feeling like a costume. For more ways to dress up a handbag, see Bag Charms and Twilly Scarves Under $50 and how to style bag accessories.
3. Mix it into a neck stack
This is the coolest way I'm starting to see it: beads, gold chains, and fabric all together at the neck. It's chic, it's a little unexpected, and it's where the two new bandana charm necklaces come in.
The Bandana Charm Necklaces: Scarf and Statement Necklace in One
Both work as a scarf necklace: a paisley-print bandana in 100% cotton with gold-plated stainless steel charms along the edge. The charms are tarnish-resistant and won't leave green marks on your neck. Tie it high and close for a fitted neckerchief, or loosen it to drape over a turtleneck. Fold it narrow and it works in a ponytail or on a bag handle.
The Moss Green leans celestial: crescent moons, an antique-inspired cameo, and beaded accents.
SHOP the Bandana Neckerchief Charm Necklace, Moss Green — $118
The Orchid Pink is all good energy: an evil eye, a sun, a horn, and a heart, plus a soft vegan fur pom. The charm mix varies slightly from piece to piece.
SHOP the Bandana Neckerchief Charm Necklace, Orchid Pink — $118
How to Build the Neck Stack
The formula is fabric, beads, gold chain. Start with the bandana necklace tied at your neck, then add slim layers underneath so the fabric stays the star. A slim beaded layer adds color and texture, and navy works under either bandana. Add a fine gold chain or charm chain in a different length. Luck charms are a natural match for the evil eye and horn on the pink. You can browse slim chains and beaded layers in the necklaces collection.
Keep one focal point, vary your lengths, and let the chains stay slim. For the full layering rules, read How to Layer Necklaces Like a Pro, The Maximalist Jewelry Stack, and One Necklace, Five Outfits. If you're not sure how much is too much, Statement Necklaces: How to Wear Them Without Going Overboard covers it.
Wearing a blazer? Pin a brooch to the lapel and tie the neckerchief underneath. More pin ideas are in Statement Brooches for Fall and Dark Academia Accessories.
Earrings That Work With a Bandana Necklace
With this much going on at your neck, keep earrings small and gold so the charms stay the focus. The Gold Pavé Crystal Circle Huggie Drop Earrings ($64) are huggies you can wear two ways: on their own for a clean gold line, or with the removable pavé crystal drop when you want some sparkle. They're 18K gold-plated stainless steel and tarnish-resistant, and the gold matches the gold-plated charms on both necklaces.
SHOP the Gold Pavé Crystal Circle Huggie Drop Earrings — $64
What to Wear With a Bandana Necklace
Keep what's underneath simple: a white tee, an open denim shirt, a black turtleneck, or a fitted blouse under a blazer. The moss green sits well with denim, cream, camel, black, and rust. The orchid pink keeps an all-black outfit from going flat and looks just as good against camel, cream, and denim. Over a chunky sweater, loosen the knot and let it drape. For more cold-weather formulas, see What Jewelry to Wear With Sweaters, How to Transition Your Jewelry From Summer to Fall, and Fall Jewelry Color Trends.
Gift Ideas: Who Gets Which
Give the Moss Green to the woman who collects meaning: moons, talismans, small things with a story. Give the Orchid Pink to the friend who believes in a little luck, or who could use some. You can browse more ideas in Best Gifts for Women Under $100 and The Holiday Gift Guide for Her.
Getting dressed is one of the few things you do for yourself every single day. Tie something with a story around your neck and see how the day feels. Prefer to watch? Here's the original paisley trend report REEL.
Quick Picks
Here's where to start:
Best for celestial charms and cool tones — Bandana Neckerchief Charm Necklace, Moss Green — $118
Best for luck charms and a pop of color — Bandana Neckerchief Charm Necklace, Orchid Pink — $118
Best for mixing paisley with leopard — Green Leopard Print Scarf with Fringe — $58
Best for earrings that keep the neck the focus — Gold Pavé Crystal Circle Huggie Drop Earrings — $64
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does paisley print come from?
Paisley comes from Persia, where the teardrop motif is called boteh. It reached Europe on Kashmir shawls. Today you can wear the motif at your neck with the Bandana Neckerchief Charm Necklace, Moss Green ($118).
Why is it called paisley?
It's named for Paisley, a mill town in Scotland that started copying Kashmir shawls in the 1800s. The name stuck, which is why a Persian motif has a Scottish name. You can see the print on our Bandana Neckerchief Charm Necklace, Orchid Pink ($118).
What does the paisley symbol mean?
In Persian tradition the boteh symbolizes life and eternity, and some sources connect it to the cypress tree and a flame. If you like jewelry with meaning, every charm on the Orchid Pink carries one, and the Charm Necklaces Trend guide covers why personal jewelry is taking off.
Who is wearing paisley print right now?
Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid are two of the names in my Reel, wearing a paisley bandana headscarf and a paisley scarf. You can get the same idea at your neck with the Bandana Neckerchief Charm Necklace, Moss Green ($118).
What is a bandana charm necklace? Is it a scarf or a necklace?
It's both. The bandana ties like a neckerchief while the gold-plated charms give it the weight of a statement necklace. Choose the celestial Moss Green or the luck-charm Orchid Pink, both $118.
How do you tie a bandana necklace?
It ties at the back of your neck, so you set the fit. Tie it high and close for a fitted neckerchief that shows every charm, or loosen it to drape over a turtleneck. The Bandana Neckerchief Charm Necklace, Moss Green also folds narrow for a ponytail or bag handle.
Where else can you wear a bandana?
Around a ponytail, around your wrist next to a cuff, around your ankle, or knotted on a bag handle. Bag Charms and Twilly Scarves Under $50 has more bag ideas, and the Bandana Neckerchief Charm Necklace, Orchid Pink ($118) folds narrow for a handle too.
What goes in a neck stack with a bandana necklace?
Think fabric, beads, and gold chain. Add a slim beaded layer and a fine gold chain in different lengths under the bandana, and browse the necklaces collection for options. For layering rules, see How to Layer Necklaces Like a Pro.
How do you wear a neckerchief with a blazer?
Tie it high at the base of your neck under the collar so the charms show, or loosen it and let it sit open over a white tee. The Bandana Neckerchief Charm Necklace, Moss Green ($118) works both ways, and Statement Necklaces: How to Wear Them Without Going Overboard has more ideas.
What earrings go with a bandana charm necklace?
Small gold ones. The Gold Pavé Crystal Circle Huggie Drop Earrings ($64) match the gold-plated charms and can be worn as a plain huggie or with the crystal drop, so the necklace stays the focal point.
Will the charms turn my skin green?
No. The metal charms on both bandana necklaces are gold-plated stainless steel, which is tarnish-resistant and won't leave green marks. See the Bandana Neckerchief Charm Necklace, Orchid Pink ($118) for the full details.
Is a bandana charm necklace a good gift?
Yes. The Moss Green suits someone who likes moons and cameos, and the Orchid Pink suits someone who believes in luck, since its charms include an evil eye, a horn, and a sun. More ideas are in The Holiday Gift Guide for Her.
Is shipping free?
Yes. Shipping is free on every order, no minimum. That includes the Bandana Neckerchief Charm Necklace, Moss Green ($118).
More Style Inspiration
How to Wear Bandana and Paisley Print
How to Layer Necklaces Like a Pro
Gold Charm Necklaces: Complete Guide to Styling & Layering