Hasta La Ideas

Wrap yourself up in something nice to ward off the winter blues

When the bleak winter months really hit full swing, a scarf becomes an essential element for staying warm. Rather than walk around with your eyes poking out of a massive knitted muffler, we’ve found wrapping a silk scarf around your neck before zipping up your parka provides an elegant base layer and a light touch to the season’s heavy ensembles. Below are 11 silk scarves guaranteed to brighten up the doldrums of cold weather months.

Charlotte Linton

The London-based illustrator and print designer Charlotte Linton brings her sketches to life with an assortment of 100% silk double georgette scarves, found across three collections named for exotic locales like Java, Himalayas and Madagascar. “Mineralogy” packs a colorful punch with rocks bursting from geometric shapes. To order (£270) contact Linton.

Ikou Tschüss

The 100% “Carmen Foulard” silk scarf in slightly muted, but still juicy hues, comes with a crocheted border made from recycled twine. The Swiss-made wrap is the upshot of a longstanding friendship between two Italian women who share a desire to create social- and environmentally-friendly garments. The scarf sells from Ikou Tschüss for 300 SFr.

Viron Vert

Intentional or not, Berlin-based artist Viron Vert‘s “By Aidmail” scarf series is likely to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Inspired by the socio-politics of contemporary culture, if worn over your head they appear as an identity-changing wig. The series sells exclusively from Colette, each is €205.

Bless

Bless’ “Berlinmexico” silk scarf features a digital print designed by the Berlin-based concept shop. This breezy edition sells online from Ssaw for €79

Anntian

Celebrated for their spirited graphics and unusual silhouettes, Anntian is the work of Berlin-based designers Anne Hilken and Christian Kurt. Each piece is a hand-printed labor of love, designed to reveal a story within a certain theme. This double-sided silk scarf sells online from Creatures of Comfort for $290.

Milleneufcentquatrevingtquatre

From the “φοῖνιξ” collection by Amelie Charroin and Marie Colin-Madan—the young duo behind the French label Milleneufcentquatrevingtquatre—the “Rideau Antichambre” silk scarf features a vibrant surrealistic scene that feels like a study on perspective. The painting propped against the wall is a cheeky nod to another scarf, their “Orion” scarf from the the preceding “Desertshore” collection. “Rideau Antichambre” sells from Boticca for $111.

Eskayel

Conjuring up thoughts of long, serene summer afternoons, the watercolor design on the aptly named Poolside Scarf is soft on both body and mind. The piece is available from Eskayel for $209.

Scarfshop

Hand-dyed by trained architect Martha McQuade in her Minneapolis studio, each Scarfshop scarf is created in small batches using water-based dyes. This sublime colorblock cotton-and-silk scarf sells from Spartan for $80.

Swash

The gold leopard and dashing zebra prints on this extravagantly fringed silk topper puts a modern twist on the traditional accessory. The scarf, which is handmade in Spain, would be an investment piece for most, justified by an all-seasons appeal and a dramatic look that’s easy to throw on and go. Buy one at Beklina for $780.

Richard Weston

For a moodier option, Richard Weston has designed this silk and wool-blend scarf with a forest scene under blue dusk. The winter-perfect accessory goes for £205 at Liberty of London.

Philippe Roucou

Known for his Polaroid scarves, Philippe Roucou‘s cinematic scarves pre-date any Instagram-inspired concepts. Gorgeously printed on 100% silk, the scarf sells from Reborn for $CAD 350.

Tsumori Chisato

The Japanese designer’s signature painterly patterns come to life in a contrast-print gingham and spotted Animal Gingham Scarf. The graphics have a childlike whimsy while offering a sophisticated punch of color to a dark winter outfit. The wrap is available from Opening Ceremony for $255.