Essential Men's Scarves

It seems apt at this moment to take some time to ponder over the rarely discussed issue of men’s scarves. Men have so little opportunity to accessorise and enhance any outfit, and here we have a perfect opportunity to show off our style; yet it is very strange that this obvious form of neckwear is often overlooked or not properly considered.

I personally believe that every wardrobe should have at least three men’s scarves as essential accessories to cover all possibilities and events. Personally, I champion natural fibres over synthetic – while they may need more looking after they are softer, breathable and with a look and feel that is inherently far more luxurious than any possible acrylic or polyester blend.

To begin with there is the thick winter staple. This item is bought for use in the depths of winter when it really starts to get cold and practicality should be at the forefront of any decision. As it is really for keeping the cold out it should be large enough to fold over in half and still be able to wrap round your neck twice, covering it completely (If you are looking for exact measurements, somewhere above 150x25 cm is a good start). It will be worn with your thick winter coat, and therefore the colour should complement it. Moreover this item should be plain or muted so it can be used in as many situations as possible. One way to easily prevent these men’s scarves from being too boring, however, is to consider texture instead of colour – if your winter overcoat is smooth then look at materials with a lot of texture to them and vice versa.
Naturally, these men’s scarves are going to be made out of thick, insulating materials such as wool or cashmere and I would personally choose the latter over the former. While there is a considerable price difference between the two materials, the benefits of cashmere in this situation should make you consider the extra expense. From a style point of view, this item will see a lot of use; so it will be noticed by many people where the aspirational luxury will speak for itself. From a practical perspective, cashmere has far better insulating properties than wool - a wool scarf at the size necessary would be quite bulky and heavy.

Wool scarves are more suited to the second essential item – the winter fashion item. This is for when you are socialising and want to use the full potential of the neckwear to enhance your outfit. Again, these men’s scarves need to deal with the cold, but they will have a bit more colour and pattern to them which will match with whatever you are wearing. Unless you are a particularly savvy man this item will fall out of use as you either get bored or as sympathies move on - so the extra price for cashmere may not make sense. Nevertheless, I would recommend looking at merino wool or a cashmere blend so that you still have the lightness, softness and luxury to hand. The final essential item is the thinner Spring / Autumn scarf. When there is a relatively cold snap, or it is particularly gusty, the winter scarf choices may be a little overkill. Here a thin and light choice is ideal for just providing a helping hand, and gives you an excuse to wear a scarf as an accessory beyond winter. Really, the fashion scarf or winter scarf leaning is a matter of personal taste, but lighter colours and shades are more fitting to the season whether you chose to go for patterned or not. Cotton and linen are ideal materials, but you should also consider fine weave cashmere to really stand out.

As an aside, depending on your needs it may also be necessary to consider a dress scarf. This is for formal occasions where there is a considerable chance you may be outside, or you just want to be noticed. These men’s scarves primarily need to look smart, sophisticated, and more often than not, classic so as to increase their longevity. Here a plain, sombre coloured cashmere scarf will excel if you wish to offset your smooth outfit with texture – in most cases the thick winter staple scarf choice can double up. However for those who want something a little more impressive, a silk scarf would be idea. For the same versatility you are looking at the same size (anything above 150x25cm), but this will exceptionally light and thin. Silk is very flexible as it regulates body temperature – it is cooling if you are hot and warming if you are cold. It also provides a soft sheen finish that looks striking when paired with almost any other material.