It’s a wrap! 3 great scarves for women—and 1 for the guys

A scarf is not just a scarf. There are dozens upon dozens of ways to wear the accessory, and many different types, too. As the weather cools down, it’s the perfect time to experiment with this versatile piece. Plus, how often is fashion also functional? Here are four types of scarves to try on this winter.

The infinity scarf

Infinity scarves are a practical solution for those of us (all of us?) who don’t actually know how to tie a scarf right. Just drape, wrap it around a few times and go. No way to mess it up. Toms sells a lightweight, small, handwoven tribal-print infinity scarf for just $16, made out of T-shirt material. Best of all, this scarf helps provide a job and opportunities for underprivileged people in the Himalayas. Talk about a double gift.

The stole

These old-fashioned furry neck friends are no longer relegated to those of us who get a senior discount at Denny’s. Faux fur stoles are back on the trendy racks, and they’re a great way to warm up—and dress up—any outfit this winter. We love this black faux fur stole from Forever 21 for $14.90.

The cowl

Look at all these old-school words back in circulation. Your grandma owns a cowl. So do monks. You should, too. A cowl is technically a hooded, sleeveless cloak, but some designers also interchange it with an O-shaped scarf (pulling from the drapey “cowl neckline”). In the scarf world, it ends up looking like a smaller infinity scarf that you can’t wrap around twice, like this beautiful faux fur cowl from Anthropologie, $58. Call it whatever you want; it’s gorge.

The plaid scarf

Lumberjacks are the fashion icon for men right now, since hipsters stole their style. And plaid is the pattern of the winter of 2014 (er, not that we can think of a winter season when it wasn’t big). But don’t just limit it to button-ups. Wrap your dude in this black and red check-print scarf from Nordstrom, $20, a fashionable way to kick lumberjack up a notch.