Translated by Bethszabee Garner

No one could have missed the “Babushka” phenomenon in this beginning of the year 2025. After extreme temperatures from all over the world, our way of wearing a headscarf has completely evolved. Henceforth, the scarf and more particularly the kerchief is worn around the head and both became a form of expression in their own right.

A$AP Rocky, Jennifer Lawrence, Kendall Jenner… Even the celebrities are embracing the Babushka wave trend, without even knowing that this trend comes from the uniform of a Russian grandmother (who is also called Babushka in Russian). As usual in fashion, trends come directly from the street and from clothing habits of regular people, the headscarf being chief amongst them.

The Babushka trend, from slavic origins

Before the Marais’s population actively took up the silk scarf as a protection against the cold Parisian air, the Babushka style had already existed for much longer and was even invented in Russia in the 19th century. It all began by the democratization of a shawl called “Pavlovo Posh”, a glorious colorful stole manufactured in silk or in wool in an artisanal way.

In Russia, women wear it around their face to protect themselves from the Steppes’ icy cold. Time passes, and this way to adopt the kerchief inked itself in the country’s traditions. From then on, grandmothers, especially from rural areas display this look and are labelled as the “Babushka Platok” (understand the “grandmothers with scarfs”), hence the name of the trend.

From the Queen of Englad to A$AP Rocky

It is rather hypnotic to analyze how such a basic accessory could have tipped over to the heart of the infernal cycle of trends. From its creation, the “Babushka” imposed itself in the wardrobe of certain notable personalities, allowing imaginations to be formed slowly but surely.

On the Pop Culture’s side, we cannot omit the great icons of the 50s like Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly. These actresses have made the scarf around the head glamorous, thanks to cult scenes behind the wheel of a car for example. Through an assertive avant-gardism, they launched a fashion trend without really being aware of their aesthetic impact.

Cinema as a cultural medium has spread this fashion object throughout the world via the headscarves of the feminist heroines of the film Thelma and Louise, directed by Ridley Scott in 1991. Behind this accessory hides a symbolism of power and freedom, mainly for the female characters. The images pass and the scarf increases its fashion quotient by a few points.

On the crowned head side, Queen Elizabeth II shows herself a great adept of silk scarves of all kinds. The latter, whose BCBG imprint was significant, was an unconditional fan of this piece of fabric which she tied around her neck during her walks in the open air. The iconic cliches of her style exercises have in some way brought the accessory up to date while crystalizing it on the side of the bourgeoisie. Ironic fate for a scarf used by grandmothers in the countryside!

In November 2019, rapper A$AP Rocky appeared at the LACMA wearing a suit and, above all a detail that doesn’t lie, an XXL pink Gucci silk scarf. In front of photographers, the artist from Harlem blew a wind of vintage in the industry while shining a light on a long-gentrified feature. Following this phenomenon appearance, A$AP Rocky even released a song in 2022 called “Babuska Boi”. An effective tool crystalizing a trend and asserting the freedom of completely masculine wardrobe

@mrsawge15 Babushka Boi Rocky ⚠️ @asaprocky #asaprocky #asapmob #awge ♬ オリジナル楽曲 - AWGE - mrsawge15

OniriQ’s top 5 favorite scarves

Nowadays, the scarf comes in a thousand ways to be worn around the head (or not). After a freezing winter, tips have literally flooded social media, explaining to netizens how to knott this silk piece. Everywhere fashionable girls (and boys) wear the “Babushka” look, especially in Scandinavian countries. On Instagram, all terrain models like Alexa Chung enjoy an old-fashioned, almost outdated style, which she pairs up with more contemporary pieces. Her personal boldness? The knotted scarf.

A worthy seasonal successor of the Sophie Scarf or of the wool scarf, the kerchief has never been so popular in 20205, thus experiencing a real boost of energy since its democratization in 2018. For the occasion, OniriQ has chosen it’s 5 favorite kerchiefs to allow you to adopt the “Babushka” trend. From the legendary Hermès scarf to recent creations from the PetitJean Paris brand, zoom in on our favorites.

From left to right:

Beige checkered silk scarf BURBERRY on Ssense – 450€

Monogram Sublime Headband TORY BURCH – 120€

Square 90 in silk Montmartre Petitjean Paris – 195€

Square 90 flowered Brides de Gala HERMÈS – 530€

50x50 scarf in Majolica printed twill DOLCE&GABANNA – 250€