Women's Cashmere Scarves

How to choose a cashmere scarf

Start with the fibre. The best cashmere is spun from long, fine fibres, so it feels soft, pills less and gets softer with wear. Then read the label: pure cashmere is the warmest, a cashmere and silk blend is lighter with a soft sheen for autumn and spring, and a wool and cashmere blend is sturdier for every day.

Next, choose the shape. A classic scarf is long and narrow and wraps twice. A stole is wider and doubles as a shawl over an evening dress. A travel wrap is larger again, warm enough to wear in place of a light jacket on a plane.

Cashmere scarves by designer

Max Mara makes cashmere stoles, cashmere and silk stoles, tartan styles and the Bosso triangle scarf. Brunello Cucinelli makes fine cashmere and cashmere and silk scarves in soft neutrals. Toteme makes pure cashmere scarves with tassels and checks, and Ingmarson playful wool and cashmere scarves with hearts and stars. Strathberry makes the Westray cashmere travel wrap, Versace ribbed knit scarves, Isabel Marant cashmere scarves in zebra and sand, and Me and Em merino and cashmere knits. For a closer look, read our guides to the best luxury cashmere scarves and to Brunello Cucinelli scarves.

Colours that go with every coat

Camel, grey, black and beige go with almost any winter coat, which is why they make up most of this edit. A camel scarf softens a black coat, grey works with navy and charcoal, and a red and tartan scarf adds colour to a neutral wardrobe. For the coat itself, see our guide to cashmere coats for women.

How to wear a cashmere scarf

The easiest knot is the loop: fold the scarf in half, wrap it around your neck and pull both ends through the loop. For a softer look, wrap it once and let both ends hang over the coat, and wear a wide stole over the shoulders in the evening. On the mountain, a cashmere scarf is the warmest layer you can tuck under a ski jacket, so shop the rest of the look in our après-ski edit.

Cashmere scarves as a gift

A cashmere scarf is one of the easiest luxury gifts: there is no size to get wrong, and it is worn every day of winter. Find more ideas in Christmas gifts for her, and shop every style in scarves and silk scarves.

Cashmere Scarves: FAQs

Is cashmere warmer than wool?

Yes. Cashmere is warmer than sheep’s wool for its weight, so a thin cashmere scarf keeps you as warm as a much thicker wool one, and it is softer against the neck.

How do you wash a cashmere scarf?

Hand wash it in cool water with a wool detergent, press the water out in a towel without wringing, and dry it flat away from heat. Check the care label first, because some scarves, especially cashmere and silk blends, are dry clean only.

Why does cashmere pill?

Pills form when short fibres work loose with friction, for example under a bag strap and a coat collar. A cashmere comb lifts them off, and cashmere spun from longer fibres pills less over time.

How long should a winter scarf be?

Long enough to wrap twice and leave both ends hanging, around 180 cm for a classic scarf. A stole is usually longer and much wider, so it can also be worn over the shoulders.

What is the difference between a cashmere scarf and a cashmere stole?

A scarf is long and narrow and made to wrap around the neck. A stole is wider, so it can be wrapped as a scarf in the day, worn over the shoulders with an evening dress and used as a light wrap when travelling.

How can you tell if a cashmere scarf is good quality?

Check the label for the cashmere content, then feel it: good cashmere is soft but not fluffy, holds its shape when you stretch it gently and springs back. Hold it to the light, because an even, dense weave lasts longer than a loose, thin one.

Is a cashmere scarf a good gift?

Yes. There is no size to get wrong, it is worn every day of winter, and a neutral colour such as camel, grey and black goes with almost any coat.