Luxury Cashmere Scarves: How to Choose, Tie and Care

The best luxury cashmere scarf is woven from 100% cashmere, long enough to wrap twice and clearly labelled with its composition and country of manufacture. Cashmere and silk blends are lighter and add sheen. Brunello Cucinelli, founded in 1978 on coloured cashmere, leads our picks, and Luxury Handbags stocks the new season in women’s scarves.

What makes a cashmere scarf luxury?

Price alone does not. Four things do, and you can check every one of them before you buy.

• Composition: the label should give exact percentages, such as 100% cashmere, 95% cashmere with 5% silk, 59% wool with 41% cashmere. Vague wording such as “cashmere feel” means very little.
• Construction: woven scarves are smooth, drape well and resist stretching. Knitted scarves are springier, warmer and more casual.
• Finish: look at the edges. Neat fringing, a clean hem and even colour from end to end are signs of careful making.
• Handle: good cashmere feels soft at first touch and stays soft after wear. A scarf that sheds heavily in the first week is a warning.

If you want to go deeper on the yarn itself, our guide to Brunello Cucinelli cashmere explains weights, blends and the house’s sparkling Diamond yarn. For every Brunello Cucinelli scarf in one place, including silk foulards, see Brunello Cucinelli scarves.

Pure cashmere vs cashmere and silk

Pure cashmere is the warmest and softest. Silk changes the character: the more silk, the lighter and shinier the scarf, and the less it insulates. Brunello Cucinelli makes the full spectrum, so you can choose by season and by how you dress.

Compositions are taken from the product labels of the pieces we stock.

Scarf shapes and sizes: which one do you need?

Shape matters more than people think. A long scarf and a small foulard do completely different jobs.

• Long scarf: the classic. Long enough to loop and knot, warm under a coat collar.
• Wide wrap: doubles as a shawl over the shoulders on a cold evening and on a plane.
• Foulard: a small piece tied at the neck, more jewellery than insulation.
• Neck warmer: a closed loop with nothing to tie, ideal under a ski jacket.
• Hooded scarf: a scarf and a hood in one piece, the most practical in rain and wind.

The best cashmere scarves at Luxury Shoes

These are the pieces I would choose from the new Brunello Cucinelli delivery, all One Size.

For the first cashmere scarf

The Cashmere scarf in Fog is pure cashmere in a soft grey that goes with every coat. The Cashmere scarf in Anthracite is the darker alternative for black and navy outerwear.

For colour

The Cashmere and silk scarf in Red is 95% cashmere with a little silk, and the right red lifts a camel coat instantly. It also comes in Origano, Pine Cone Brown, Beige, Light Grey and Black.

For evening

The Cashmere and silk Diamond yarn scarf in Mauve catches the light without looking dressed up in the day. It is offered in seven colours across two styles.

For pattern

The Cashmere houndstooth scarf in Brown and the Cashmere scarf Lynx Print in Beige are both 100% cashmere and add interest to a plain coat.

For the neck

The Cashmere foulard with monili in Coffee carries the house’s fine bead chains. Tie it under a shirt collar.

For real cold

The Hooded knit scarf in Medium Grey is a hood and scarf in one, and the Cashmere knit scarf in Panama has a matching beanie, covered in our guide to cashmere beanies.

How to tie a cashmere scarf

Cashmere is soft enough that almost any knot works. These four cover most days.

• The Parisian knot: fold the scarf in half, put it round your neck and pull both ends through the loop. Neat and warm.
• The once-around: wrap the scarf once round the neck and let both ends hang in front. Best with an open coat.
• The drape: put it over the shoulders with no knot at all. Best for wide wraps and evening.
• The double wrap: wrap twice and tuck the ends in. The warmest, ideal under a buttoned coat.

How to wear a cashmere scarf with a coat

A scarf has two jobs with a coat: to frame the face and to lift the colour. Choose a scarf one shade lighter than the coat for a soft, tonal look, and a contrasting colour when the coat is plain. A grey scarf over a camel coat is quiet and classic. A red scarf over navy is bolder and just as smart.

Think about the collar too. A wide lapel suits a scarf worn loose, with both ends hanging inside the coat. A funnel neck works best with a short scarf knotted high, and a hooded scarf over a collarless coat is the most practical choice in wind. On a long coat, let the scarf fall to the chest; on a short jacket, a double wrap keeps the proportions right.

How to care for a cashmere scarf

Air it between wears and wash it rarely. When it needs a wash, follow the label, then hand wash in cool water, press it flat in a towel and dry flat. Silk blends are more delicate, so treat them gently. Our full guide on how to wash cashmere covers moths and storage too.

Is a luxury cashmere scarf a good gift?

It is one of the best. A scarf is One Size, so there is no guesswork, and it is worn every day of winter. Our Brunello Cucinelli gift guide has more ideas, and the matching hands are covered in Brunello Cucinelli gloves and socks. For a wider view of cashmere houses, see our list of the best cashmere brands.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best cashmere scarf?

A woven scarf in 100% cashmere with a clear label and neat edges. The Brunello Cucinelli Cashmere scarf in Fog, in 100% cashmere, is our lead pick, made in Italy and soft enough to wear every day.

Is a cashmere and silk scarf warmer than pure cashmere?

No. Pure cashmere is warmer. Silk makes a scarf lighter and adds sheen, so a cashmere and silk blend suits milder days and evenings.

How long should a cashmere scarf be?

Long enough to wrap once round the neck with both ends hanging to the chest. That length lets you tie every common knot, including the Parisian knot.

How do you stop a cashmere scarf from pilling?

Some pilling is normal in the first weeks. Remove it gently with a cashmere comb, avoid rubbing against rough bag straps and rest the scarf between wears.

Are Brunello Cucinelli scarves made in Italy?

Yes. Brunello Cucinelli produces entirely in Italy, mostly in Umbria.