A scarf cardigan is autumn’s key knit trend - here are the best to buy before they sell out, from Boden to COS

If there was one cosy trend that dominated the fashion discussion the past few years, it was undoubtedly the scarf coat. Toteme's now coveted design - complete with its attached scarf and distinctive contrast blanket stitching - became the definitive cool-girl staple that inspired countless high street lookalikes that were equally as chic.

Now, that same idea has made its way into knitwear, and scarf cardigans are quickly becoming the layering piece to know. Of course, these styles were creeping around last season, but this year, the trend has taken over in full force.

Unlike the chunkier cardigans we've become accustomed to, these styles come with a built in scarf that can be draped over the shoulders, loosely tied at the neck or (with longer versions) wrapped around like a shawl. The result? A silhouette that feels far more elevated than your average knit, while also solving the common issue we all face as colder weather approaches: forgetting a scarf on your way out the door.

Especially minimalist, they nod to the ever popular Scandi charm that caught the attention of many fashionable women, and can be styled with everything from tailored trousers and structured denim to silky slip skirts in satin bias cuts.

Shop 7 of the best below