A scarf top is a top cut from, and shaped like, a square silk scarf: a fluid panel that ties at the neck and the back, leaving the shoulders and back bare, usually with the drape falling to a handkerchief point at the front. Our sleeveless tops edit gathers the best of them, and the Alémais Martos Scarf Top is the one we would buy first this summer.
Key facts
- A scarf top is shaped like a square scarf and ties at the neck and back, leaving the shoulders and back bare.
- A stick-on bra is the cleanest choice under a backless scarf top.
- The Alemais Martos Scarf Top is made in 100% viscose with a fitted line and pairs with the matching Martos Pant.
- Silk, viscose and silk blends are the usual scarf top fabrics because they drape without blowing about.
What a scarf top is
The idea started with women folding a printed scarf in half on the diagonal and knotting it behind the neck and waist. Designers now cut the shape properly, with a lined front and fixed ties, so it stays put. The fabric does most of the work: it has to be soft enough to drape and heavy enough not to blow about, which is why silk, viscose and silk blends dominate.
The look is somewhere between a halter and a bandana top. It shows the shoulders and much of the back, and the print sits front and centre, so it suits bold, painterly patterns.
What bra to wear with a scarf top
Most scarf tops leave the back open, so a standard bra will show. Your options:
- A stick-on bra, the cleanest choice under a backless shape.
- A low-back convertible bra with the straps removed, if the ties sit low enough.
- Nothing at all, if the front is lined and you are comfortable with it.
- A bralette you mean to show, worn under an open shirt, when you want the scarf top feeling without the bare back.
The Alémais edit
1. Martos Scarf Top
The Martos Scarf Top is the real thing: 100% viscose in yellow, cut with a fitted line so the drape stays close to the body. Viscose falls almost like silk and takes a print beautifully.
2. Martos Pant
The Martos Pant is the matching 100% viscose wide-leg trouser with a regular fit. Together they make a fluid set for dinner.
3. Alita Top
Not a scarf top, but the closest alternative: the Alita Top is a cropped top in 100% European linen with a regular fit, crisper and more casual.
4. Alita Pant
The Alita Pant is the wide-leg partner in the same European linen, so the top and trouser read as one look.
5. Alessia Bralette
The Alessia Bralette is a 100% hemp bralette with a lightly fitted line. It is a covered-back option to wear alone on the beach and under an open shirt in town.
6. Alessia Cropped Pant
The Alessia Cropped Pant in matching green hemp has a regular fit and a cropped length that suits flat sandals.
7. Ellis Top
The Ellis Top is a pink sleeveless top in recycled fibres with a regular fit. Again, not a scarf top, but an easy alternative with a covered back.
8. Ellis Mini Skirt
The Ellis Mini Skirt matches it in recycled polyester with a regular fit, for a short, playful set.
How to wear a scarf top
- With wide-leg trousers in the same fabric, for a set that looks like a jumpsuit from across the room.
- With white jeans and flat sandals for lunch, letting the print be the only colour.
- Under an open linen shirt when the sun is strong, knotted at the waist.
- With a midi skirt at night and one pair of gold earrings. The bare shoulders do the rest.
Keep jewellery at the ears and wrists: a necklace fights with the neck tie. Hair up shows off the back.
Fit and care
A scarf top should sit flat across the chest without gaping at the sides when you lean forward. Because the ties adjust, take your usual size. Alémais uses Australian sizes, which match UK sizes one for one: an AU 8 is a UK 8 and a US 4. Knitwear runs in letters from XXS to XXL. Every piece carries the brand's own fit note, so check it before you choose. Full tables are in our Alémais size guide.
Viscose and silk should be washed cold and dried flat, and some Alémais pieces are dry clean only, so check the label first. For more ways to wear the brand, see how to style Alémais and the Alémais co-ords.
If you want to compare, La DoubleJ, Johanna Ortiz and Agua by Agua Bendita are good next stops for printed resort tops. The Alémais prints guide names every Resort 2027 print.
Frequently asked questions
What is a scarf top?
A scarf top is a top shaped like a square scarf, tied at the neck and back so the shoulders and back are bare. Most are cut in silk, viscose and silk blends so they drape.
What bra do you wear with a scarf top?
A stick-on bra is the cleanest choice, since most scarf tops are backless. A low-back convertible bra works when the ties sit low.
How do you style a scarf top?
Wear it with matching wide-leg trousers for dinner, white jeans for lunch, and a midi skirt at night. Keep jewellery to earrings.
Are scarf tops in style?
Yes. Scarf tops are a summer and resort staple again, especially in painterly prints and fluid fabrics.
Read next: Co-ord sets, Halter midi dresses, Luxury resort wear.
By Gemma Deeks, Coveti Fashion Editor. Updated 20 October 2026.
Related Posts
Zimmermann Sunglasses: Every Resort 2027 Frame Compared
Zimmermann sunglasses come in six frames in the newest drop: the Mirel Round, Mirel Oversize, Goldie Oval, Ellis Cateye, Ellis Navigator and Ellis Hexagon. Every pair is made in Italy, sold in one size with lens widths from 48mm to 60mm, and arrives with a Zimmermann case, dust bag and storage box. Lens categories run from 1 for a light tint up to 3 for strong sun, and the whole edit sits in Coveti's designer sunglasses category.
What Is a Toi et Moi Ring? Meaning, Sizing and Styling
A toi et moi ring is a ring set with two stones side by side, and its name is French for "you and me", so each stone stands for one person. The two stones can match, though they often differ in shape and colour, and they sit together on a single band. The Zimmermann Bloom version in the designer rings edit sets two black stones inside a gold floral form.
Sunglasses for Face Shape: How to Pick Frames That Fit
The best sunglasses for your face shape are the ones that contrast with it: angular cat eye, hexagon and navigator frames balance a round face, while round and oval frames soften a square jaw. Oval faces can wear almost any shape, and the frame should be roughly as wide as the widest part of your face. Every frame in the new Zimmermann drop maps neatly onto one of these rules, and you can try them all in the designer sunglasses edit.
How to Wear Flare Pants: Tops, Shoes and Hem Length Guide
To wear flare pants, balance the wide hem with a fitted top half: a cropped blouse, a tucked shirt, a slim knit. Then hem them for the shoes you will actually wear, so the flare skims the top of the foot and sits just off the floor. A heel lengthens the leg and a flat makes the look casual; the Zimmermann collection and the wider designer pants edit carry both fluid jersey and rigid denim versions.
How to Wear Drop Earrings: Hair, Necklines and Fit
To wear drop earrings, match the length of the drop to your neckline and your hair: open necklines and hair worn up suit longer drops, while high necks and loose hair suit shorter, slimmer ones. Keep the rest of your jewellery quieter so the movement of the earring does the talking. The Zimmermann Bloom and Plume drops in the designer earrings edit are good examples of both lengths.
How to Wear Ballet Flats: Outfits, Fit and Styling Rules
To wear ballet flats well, match the shoe to the hem: cropped trousers, ankle length jeans and midi skirts show the low vamp of a ballerina best, while a long flare hides it. Keep one element of the outfit structured, like a tailored jacket, a crisp shirt, a defined waist, so the flat reads polished rather than sleepy. Start with a rounded toe in black, gold and soft neutrals from the Zimmermann designer edit and the wider designer flats collection, and build from there.
How to Wear a Lace Skirt: Tops, Shoes and What Goes Under
To wear a lace skirt, pair it with a plain, close fitting top in a solid colour, wear a slip underneath when the lace is unlined, and choose shoes that match the mood: flats and sneakers by day, slim heeled sandals at night. The lace is the statement, so let everything around it stay smooth and simple. The Zimmermann Resort 2027 collection is full of examples across its designer midi skirts.
How to Wear a Cuff Bracelet: Fit, Wrist and Stacking
To wear a cuff bracelet, slide it on sideways through the narrow part of your wrist and let it rest just above the wrist bone, snug enough not to spin but loose enough to move. Wear it on the wrist without your watch for a clean look, and pair it with short sleeves, bare arms and sheer fabrics that let it show. A sculptural gold cuff like the Zimmermann Plume in the designer bracelets edit is strong enough to wear on its own.
How to Tie a Silk Neck Scarf: 8 Knots That Stay Put
To tie a silk neck scarf, fold it lengthwise into a narrow band, drape it around your neck with one end a little longer, then finish with a knot that suits your neckline: a side knot for an open collar, a bow for a blouse, a loop knot for a coat. A long, skinny silk scarf is the easiest to tie because the extra length lets you wrap twice and double knot, which is what keeps silk in place. The Zimmermann printed silk neck scarf, at 180 by 18 cm, is a good example, and you will find more shapes in the designer scarves edit.
How to Style Strappy Heels: Outfits, Hems and Fit
To style strappy heels, let the straps show: pair them with hems that stop above the ankle bone, and hem full length pieces so they skim the floor with only the toe on view. Black strappy sandals work with nearly every colour and fabric, while a red pair becomes the focal point of a neutral outfit. The Zimmermann pairs in the designer sandals edit sit on an 85mm heel, a height that carries you from a long lunch into dinner.
How to Style Red Heels: Colours, Outfits and Occasions
To style red heels, treat them as the one accent in an outfit built from neutrals such as chocolate, cream, navy, olive and denim, and keep other red pieces to a minimum. A red heel works with jeans, tailoring and dresses alike, as long as everything else stays quieter. The Zimmermann Resort 2027 collection shows how in its edit of designer sandals.
How to Style Bermuda Shorts: Shoes, Length and Outfit Rules
To style Bermuda shorts, treat them like tailored trousers that happen to stop just above the knee: pair them with a fitted top, a jacket with structure and a shoe that shows some foot, such as a ballet flat, a slim sandal, a loafer. Keep the waist high and the top half neat, and the length reads deliberate rather than casual. The Zimmermann ready to wear edit and our wider designer shorts collection are the places to start.