I've always disliked the T-shirt and scarf look, especially if the scarf is thin and looped loosely around the neck. I find the style affected, trite and schizophrenic. Are you cold or not? Please make up your mind.
When it comes to menswear, scarves should be more about function than decoration. So I find it silly when I see guys who mimic girls wearing stringy Missoni scarves around their neck in the summer. This works for women but on men it's way too fey, even for the fanciest of dressers.
But when the temperatures drop, I say go ahead and bust out the scarves and wrap them around your neck with careless abandon. The great thing about scarves is that they are democratic in cost and style. They are available in every price range, from inexpensive poly-blends at high street retailers to double-ply cashmere from luxury labels. And no matter what your personal style is, grunge or punk, geek chic or classic, edgy or old school, there should be one within your comfort zone.
Club Monaco has scarves with university stripes in red, forest green, navy and light blue. These are the most classic and versatile because they work just as well with casual clothes as they do with suits. Plus, they give the impression that you went to a good school because they look like standard issue accessories that go with those blazers. If you wish to wear university-striped ties, avoid maroon and saffron combinations, as these are more Hogwarts than Eton. Unless you are going to dress up like Harry Potter this Halloween.
I am drawn to vibrant colours or prints. As I normally wear solid and muted tones during the cooler months, I use scarves for a jolt of colour or whimsy.
Louis Vuitton has an exquisite and dashing silk scarf with leaf prints for an elegant evening look. Just drape it over your shoulders and wear it under your suit jacket. The red degrade cashmere scarf from Bottega Veneta (3), the colours of which go from bright red through mauve to faint rose, can brighten up the dark, brooding clothes of winter. It was worn with a biker jacket on the runway, lending it a bad boy appeal.