One of the more theatrical trends for spring is the turban. Pulling inspiration from the screen sirens of the ’40s and ’50s, the hippie vibe of the ’70s, and the culture of the Middle East, the simple addition of a turban—as seen at Jason Wu, Milly, and Issa’s spring 2011 shows—instantly creates a trend-savvy, globe-trotting ensemble.




Jason Wu, Imaxtree


Milly, Imaxtree

Issa, Imaxtree

While we’ve seen plenty of inspiration from the runway, there haven’t been that many people wearing it on the street. Will you be wearing a turban this spring? If you dare to try the trend on for size (which we dutifully encourage), here are a few tips for wearing a turban with sass and flair: Use a large, square scarf with a great pattern or your favorite color.  A great place to look is at your local thrift store or even Good Will or Salvation Army (just be sure to wash it before covering your head in it), most of them have a bin of scarves priced at only a few dollars or less. Don’t don a costume to match your turban. Stay away from harem pants and Aladdin slippers—there’s no need to look like you walked off the set of Arabian Nights. Instead, keep it simple. A turban goes great with your favorite dress (think graduation parties, backyard BBQs, picnics…is it spring yet?) or even just jeans and a white tee. It’s a statement piece so let it shine. And accessorize with confidence. As with any fringe trend, when asked, “what are you wearing?!” A good reply is a grin and, “a turban, isn’t it wild?” For a great tutorial on how to tie your own turban from a large, square scarf, check out the blogger queen of turbans: The Glamorai.