European Women Rely on This Elegant Coat Trend to Look Polished in Winter—18 of the Best for Every Budget

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Scarf coats are the physical—and sartorial—embodiment of a warm hug on those cold and bleak winter days.

The hybrid design first hit the fashion scene circa 2021 when Toteme released its iconic multifunctional Embroidered Scarf Coat, which swiftly became the outerwear option sported by fashion insiders. The design was, and still is, simply genius, even four seasons on.

So, it's unsurprising that the scarf jacket in all its sumptuous wonder is making a comeback this year. If you're anything like me and loathe the chill whipping around your neck and seeping into your bones, but find a bulky coat too cumbersome, the scarf coat is your solution.

BEST SCARF COATS

(Image credit: @dawn.tan)

The two-in-one scarf coat combines a jacket, typically short in length, with a fixed scarf to sweep around your neck to keep any draughts at bay. It's a stylish and fuss-free design that saves you from losing your scarf to a gust of wind, which has certainly happened to me before, and I doubt I'm the only one.

The design is practical and versatile whilst also managing to make a statement, so you know it'll work hard in your wardrobe. You can pair a scarf coat with jeans, whether barrel-leg, wide-leg or even a skinny fit; or style it with leather trousers, a slip skirt or a mini and knee-high boots, for any occasion.

Alternatively, the beauty of the scarf coat is that they're so elegant they really can stand alone as the statement piece of your outfit. So, if you need to throw something incredibly polished over a more casual look when quickly running errands or are feeling less-than-inspired by the items in your wardrobe, bundling up in a chic scarf coat can do a lot to solve a lot of styling woes, as Who What Wear UK shopping editor Florrie Alexander proves below.

An image of Shopping Editor Florrie Alexander wearing a chic scarf coat.

(Image credit: Who What Wear UK)

It's true—I've heard confused whispers around whether you wear anything over a scarf coat. Whilst the answer depends on the individual, how much you feel the cold and the fabric of your scarf coat, this new staple is intended to be worn on its own over your thinner layers instead of hidden under another outerwear item.

The scarf coat is a far cry from a one-hit wonder: the outerwear trend has returned for three consecutive years and in different iterations, adapted by many luxury and high-street brands. We now have cape versions, trench-coat variations, scarf knitwear and longline scarf coats, and you can also find some with detachable scarves.

BEST SCARF COATS

(Image credit: @mie_juel)

We've sifted through the vast array of scarf coats on the market right now to bring you the most reliable, warming and expensive-looking styles to suit all budgets so everyone can have a little taste of pared-back minimalism in their wardrobe without having to spend a lot.

Without further ado, scroll through our edit of the best scarf coats to see you through winter and the transitional seasons forevermore.

The Best Scarf Coats to Shop

Toteme Scarf Coat

(Image credit: @MAXINEEGGENBERGER)
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Maisie Bovingdon

Maisie Bovingdon is a Freelance Journalist with over a decade of editorial experience, covering e-commerce, as well as fashion, beauty, health and travel features for leading publications such as  Who What Wear, The Telegraph, Marie Claire, Woman & Home, Hello!, Glamour, Refinery29, Independent, and Evening Standard, among other titles. Throughout her career, she has interviewed an array of experts, including leading dermatologists, trichologists, doctors, stylists, brand founders, and multiple celebrities.  Alongside her editorial projects, Maisie has also worked on copywriting projects for leading beauty brands, including L’Oréal Paris and Mason Pearson.When she’s not researching the latest fashion and beauty trends, or scouting unmissable deals, Maisie is often exploring, and testing, solutions for Trichotillomania, which she has experienced first-hand for over 15 years, and aims to help others battling hair and beauty concerns.If you can prize her away from her busy work schedule, Maisie can be found enjoying long muddy walks around Hampstead Heath with her family and friends, or venturing further afield to witness the best sunrises and sunsets around the world.

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