Silk scarves and shawls

What decides it

Silk weight: heavier twill (around 14 momme and up) drapes better and lasts longer than thin chiffon. Hem: hand-rolled hems are a sign of quality; machine-stitched hems are flat. Size: 90 cm squares are the most versatile; 70 cm and twillies are for the neck, bag handle or hair.

The pieces we would buy

Start with the Hermès Carré 90 Silk Scarf: hand-rolled silk twill square, printed in Lyon. The Loro Piana Cashmere Stole is the better buy if you want luxurious warmth. Usual prices run from $200 to $9,000. See the full buy-or-skip list or the head-to-head Hermès Carré 90 Silk Scarf vs Ferragamo Gancini Silk Scarf.

Buying in the US and Europe

An Hermès carré rarely discounts and holds resale value; other houses discount seasonal prints in end-of-season sales. Buying in Europe: Italian (IT 38, 40, 42) and French (FR 36, 38, 40) clothing sizes are not the same; IT 40 is about a US 4 and an FR 36. Check each house’s chart, and keep returns in mind when you order from another country.

Quick answers

Which size silk scarf should I buy? A 90 cm square for wearing many ways; a twilly or 70 cm square for the neck or tying on a bag handle. How do I care for a silk scarf? Dry clean, or hand wash gently in cold water with silk soap, and press with a cool iron on the reverse.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.

How we make the call: we read the house’s own product details and care guides, compare materials and construction, follow owners’ long-term experience and track the usual retail and resale prices. A piece gets “Buy” only if we would tell a friend to spend that money on it. No fashion house can pay for a verdict.