Over the last few years, fashion has quietly been attaching scarves to everything—coats, jackets, jumpers. It's almost as if we collectively decided we don’t have the time (or the mental bandwidth) to remember where we put our actual scarves anymore. Toteme kicked it off with the scarf coat and then, like clockwork, the idea slipped into knitwear. Last year, scarf jumpers dominated, and this autumn/winter, amidst the sea of crewnecks and sensible ribbed V-necks, a new knit is stealing the oxygen. Enter: the scarf cardigan.
I have tried—sincerely—to invent a fun hybrid name for this category. A scardigan? A scardi? A cardi-scarf? For obvious reasons, we’re sticking with scarf cardigan: a cardigan, but with a built-in scarf detail, sometimes attached, sometimes removable, to drape over the shoulder or wrap around your neck on colder days.
And here’s why they’re quietly genius: one tiny pattern-cutting tweak and your outfit instantly look intentional. The scarf breaks up the neckline, adds shape, and creates a visual focal point, basically giving the same upgrade as accessorising without needing to actually accessorise. Which is why every smart brand, across every tier, is offering a version this season. If you want your winter wardrobe to feel instantly more elevated—without adding layers, clutter or complication—this is one of the easiest knitwear upgrades you can make.
Keep scrolling for the best scarf cardigans to shop this season.
Best Scarf Cardigans
A light, clean cardigan with an attached scarf that gives instant polish. Easy to wear with denim or tailored trousers when you want your knit to finish the outfit on its own.
Cut from pure wool, this one achieves premium through fabric and proportion, not branding. Very elegant over tailored trousers.
Ribbing gives this softness real structure. The scarf is slimmer here, more like a long, neat tie that refines the silhouette.
This is where the trend goes full luxury. The cashmere is soft enough to wear from breakfast to late dinner without feeling like it’s over-warming you, and the scarf is seamlessly integrated into the front.
A fine-gauge knit like this can often feel flat, but the foulard element instantly adds movement and shape. It softens a blazer, dresses up plain denim, and makes a very subtle statement.
A lighter scarf cardigan if you're worried of pure wool over-warming you.
The saturated green is the point here; it injects energy into the entire outfit. The wrap scarf means you can tie, drape, or knot depending on how dramatic you want the neckline to be that day.
More coat than cardigan, this short bouclé style leans into a slightly tailored, slightly polished territory. The texture gives dimension and the scarf adds a directional, runway-adjacent detail without going theatrical.
An accessible way into the trend that still looks editorial.
The twist detail is sculptural rather than decorative, which is a very Lemaire approach to knitwear. If you care about proportion, line, and silhouette, this is a piece that rewards styling and always reads elevated.
The subtle flecking on this knit adds visual interest without relying on print or colour-blocking, and the neat neckerchief element gives the piece direction while still feeling subtle.
The scarf adds dimension at the neckline, enough to feel styled, but not so much that it becomes the whole outfit’s story.
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