Bandana? Ascot? What's The Difference?

If you are new to neckwear, you would be forgiven for thinking ascots and bandanas are the same thing. At a glance they may look the same, but they are completely different. So, you may be asking yourself "what's the difference between an ascot and a bandana?" It's quite simple.

Before we discuss the differences between ascots and bandanas, let's clear up another common confusion between ascots and cravats. We wrote a full article titled Cravat? Ascot? What's The Difference? where we explain this just like we will explain the differences between ascots and bandanas below.

What Is An Ascot? 

Ascots are pieces of neckwear commonly made from silk, wool, cotton, or linen. They can come in both a formal style (known as 'formal ascots' or 'dress cravats') and a less formal, but more popular, style (known as 'day cravats').

Formal ascots are almost always a single neutral or pastel colour and may feature a small repeating pattern like a basketweave, herringbone, or pin. Sometimes, they're treated with a starchy compound to help keep their shape.

Day cravats, which are what most people think of when they picture an ascot, come in a wide variety of colours and patterns. They rose in popularity during the Golden Age of Hollywood and again during the psychedelic mod movement of the 1960s. They are still worn today around the necks of people who are fans of these time periods' fashions or who want to add spice to their outfit and stand out amongst the sea of ties.

Note: When we mention ascots or cravats in this article, we are referring to the more popular and stylish day cravats, not formal ascots.

What Is A Bandana? 

A bandana, sometimes called a handkerchief, is a square piece of fabric (typically cotton but sometimes silk or polyester) that can be worn around your neck, on your face, on top of your head, or on your wrist like a bracelet. They can come in a variety of colours and patterns but are usually bright coloured and feature a repeating paisley pattern.

Unlike ascots, a bandana serves practical purposes that go beyond decoration. They can protect your face and neck from dirt and debris, keep sweat and long hair out of your face, and be used as a handkerchief (but not a pocket square. What's the difference between a pocket square and handkerchief? Find out here).

Depending on where you live, bandanas can be associated with gangs, clubs, and groups. Certain colours can represent certain gangs, like the widely known Bloods and Crips of New York, which wear red and blue, respectively. They could also signify affiliation with a biker group in which bandanas are commonly worn.

When Is It Appropriate To Wear An Ascot? 

Generally speaking, an ascot is less formal than a regular tie but more formal than going without neckwear. You shouldn't wear an ascot with a black- or white-tie outfit, but you can wear one with a smart-casual or semi-formal outfit featuring chinos or coloured trousers.

Our general rule of thumb for ascots is that they're fine under any collared shirt as long as you aren't wearing a full suit. Full suits are considered formal and should be accessorized with a tie and pocket square instead of an ascot.

When Is It Appropriate To Wear A Bandana?

Since bandanas are less formal than ascots, you don't need to worry as much about colour matching or the formality of your overall outfit. A bandana could be worn if you are doing housework, yard work or taking your motorcycle out for a spin and don't want a face full of dirt.

Bandanas are also often associated with cowboy culture, so if you are attending a cowboy western-themed event, you could consider it as important to the overall look as a tie would be to a suit; it just isn't complete without one.

Is An Ascot More Formal Than A Bandana?

Ascots are considered more formal because of their relation to other popular formal types of neckwear like the tie and bow tie. Ascots are worn under a collared shirt and can be accompanied with a pocket square in a suit jacket pocket. The same rules of colour matching apply if you wear an ascot instead of a tie.

Summary

If we rated a day cravat and bandana on a formality tier system, the day cravat would be a B and the bandana a D. Neckwear comes in all different shapes, sizes, and formality levels.

Understanding the level of formality when it comes to your neckwear could save you from committing a style gaffe that might prevent you from getting a second date or landing that new job.

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