Five autumn scarves worth buying, from second-hand cashmere to high-street wool

When the first frosts arrive, a scarf goes back to being the best-value piece in the wardrobe: it warms you up, gives a silhouette some shape and is enough to change the look of a plain coat. This edit brings together five styles chosen for their material, their warmth and how easy they are to style, from Burberry's iconic cashmere — here second-hand at Vestiaire Collective — to RWS-certified wool, and on to more affordable options spotted at La Redoute and Zalando. Each piece is described from the listings and retailer information we looked at, and where a listing says nothing, we say so rather than fill in the gaps.

Our selection is researched, not tested: it rests on the listings and prices we checked, never on a try-on that didn't happen.

The iconic cashmere check

The check does all the work here, and it does it well. Pure camel cashmere, a large camel, black and red check, fringed ends: a rectangular scarf listed at roughly 30 x 120 cm, long enough for one loop round the neck with a tail hanging down. It is the statement piece of the edit. The pattern alone is enough to give a neutral outfit some structure, and cashmere stays light while keeping you warm, which makes it easier to wear than a heavy wool. The listing mentions it was made in Scotland. It is one for anyone after a scarf people will recognise, worn over a plain coat or a trench, and it is offered second-hand at Vestiaire Collective, where the price shown depends on the condition of the piece and on the seller.

One word on care, and it counts: better to fold it than hang it, avoid repeated rubbing against a shoulder bag strap, and go for a cold hand wash or dry cleaning. On the listing, check the exact dimensions and the state of the fringes — on a checked piece, those details are what decide how it looks once it is on.

Wool with a paper trail, for every day

Nothing to match, everything to wear. A long scarf in 100% Italian wool, plain black, with classic 10 cm fringes at each end: it does exactly what you ask of it. The listing says the wool is RWS certified, a framework that covers traceability among other things, and the cut stays plain and logo-free — an everyday staple rather than a showpiece. It will suit anyone who wants a scarf that lasts several winters and needs no thought in the morning, over a straight coat, a dark parka or a blazer.

Being a solid colour and timeless in feel, it is easy to pair with a polo neck as much as with a shirt. The price is shown at Tiger of Sweden, the retailer that sells it. For care, a gentle brush and regular airing are enough between washes, and drying it flat stops the knit from losing its shape.

Serious volume in a chunky knit

Let's be honest, the listing isn't much help: the information we found at La Redoute doesn't give the exact colour, the dimensions or the detailed composition of the scarf as it is sold — the dark brown shade mentioned relates to balls of yarn listed alongside it, with no direct link to the finished scarf. So treat this as a lead rather than a piece we can describe precisely. Check those details yourself before ordering, especially as the price shown depends on which reference you pick.

The idea, though, stands up: a chunky knit wraps twice around the neck on properly cold days, works over a simple coat or a duffle coat and gives a plain silhouette some depth. You do have to like generous accessories, and not be after something discreet. For care, a chunky knit gets washed rarely and dried flat so it doesn't lose its shape.

Texture as the only pattern

A scarf that works the material rather than a print is an idea we like: over a plain coat, a fine knit or a parka, it adds depth without bringing in another colour — a way to ring the changes from a plain scarf without jumping straight to a print. It is the piece to pick when an outfit already works but lacks a bit of grain.

Except the listing doesn't really follow through. The results we looked at on Zalando document neither the colour, the precise material nor the dimensions, and refer both to 'maxi volume' formats and to more minimal versions. The price shown therefore varies with whichever style you choose in that category. To keep the texture of the knit, a gentle wash and drying flat are preferable.

The affordable everyday check

Check is the safe bet for warming up a plain outfit, and it is also our simplest lead on a small budget. Except that, again, there isn't a great deal more we can tell you: the results we found on Zalando lead to category pages, where neither shape, colour, material nor dimensions are documented for a specific style, and no recycled-material variant or particular certification is identified there. So treat it as a shopping lead to check on the page of the style you choose, where the price shown depends on the reference selected.

There is one styling tip that holds either way: keep the check as the only pattern in the outfit, because check on check takes a lot more care. Worn over a black or camel coat, the idea works — dressing up jeans and a jumper without spending designer money.

What you'll pay

On price, the gap between the five pieces comes down mostly to material. As an order of magnitude: a wool or everyday knit scarf is around £15 to £35 in a supermarket or fast fashion. Things step up with mid-range brands, where a signature wool piece sits more like £60 to £130 — that is the bracket for the Tiger of Sweden scarf mentioned above. Cashmere changes scale: reckon on roughly £130 to £350 new, and more like £70 to £220 second-hand depending on condition, which makes the Burberry piece at Vestiaire Collective more accessible than it looks.

The styles spotted at La Redoute and Zalando — chunky knit, textured scarf and checked scarf — make up the bottom of the range, with prices that vary according to the reference you actually pick from the category. On top of that come differences linked to composition, the size of the piece and the sales channel: a second-hand piece has no fixed price by definition, and new prices vary from one retailer to another.

These ranges are indicative and were noted when this piece went live, so treat them as a rough guide and expect them to move after publication. With cashmere, second-hand is the route that makes this reference affordable; for the others, compare the price on the product page before you buy, with material and dimensions in front of you, since several of these styles are listed without a documented composition or colour. Some links on the site may be affiliate links, which makes no difference to the content of this edit or to the prices noted.