Buying Guide
The Best Designer Scarves
Designer scarves in check, cashmere, silk and wool do a lot of work for one accessory: they finish an outfit, carry the year's heaviest coats and quietly signal which house you favour. This edit gathers 42 across four families. Burberry's check sits next to Mulberry, Acne Studios, Alexander McQueen, Miu Miu and more. We've split them by material so you can buy for the right job, whether that's a heavyweight wrap for January or a printed silk square for spring.
Check and signature scarves
The signature group, led by Burberry, the British house whose check is its calling card. Expect classic camel and black-on-cream tartans alongside the giant reversible logo wraps that have run for years. Acne Studios brings its fringed checks in bolder, blockier colour. These are the scarves people recognise across a room, so buy one if you want the brand to read instantly. A wide check wrap (often £300 and up) earns its keep across most winters.
Cashmere scarves
The quiet luxury end. Cashmere is warm for its weight and soft against the neck, which is why it justifies the price. Look to Mulberry and Burberry for solid-colour and tonal-check styles, plus lighter-gauge knits for milder days. Buy a navy, camel or grey first: they sit under tailoring and casual coats alike. Check the ply and gsm if listed, since a heavier two-ply wrap holds shape far longer than a thin single. Hand-wash and it lasts years.
Printed silk scarves
Printed silk is the lightweight, three-season option, and the most expressive. This group leans on house motifs: Burberry equestrian and check prints, Miu Miu and Maje florals, Sandro's graphic borders. Worn as a neck square, hair tie or bag handle wrap, a 90cm twill square is the most versatile shape. Silk creases and snags, so it is a styling piece rather than a warmth piece. Buy a busy print if your coats are plain, a quieter border if they are not.
Wool scarves for winter
The everyday winter workhorse, and the widest section here with twelve to choose from. Wool gives you real warmth at a friendlier price than cashmere, and it shrugs off daily wear. Alexander McQueen brings its skull-motif scarves, Acne Studios its oversized fringed wraps, with Barbour and Burberry covering classic ribbed and checked styles. Go oversized if you want a blanket scarf that doubles as a layer. Buy a dark neutral for commuting and save a brighter check for weekends.
The buyer's brief
How to choose
A scarf is bought on feel as much as looks, so weigh the fibre, the weave and how you actually wear it. These points sort the everyday workhorses from the occasional ones.
Match the fibre to the job
Cashmere for warmth and softness against the skin, wool for hardy daily wear, silk for spring styling rather than heat. Buy the material that suits how cold you actually get and how often you'll wear it.
Start with a neutral, add the statement second
A navy, camel, grey or black scarf goes with nearly every coat you own. Buy that first, then add a check or a print once the workhorse is covered.
Check the size and shape
An oversized blanket wrap doubles as a layer and reads relaxed, while a 90cm silk square stays neat and works as a neck tie or bag accent. Pick the shape for how you knot it.
Weight matters more than logo
A heavier two-ply cashmere or a dense wool weave holds shape and warmth for years. A thin single-ply feels luxurious in hand but pills and thins faster, so read the gsm where it's given.
Plan around your coats
Busy check or print scarves sit best over plain wool coats. If your outerwear already has pattern or strong colour, a tonal or solid scarf keeps the look calm.
Factor in the care
Silk and fine cashmere want hand-washing or specialist cleaning, while sturdy wool copes with more. If you want low effort, a robust wool scarf is the easier daily companion.
Good to know
Answered
If you wear one most of the winter, yes. A good cashmere or wool scarf finishes coats you already own, lasts years with basic care and is one of the cheaper ways into a luxury house. A silk square you wear twice a year is harder to justify.
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About this edit
Diligo's edits are curated by our editorial team and updated as ranges and availability change. Every product featured is hand-picked for design, quality and lasting appeal, so you can discover pieces worth buying without trawling dozens of sites.
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