A Blanket Scarf Is Your Quickest

By Emma Spedding

The overall vibe for autumn/winter 2023 was one of nonchalance, with the models resembling those (rather infuriating) people who can get ready in less than five minutes, and somehow still be the best-dressed person in the room. “Oh, this old thing?” dressing, if you will. The easiest way to achieve this in autumn is to throw on an oversized shawl and drape it around the body in a dramatic fashion, creating an exaggerated silhouette that instantly commands attention.

The blanket scarf that reigned circa 2010 is back – arguably the most significant accessory trend across the autumn/winter 2023 collections, it gets a dedicated spot in Vogue’s seasonal trend report. These are no ordinary winter scarves, however, but more akin to the heavy blanket you might bury yourself in to watch just one more episode of MAFS, when you really should be going to bed.

The Row AW23.

Eudon Choi AW23.

That said, these throws are a tad more sophisticated than your Netflix-binge sofa-drobe – designers presented gargantuan scarves crafted in the most luxurious fabrics, to cocoon you in the most elegant way possible. The key to making blanket scarves look modern and elevated? It’s all in the styling and intentional draping. The mood is expensive, not sloppy.

The easiest way to take the trick from 2010 to 2023 is by sticking to a tonal colour palette – at Eudon Choi, for example, a model wore an extra-long scarf in the exact same mustard-yellow hue as her tailored coat, while at Burberry models dressed in head-to-toe checks accessorised with scarves that continued the theme.

Saint Laurent AW23.

Michael Kors Collection AW23.

These scarves may be verging on Lenny Kravitz proportions, but the execution is less meme-worthy, more “Who is that?” At Saint Laurent, blankets were draped across blazers and secured in place with a gold pin or a brooch. Doing so allows you to create more intentional shapes with your scarf, bunching it at the shoulders, or leaving a train to skim the floor. Blankets were also accompanied by brooches at Louis Vuitton and Saint Laurent, while at The Row a scarf was artfully draped over a tailored coat and secured in position with a slim black leather belt. At Louis Vuitton, Nicolas Ghesquière fastened long, home-spun knitted scarves with pins in the shape of miniature brass instruments, while at Giorgio Armani, models in eveningwear were swaddled in super-sized silky shawls.

Burberry AW23.

Saint Laurent AW23.

This season, designers created new shapes and styling ideas with the everyday basics we already own, and this is just one more example: you can take the long, woollen scarf hanging in your hallway and with small styling adjustments give it an entirely different look. We never thought we’d be so excited about the prospect of a cold spell, but this autumn, we want to leave a trail of cashmere wafting behind us.

By Radhika Seth

By Ellie Pithers

By Hayley Maitland