The triangle scarf is the accessory of the season

On a recent excursion to the strip of Toronto’s Dundas Street West dotted with second-hand clothing stores, I visited Penny Arcade, a shop that’s been on the block for 18 years.

Penny Arcade mixes Americana-inspired vintage with homewares and knickknacks from local makers. And one item in particular has been selling fast since hitting the shop floor a few weeks ago: a merino wool triangle scarf, designed by Toronto-based brand Billy Bamboo.

“I think they’re quirky,” said Penny Arcade sales associate Julia Pappo.

The style has various origins, but the modern iteration echoes the 18th-century kerchiefs, or fichus, that women wore with low necklines, as well as Eastern European headscarves, known as babushkas. The contemporary knitted versions are a lightweight alternative to more traditional rectangle scarves that can bulk under your coat in the winter, but they are still warm enough to protect from the cold. Plus, their dainty shape allows for versatile styling.

“It’s the ease of a bandana that provides a little bit more warmth for the Toronto seasons,” said Pappo.

The triangle scarf is the winter accessory trending everywhere from the runway to the mall. Brands such as Miu Miu, Chloe and The Row offer luxury versions. Banana Republic recently collaborated with New York designer Zankov on a unisex cashmere scarf, which is also sold out. Mid-tier retailers Cos, Quince and Simons all carry accessibly-priced versions in trending colours such as red and grey.

Versatility is a major part of the scarf’s appeal. You can knot the style around your waist like an asymmetrical cummerbund (another trending look this season), as seen at J.Crew; thread a striped neck scarf through a bangle for a hardware accent, as Zankov showed in his fall 2026 runway presentation; or fashion it as a bandana à la Kendall Jenner and Zoe Kravitz.

“If you’ve stepped inside or are too warm, you can also tie it around your shoulders and back to elevate your look,” said Haley Dach, the fashion director of S and Sharp magazines.

The scarf is fashionable without feeling fussy and polished without looking stuffy. Throwing it over a simple sweater, noted Dach, adds interest and dimension without feeling overdone. It also injects a pop of colour or pattern without pulling focus.

“Adding a scarf means I can transform and refresh the pieces I already own in my closet,” said Sasha Mei, a content creator and co-founder of the supper club Yu & Mei.

For Mei, the tactility of a scarf enhances its nostalgic appeal because it “recalls a simpler time in a world that seems to concede increasingly to technology.” Perhaps that’s why she’s noticed heritage brands such as Ralph Lauren and J.Crew styling the piece in a way that “really leans into Americana and western nostalgia.” In the fast-moving world of fashion trends, the triangle scarf is a rare cold-weather wardrobe essential that feels as pleasurable to see styled on social media as it does to wear in real life.