Chanel Scarves & Wraps

Like many luxury fashion labels, Chanel long ago expanded its scope to include personal accessories, most notably scarves and wraps. These small details offer both accessible glamour and a way for brand habitués to convey status with subtle flair.

Some of Chanel's most distinctive chic accent pieces are swathes of spun silk and fabric blends. Finely woven and intricately patterned with colorful motifs, Chanel scarves and wraps are stylish throwbacks to the time of sartorial legend Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, the brand's late founder. In their mid-20th century heyday, movie stars, princesses, and those who sought to emulate them were rarely seen without a head scarf or body wrap draped and knotted in one form or another.

Through its scarves and wraps, Chanel basks in its role as an international arbiter of style. And with each passing fall season, the French house adds sophisticated textiles in varying fabrics that help complete looks while bringing must-have collectibles to the auction market.

Quick Facts

• When they come up at auction, Chanel's pure cashmere wraps often sell for several hundred dollars each. If they come with a high-profile provenance or interesting backstory, Chanel wraps can even reach into four figures
• In 2013, a black and gold Chanel chain motif scarf made from silk sold at Heritage Auctions for $350, notably above its retail price of $300
• In August 2015, a Chanel scarf-style wrap crafted from a plush blend of 70 percent rabbit fur and 30 percent cashmere sold on eBay for $3,250