From XXL knits to silk hoods, the foulard is the hero accessory of winter 2024 2025. See the key looks, fabrics that last, and how to wear them right now.
Blanket scale scarves that frame the face, silky foulards tied like a hood, rich faux fur textures that read luxe. Winter 2024 2025 pushes the scarf from afterthought to headline, and it shows on the streets as much as on the runway. One piece, and the whole outfit looks current.
The question is simple : what to buy and how to tie to look modern without trying too hard. Across Fall Winter 2024 shows in Milan and Paris, labels including Prada, Miu Miu, Saint Laurent, The Row and Loewe put scarves front row. Paris Fashion Week ran from 26 February to 5 March 2024, a tight window where this silhouette kept repeating. Add the timeless Hermès carré born in 1937 at 90 by 90 centimeters, now wrapped babushka style again, and the picture gets clear.
Winter 2024 2025 scarf trends : materials, colors, shapes
The main move is volume near the neck and head. Designers leaned into face framing hoods, long rib knits that puddle, and triangular kerchiefs. The palette splits in two tracks : quiet neutrals like camel, charcoal, chocolate, and a strong red accent still running from last season’s buzz.
Texture wins on cold days. Merino, cashmere blends and brushed mohair feel premium and actually perform. The Woolmark Company notes fine merino fibers can bend around 20,000 times before breaking, which helps a scarf keep its shape through a long winter. That matters when a piece is used daily.
Silk is back, not as delicate as it sounds. Under a coat, a silk foulard adds warmth without bulk and protects hair on windy commutes. The classic square works, but rectangular twill feels easier for quick wraps. Faux fur and shearling effects deliver drama for night, no heavy styling required.
How to wear the foulard now : from runway to real life
Many shoppers love scarves yet feel swamped by fabric. The fix is proportion. If the coat is oversized, choose a slimmer long scarf and tuck it inside to elongate. If the coat is tailerd and clean, go bold with a plush blanket style worn like a short cape.
Common mistake : tying too tight at the neck, which flattens the silhouette. Leave a little air between scarf and collarbone. A silk square tied as a hood with the ends crossed under the chin then tucked inside the coat looks chic and practical when the wind hits.
Runway ideas often feel abstract. These do not. Prada showed head wraps with sharp coats. The Row draped floor skimming knits. Street photographers in Milan caught simple tricks, like belting a large scarf over a blazer, or folding a silk square into a band and knotting at the nape to show earrings.
Three quick ways with one scarf that work every time :
- The hood wrap : fold a square into a triangle, cover the head, cross under the chin, tuck ends inside the lapel.
- The loop and tuck : wrap a long knit once, let ends hang, then tuck both slightly into the coat to frame the face.
- The shoulder drape : place a blanket style across both shoulders, clip inside with a small brooch for hands free warmth.
Street data and sources : why the scarf moment is real
Warmth meets fashion logic this season. NOAA reported the global meteorological winter from December 2023 to February 2024 was the warmest on record, published March 2024. Brands reacted with lighter yet insulating layers, which puts merino and silk blends in the spotlight instead of heavy collars.
On the inspiration side, Pinterest Predicts 2024 highlighted nostalgia driven looks like the grandfather aesthetic. Pinterest says its predictions have been right about 80 percent of the time over recent years, a useful sign that heritage styling such as kerchiefs and classic checks will resonate.
Runway calendars set the tone too. Milan’s Fall Winter 2024 womenswear shows ran 20 to 26 February 2024. Across these dates, Vogue Runway logged collections where scarves were not just props but core styling. That alignment between luxury houses and street photos usually signals a trend that will last a full season, not a two week spike.
Shopping smarter : building a foulard wardrobe for winter 2024 2025
A small edit covers every mood. One oversized rib knit around 180 centimeters for everyday warmth. One silk square at 90 centimeters for hood wraps and inside blazer moments. One texture piece in faux fur or brushed mohair for evening, ideally in deep brown or jet black to go with everything.
Quality cues are simple. For wool, look for a soft hand and tightly knit edges. For silk, twill weaves sit better and resist wrinkling. The Hermès standard made the square iconic for a reason, that size just works. Care is easy too : cool hand wash for wool, flat dry, a quick steam for silk.
If budget is the block, try blends. A merino acrylic mix keeps softness and cuts cost, while still draping well. Vintage silk squares also stretch a wardrobe and often come in rich prints that feel fresh again. Pick one color story you wear on repeat, then let the scarf do the styling lift.