You're all a bunch of jack bags. The shemagh (pronounced sh-mog), also known as a kiffeyeh, has about as much cultural significance as an argyle sweater vest. Seriously. Although it's not typically worn as a hipster fashion statement in the middle east, rather it's worn for its functionality, protecting against the elements. For one thing, there is little to no shade in the desert. The shemagh is worn to keep the sun off the skin. Also, I'm willing to bet hardly anyone in this forum has experienced an Iraqi sandstorm. If you had, you'd give your favorite limb for a shemagh just so you could breath. Believe it or not, it actually gets pretty cold in the northern regions of the dry, arid middle eastern desert. Traditional shemaghs are made of a cotton-wool blend which makes for a lightweight construction that also helps to keep you warm, even when wet, while also allowing for them to dry quickly.
If you're wearing something because you like the way it looks, good for you. That's actually the reason ANYONE wears ANYTHING. You like hollister shirts, yoga pants and ugg boots? Well you COULD be wearing beat up old jeans, chuck taylors and a baggy band tee. It's called PREFERENCE, and is the basis of FASHION. So what if you don't like the way a shemagh and some buddy holly glasses look on someone? Don't fucking wear them. I wear a shemag because it keeps my neck warm in the winter, not because I'm trying to impress anyone or make a fashion statement. It also looks damn fine.
Oh, and I got mine from a bazaar in Iraq, you want to tell me I don't have reason to wear it?
