Brunello Cucinelli Scarves: The Cashmere and Silk Guide

A Brunello Cucinelli scarf is made in Italy by the house that built its name on coloured cashmere in 1978, and the new delivery at Coveti covers every shape it makes: wide cashmere stoles, Diamond yarn cashmere and silk, chunky knits, a Lynx Print, houndstooth, small foulards with monili and a rib knit neck warmer. See them all in our designer scarves edit.

What makes a Brunello Cucinelli scarf different?

Start with the fibre. Almost every scarf in this delivery is cashmere, and the ones that are not pure cashmere blend it with silk. That matters because the house began in 1978 with women’s knitwear in coloured cashmere, and its scarves still read like an extension of its sweaters. If you want the longer story of the yarn, our guide to Brunello Cucinelli cashmere covers it.

Then the palette. The colours stay inside the house range: Lignite Grey, Oyster, Pine Cone Brown, Origano, Lead, Panama, Fog and Beige, with Mauve, Purple, Red and Blue as the deeper accents. Nothing shouts, so a scarf works with the coat you already own. Production is entirely in Italy, mostly in Umbria, where the company is based in the restored hamlet of Solomeo. More on that in who is Brunello Cucinelli.

Finally the details. The house sews monili, its fine chains of shiny metal beads, onto lapels, cuffs and straps, and in this delivery onto a small cashmere foulard too. A scarf is the easiest way into that signature. If you are building a full cold-weather set, pair it with something from our Brunello Cucinelli hats guide and finish with cashmere gloves and socks.

The scarves in this delivery, by type

Every scarf below is One Size, apart from the neck warmer, which comes in M. Compositions are taken from the product labels.

Diamond yarn scarves

Diamond yarn is the name Brunello Cucinelli gives to a cashmere and silk yarn with a fine sparkle running through it. In the scarves it is 70% cashmere and 30% silk, so the light comes from the yarn itself rather than from sequins sewn on top. It reads as a soft glow by day and catches lamplight in the evening.

The Cashmere and silk Diamond yarn scarf in Lignite Grey is the one I would choose first, because grey with a little light in it goes with black, navy and camel coats alike. The same style comes in Oyster, Light Grey, Black, Brown, Blue and Mauve. The Diamond yarn scarf in Mauve is the one to pick if your coats are all neutral and you want one soft note of colour.

Plain cashmere and cashmere and silk

If you want one scarf for years, buy a plain one. The Cashmere scarf in Fog is 100% cashmere in a pale grey that sits well against both brown and black. The 95% cashmere and 5% silk blend in the Cashmere and silk scarf in Pine Cone Brown has a little more sheen and drapes closer to the body, which makes it easier to wear indoors with a jacket.

The lighter blend with 33% silk, as in the Cashmere and silk scarf in Purple, is the one for milder days and for travel, since it folds small.

Prints, checks and the Lynx Print

The Lynx Print is the house take on an animal pattern, kept in beige so it behaves like a neutral. It comes in two versions. The Cashmere scarf Lynx Print in Beige is a full-size cashmere wrap. The Lynx Print silk scarf in Beige is silk, made for tying at the neck, on a bag handle and in the hair.

For a check, the Cashmere houndstooth scarf in Brown is the most traditional piece in the delivery. It suits a tweed coat and looks just as right with denim and a cashmere crewneck.

Knit scarves, foulards and the neck warmer

Knitted scarves are warmer and more casual. The Cashmere knit scarf in Lead is 100% cashmere and has matching pieces across the hats and gloves, so you can wear a set. The Hooded knit scarf in Light Grey folds a hood into the scarf, which makes it useful on a windy walk and after skiing.

The Cashmere foulard with monili in Mauve is small and finished with the bead chains, so it works under the collar of a coat, the way you would wear a silk square. The Cashmere and silk rib knit neck warmer in Beige is the quickest option of all: pull it on and there is nothing to tie. It matches the Cashmere and silk beanie in Beige.

How to tie a cashmere scarf

Four ways cover almost everything.

• The loop. Fold the scarf in half lengthways, put it around your neck and pull the loose ends through the loop. Neat and warm, good with a tailored coat.
• The drape. Hang it around the neck with both ends falling straight down the front. Best with a wide cashmere scarf over an open coat.
• The single wrap. Wrap it once around the neck and let the ends fall at different lengths. It looks easy and stays put.
• The shoulder throw. Open a wide scarf out and wear it over the shoulders like a shawl, indoors and on cool evenings.

Silk scarves like the Lynx Print are better tied: a small knot at the side of the neck, around a ponytail, and on the handle of a bag such as the Calfskin BC Duo bag in Ivory.

What to wear it with

The house styles its collections in layers of soft neutrals, and a scarf sits at the top of that. Try a grey cashmere scarf over a Cashmere coat with belt and monili in Beige, with a turtleneck from our designer knitwear edit underneath. Keep the colours close and let the texture do the work. For the wider look, read quiet luxury brands.

A scarf is also one of the easiest gifts to get right, since it needs no size. Our Brunello Cucinelli gift guide has more ideas, and if you want to compare houses, see our guide to luxury cashmere scarves.

How to care for a cashmere scarf

Follow the care label first. As a rule, cashmere likes cool water, a gentle wool wash and drying flat, away from heat. Never wring it. Fold it rather than hanging it, so it keeps its shape, and store it clean with cedar to keep moths away. Silk blends need even more care, and the silk Lynx Print scarf is best left to a specialist cleaner. Our step-by-step guide on how to wash cashmere covers it in detail.

Small balls of fibre, called pills, appear where a scarf rubs against a coat collar. Remove them with a cashmere comb. They do not mean the scarf is poor quality, and they slow down after the first few wears.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Brunello Cucinelli Diamond yarn?

Diamond yarn is the name Brunello Cucinelli gives to a cashmere and silk yarn with a fine sparkle. In the scarves we stock it is 70% cashmere and 30% silk.

Are Brunello Cucinelli scarves made in Italy?

Yes. Brunello Cucinelli makes its products entirely in Italy, mostly in Umbria, where the company is based in Solomeo.

What size are Brunello Cucinelli scarves?

The scarves are One Size. The cashmere and silk rib knit neck warmer is the exception and comes in size M.

How do you tie a cashmere scarf?

Fold it in half and pull the ends through the loop for a neat look, drape it straight down the front over an open coat, and wrap it once around the neck for an easy everyday knot.

How do you wash a cashmere scarf?

Follow the care label. In general, hand wash in cool water with a wool wash, press out the water without wringing and dry it flat away from heat.