A Wild Rag Is the Hardest-Working Thing You'll Own

It is a square of silk. That's it. And it does more work than most of what's in your closet.

Tie it at the neck on a cold morning and it holds the heat in. Pull it over your nose on a dusty road. Knot it on a bag strap when you don't need it. A good one goes from the truck to the table without anybody thinking twice.

1. Pick the size for how you'll tie it.

Bigger squares tie bigger knots and wrap more than once. Smaller ones sit neat and light.

• The Serape Silk Wild Rag comes in 34 or 42 inches square, in 100% mulberry silk.
• The Poppy Cowgirl is the traditional 35-inch size, also 100% mulberry silk.
• The Longhorn Open Range is the smaller 26-inch square in silk and TENCEL Lyocell, lighter for warm days.

2. Fold it into a triangle.

Corner to corner. Then roll or fold the long edge a few times until it is as wide as you want it at the neck.

3. Wrap and knot.

Put the point in front, cross the ends behind your neck, bring them back around to the front, and tie them in a square knot. Snug, not tight. Tuck the ends or let them hang.

4. Wear it with what you already own.

Over a pearl snap with the top snap open. Under a jacket collar. With a tee and a ball cap on a Saturday. The color does the talking, so keep the rest quiet.

5. Take care of it.

Hand wash in cold water, hang it to dry, and steam out the wrinkles. Roll it when you pack it. Silk wrinkles; that's part of the deal.

One square of silk. A hundred uses. Pick a color and go.