How many books have been written about the easy elegance of Parisian style? I can count three on my bookshelf at home and a quick Google reveals dozens more. I’m a sucker for that certain je ne sais quoi and have done my best to recreate it throughout the years, often donning a slim silk neck scarf, tied atop an open shirt, lightweight jumper or even with a summery dress.

The silk neck scarf has been an easy shortcut to instant chic. But now there’s a new accessory in town, and it’s perfect for winter. Having moved from London to Hamburg in the past year, I’ve been greedily taking style notes from our northern European sisters, and one of my favourite sartorial tips has been a woollen take on the chic neck scarf. Knitted in soft cashmere or alpaca, Scandi girls are adding this accessory as a seasonal flourish to any outfit. 

Used as a way to either add colour to a simple jeans and jumper combo or an extra layer for a more eccentric, 70s-inspired outfit, knitted neck scarves are the cold-weather accessory to adopt now.

A leader of the trend, Copenhagen-based Sofie Ken can often be found rocking a knitted neck scarf in her signature maximalist style while roaming the Danish capital. Speaking to Stylist, Ken describes why this piece is now a regular in her wardrobe: “It’s a great way to finish an outfit for a quirky, fun look. I’m the co-founder of my own fashion label, Tour Lava, and designing our take on this trend was a must when we started putting together our collection. We say our Lil’ Scarf ​​adds that lil’ extra. Whenever an outfit is missing something, we look to our scarves for help.”

You don’t need to look too far away from home to get your hands on this cosy piece. &Daughter is an independent knitwear brand founded by a father-daughter duo and works exclusively with a small community of Scottish and Irish Makers to create ‘forever pieces’. Over the last 10 years, it’s gained a cult following, including the likes of Leandra Medine Cohen (aka Man Repeller), Danish designer Pernille Rosenkilde and Instagram’s Poppy Almond. 

&Daughter’s co-founder Buffy Reid has grounded this year’s autumn/winter collection with a selection of cashmere foulards in bold primary colours of poppy red, navy and green. “I felt inspired to create a line of woven foulards because they are versatile – useful but interesting, which is a lovely combination. I love a Hermes-style headscarf in the summer and the foulard is a winter equivalent. It’s tiny, so it’s immensely packable wherever you go. It can be worn as a scarf, necktie or just as easily tied in the hair or around your wrist. Mine often ends up on my children, as they’re perfect child-size too.”

So, how should I style a winter neck scarf?

When styling your woollen neck scarf, channel the same ideas you would with a silk, summer version and, most importantly, don’t worry about ‘the right way’ of wearing the look. For Reid, the biggest benefit to incorporating a foulard is its use of colour: “I dress in darker shades but adding a foulard in red or green is a playful offset. If you struggle to wear colour, this is an easy, non-intimidating way to bring in a brighter piece, but in a quiet way. “

Rejina Pyo, the Seoul-born, London-based fashion designer whose striking silhouettes have made her a Stylist HQ favourite, also weighs in on the trend, having launched her own collection of alpaca-blend triangle scarves. She says: “These scarves are all about versatility: tie around your neck, wear over your head like a vintage headscarf or even as a bandana. My design includes some subtle initials embroidery at the front, so if styling it as a bandana, I like to position this to the front.”

And, when it comes to what to pair with your neck scarf, Sleeper’s co-founder Kate Zubarieva suggests trying a ‘cowboy’ look: “Our rabbit-adorned, cashmere-blend triangle headscarves are totally multi-purpose and we love styling them as a necktie too. Try the ‘cowboy’ aesthetic and wearing it backwards, tying over the collar of a coat or jacket, or around a turtleneck sweater.”

Images: courtesy of brands