Young Blonde Girl Wearing The Red Scarf

Historians believe that during the reign of the Chinese Emperor Cheng, scarves made of cloth were used to identify officers or the rank of Chinese warriors.
In later times scarves were also worn by soldiers of all ranks in Croatia around the 17th Century. The only difference in the soldiers' scarves that designated a difference in rank was that the officers had silk scarves whilst the other ranks were issued with cotton scarves. The men's scarves were sometimes referred to as "cravats" (from the Croatian term kravata).
The scarf became a real fashion accessory by the early 19th Century for both men and women. By the middle of the 20th Century scarves became one of the most essential and versatile clothing accessories for both men and women.