Winter warmers: 10 of the best men’s scarves

It’s getting colder, and thoughts turn to knitwear. If you want to keep your neck warm, check out my 10 of the best men’s scarves.

Granted, you can walk in anywhere for a scarf these days and come out with something decent, whether that’s Uniqlo, Marks and Spencer or a camping shop. If you want something functional, you can do just that this afternoon.

But I’m not just looking at functional, although that always comes into it. What’s the point of a scarf if it doesn’t actually keep you warm when you are out and about? With that in mind, I’m skipping the classic Tootal scarf and all of its competitors this time. They might look the part, but you probably want something a little thicker in the middle of winter.

So functionality is a key factor, but I am also looking for scarves that actually look good, too. After all, you are wearing it and probably wearing it for quite a while if the typical British winter is anything to go by.

One other factor, too. Being timeless. I’ve had scarves for years, and they still look good. In fact, I still wear one of my grandad’s tartan scarves, and he died at the turn of the 1980s. Because a good quality tartan scarf will always look and feel the part. You’ll see a couple on this rundown.

And more, too. Have a look and see if anything catches your eye.

 

1. The Style Council college scarf by 66 Clothing

Let’s start with a classic in more ways than one.

This is essentially a college scarf, made in England from 100% wool and hand-sewn together, with a polyester fleece back for comfort. But the colour. Yes, designed using the orange and black associated with the Style Council. In fact, if you check out the retailer’s site, you’ll see Mick Talbot wearing an almost identical scarf from back in the day.

Want one? £48 gets you one.

Find out more at the Mod Shoes website

 

2. TOFFS budget vintage-style football scarf

Two similar designs are coming up—at least on the surface—but at different price points for good reason.

Old school football clothing and kit maker TOFFS has a range of vintage football scarves that are really well-priced. And if it’s all about the look and a modest amount of warmth, this is the one for you.

Plenty of colours to choose from, all made from acrylic and all with tasselled edges. A really good vintage look for just £12 each.

Find out more at the TOFFS website

 

3. Merino wool football scarves by Retro Clasico

There’s been a bit of a fallout on the premium football scarf market of late, with both the Appleberry football college scarves and the Savile Rogue label going under in recent years. That’s not a bad thing, by the way—I own something from both companies, and they were amazing quality, as well as warm and good-looking. But all is not lost. Retro Clasico is still making its scarves.

It was hard to choose between these and the Savile Rogue scarves. But these were a little cheaper, and the designs a little less generic.

The scarves have a look of ‘days gone by’ but with the added premium finish. Some straightforward alternate colours for the scarves, but it’s the ones that nod back to classic club colours/kits that perhaps work best for me, like the one above.

All scarves come in a presentation box, should you fancy giving one as a gift, with these Merino scarves selling for £29.95, which is actually cheaper than they were a couple of years back unusually.

Find out more at the Retro Clasico website

 

4. Adidas football scarf

A new one and from an unusual source for knitwear.

But it’s a good-sized thing, bug enough to keep the chill off even if it made of cotton rather than wool.

The design is pretty traditional but inspired by football—think of the look of a pitch when you look at the pattern on this one. It has tasselled edges, too, along with an old-school Adidas logo to finish things off.

£35 for one of these.

Find out more at the End Clothing website

 

5. Budget Heattech Patterned Scarf at Uniqlo

You can always rely on Uniqlo for an affordable staple, with scarves not being excluded from that.

In fact, they do something like the above every year, but with a subtle change of the tartan used for the scarf. This year take your pick between a green as you see here, or a red that you can see on the website.

The scarves are a mix of acrylic and wool and all using the moisture-absorbing, bio-warming, and insulating Heattech technology. But still keeping a timeless tartan look that never dates

£19.90 for one of these in whatever pattern you go for.

Find out more at the Uniqlo website

 

6a. Boy About Town Paul Weller lambswool scarf by 66 Clothing

If you are wondering why there are two entries at number six, it’s because both designs are actually linked. I’m kicking off with this Boy About Town Paul Weller lambswool scarf.

This scarf is based on one that Paul Weller wore extensively in The Jam and the Style Council. If you head to the maker’s page, you’ll see some shots of PW wearing something very similar.

This limited edition recreation has been made in Scotland using locally sourced lambswool. It’s another scarf I own, and I can vouch for its warmth and quality. I always get admiring glances with it.

Just back in stock, it sells for £46.

Find out more at the Mod Shoes website

 

6b. Aquascutum Active Water Repellent Scarf

If you have the money, you can always buy the scarf Paul Weller did actually wear – or at least, a modern variation of it.

There was a feature on Paul Weller and Aquascutum on the company’s website at one point – I’m not sure if it is still there, but do have a browse in case it is. It contained various images of the man and said scarf, which modern-day football casuals have pretty much taken on in the 21st century.

The new version is the Aquascutum Active Water Repellent Scarf, a 100% Merino Wool scarf, Club Check knitted, and treated with a spray coating to give a Durable Water Repellent feature. A fabric woven logo pinch tag is on the reverse.

At €127 it is the priciest thing listed here. But if money’s no object, do have a look. If it is too costly, there are plenty of secondhand ones on eBay.

Find out more at the Aquascutum website

 

7. Ryder and Amies college scarf

If you want a college scarf, perhaps get one from a shop that has been selling them to students since 1864. All the better if you are associated with a college past or present.

Handmade in England from 100 per cent Saxony wool, these are a single-thickness fabric with hemmed edges and finished with the Ryder and Amies label. Note that these are produced in our small Cambridgeshire factory by skilled tradeswomen who have been supplying Cambridge University and its colleges with scarves for the past 50 years.

Also, note that you can also make your own scarf if you have colours you want to use on a scarf. However, that might go up a little from the standard £36 price.

Find out more at the Ryder and Amies website

 

8. Tartan lambswool scarves at Anglozine

Last year, the maker created a range inspired by the cult TV show The Prisoner, which included one of these scarves. Now, it’s back, along with another colour variation.

Like all Anglozine gear, it’s eye-catching, well-made, and limited in number—always a good thing.

One hundred per cent lambswool, made in Scotland, and detailed with a roped fringe and an Anglozine woven patch. Nice things and made to last. If you want one, £35 is the price.

Find out more at the Anglozine website

9. Fred Perry chequerboard lambswool scarf

You know Fred Perry makes tartan scarves; I’ve featured them in the past. As you’ve seen from this rundown, many other makers do, too. But few do anything like the Fred Perry chequerboard lambswool scarf.

So I’m featuring that. Available in a couple of different colour options, this is a 100 per cent lambswool scarf that differs from most on the market because of that wonderful and bold chequerboard knit, which is finished with the maker’s trademark Laurel Wreath embroidery.

Not cheap at £75, but a scarf to get you noticed.

Find out more at the Fred Perry website

10. Fan Originals vintage football scarves

I’ll be honest, I don’t own one of these as I have similar designs from elsewhere. But if your budget is tight, they seem to be worth checking out.

Very much in the same groove as Retro Clasico and Savile Rogue, they are old school football scarves in various club colours – and some with club badges too. Which ones? Too many to mention. But there’s every chance your club’s colours are there.

The difference is that these are acrylic rather than wool and as such, come in much cheaper than the premium scarves. How cheap? Less than £10 (around £8.99) for most of the range here. Might be worth a punt at that price.

Find out more at the Amazon website