What Is a Twilly Scarf? Size, Uses and the Skinny Scarf Difference
Trang DaoQuick answer: A twilly is a long, narrow strip of silk, a scarf shaped like a ribbon. People wrap it around a bag handle, tie it into a ponytail or bun, knot it at the neck as a small bow, or loop it around a wrist. A silk twilly is usually two to three inches wide, and lengths vary from one maker to the next.
Picture a leather tote on a café chair, its handle wound in a thin band of pink silk with the two tails falling loose over the side. That band is a twilly. It is the smallest silk scarf most people will own, and it tends to become the one they reach for daily, because it fits places a square scarf cannot go.
What is a twilly scarf?
A twilly scarf is a narrow, elongated silk scarf, closer in shape to a ribbon than to the familiar square. Where a square scarf is folded down before it can be worn, a twilly arrives already slim, so it can be knotted, wrapped or bowed straight away. The word is commonly linked to twill, the diagonal weave used for many silk scarves, and over time it has become the everyday name for any skinny silk scarf of this shape.
Both faces of a twilly show once it is wrapped around a handle or twisted into hair, so look at the reverse side before you buy: the print should read clearly from behind. Folk Form twillies are hand screen-printed through both faces, one screen for each color, so the phoenix reads as clearly on the back of a bow as on the front. Silk suits the job: it is light, it knots without bulk, and the knot slides loose again when you untie it.
What is a silk twilly made of?
A silk twilly is cut from the same fabric as silk square scarves. Ours is 100% mulberry silk. Mulberry silk is a natural protein fiber. The silkworm spins it from a protein called fibroin, held together by a gum called sericin that is mostly washed out during processing. Each cocoon is wound from one continuous filament that runs for hundreds of yards, and those long filaments are what give silk its smooth hand and soft sheen. Silk is also known for strength and light weight, which is why such a narrow strip can be knotted tight with very little bulk.
Twilly vs skinny scarf: is there a difference?
In everyday use, the two names describe the same thing. "Twilly" is the term you see on silk accessory labels, while "skinny scarf" is the broader shopping term that can also cover narrow knit or chiffon scarves. A silk twilly is a skinny scarf. A cotton or wool skinny scarf is usually wider and softer, and it will not wrap a bag handle as neatly. Some makers also use "neck ribbon" or "ribbon scarf" for the same shape.
How long is a twilly?
There is no fixed standard. Most silk twillies sit around 2 to 3 inches wide. Shorter ones are sized to wrap a single bag handle, and longer ones have enough length for a neck bow or a hair wrap with tails to spare. Before you buy, check two numbers: the width, which decides how much print shows once the scarf is twisted, and the length, which decides how many ways you can tie it.
The Folk Form twilly measures 2.6 x 59 inches (6.5 x 150 cm). That length wraps a standard tote handle with tails left over, ties a full bow at the collar, and goes around a ponytail twice.
| Scarf | Size | Common uses | Folk Form price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twilly | 2.6 x 59 in (6.5 x 150 cm) | Bag handle, ponytail, headband, neck bow, wrist | $57 |
| Bandana square | 22 x 22 in (55 x 55 cm) | Bag handle bow, wrist, ponytail | $75 |
| Head scarf square | 26 x 26 in (65 x 65 cm) | Headband, hair tie, neck knot | $97 |
| Large square | 36 x 36 in (90 x 90 cm) | Full head wrap, neck, shoulders | $153 |
For the full picture of square sizes, see the silk scarf size guide, and for a side-by-side of shapes, our comparison of a silk scarf, twilly and bandana.
How to wear a twilly scarf
A twilly works anywhere a ribbon would. These are the ties people use most:
- Bag handle wrap. Knot one end at the base of the handle, spiral the silk up so each turn slightly overlaps the last, and knot or bow it at the top. The silk also takes the touch of your hand in place of the leather.
- Ponytail or bun. Wrap the twilly twice over a plain hair tie and finish with a bow, letting the tails hang.
- Headband. Slide it under your hair at the nape, bring the ends up, and knot at the top of the head or just behind one ear.
- Neck bow. Loop it once around an open collar and tie a small bow at the front or slightly to the side.
- Wrist. Wind it three or four times around the wrist and tuck the ends.
Step-by-step photos for each knot are in how to wear a silk twilly, and the bag version has its own guide on tying a silk scarf on a handbag.
Who a twilly suits
A twilly suits the woman who loves silk but rarely wears a big scarf. It asks for no folding skill, and on a bag or a ponytail it reads as a finishing touch more than a statement, so there is little risk of looking overdressed at the office or at Sunday brunch. At $57 it is also the smallest step into silk in our range, a considered way to try a print before moving up to a 22 inch square at $75.
If you are choosing one for yourself, start with the bag you carry most. Pink and purple sit well against black, tan or cream leather, and green warms up cognac and brown. If you are choosing for someone else, a twilly is a gift that does not ask her to change how she dresses: she lifts the lid, finds a slim roll of printed silk in tissue, and can have it wound around her bag handle before dinner. Men wear twillies too: knotted at an open shirt collar, wound around a hat band, or tied to a weekend bag.
What the Phoenix Dance print means
All three Folk Form twillies carry Phoenix Dance. In Vietnamese art of the Ly and Tran periods the phoenix was the emblem of the queen, and it stands for feminine grace, rebirth and transformation. The design shows a phoenix resting on a bodhi leaf among clouds and lotus. You can read more about the bird and its neighbors in what Vietnamese silk motifs mean.
How much is a silk twilly?
Silk twilly prices vary widely with the maker, the print and the length. The Folk Form twilly is $57 and comes in pink, green and purple, all in the silk twilly collection. If you are pairing one with a square, the pink Phoenix Dance twilly matches the pink squares of the same print. A twilly plus a 22 inch square brings an order past the line for free US shipping on orders $90+.
How to wash a silk twilly
Care is the same as for a printed silk square. Hand wash in cold water with a little shampoo or body wash, do not wring, and dry flat in the shade. Long exposure to light yellows and weakens silk, so keep it out of the sun when drying and storing. Iron on the lowest silk setting while the twilly is still damp. Dry cleaning is the safest choice of all. Our silk scarf care guide covers storage as well.
Frequently asked questions
What is a twilly?
A twilly is a long, narrow silk scarf shaped like a ribbon. It is worn on bag handles, in the hair, at the neck or around the wrist.
What is the difference between a twilly and a skinny scarf?
A silk twilly is a type of skinny scarf. "Twilly" usually refers to the silk version, while "skinny scarf" can also describe narrow scarves in other fabrics.
How long is a silk twilly?
Lengths vary by maker, and widths usually fall around 2 to 3 inches. The Folk Form twilly is 2.6 x 59 inches (6.5 x 150 cm).
How do you tie a twilly on a bag?
Knot one end at the base of the handle, wrap the silk in an overlapping spiral up the handle, and finish with a knot or small bow at the top.
Can men wear a twilly?
Yes. Men commonly wear a twilly knotted at an open collar, wound around a hat band, or tied to the handle of a bag.
How do you wash a silk twilly?
Hand wash it in cold water with shampoo or body wash, do not wring it, and dry it flat in the shade. Dry cleaning is the safest option.
How much does a silk twilly cost?
Prices vary with maker, print and length. The Folk Form Phoenix Dance twilly in 100% mulberry silk is $57.
Browse every guide in our silk scarf and tie guides.
