Cold weather is scarf weather.

Men have favored scarves as a way to stay warm and to add a bit of flash to their wardrobes for a long time.

In winter, the right men's scarf will help you stay warm and looks good doing it. There are very few other clothing items that can match both the practicality and stylishness of scarves.

Here is why picking the right scarves can improve your winter wardrobe and up your overall fashion game.

Function meets fashion

In ancient Rome, scarves were used by men to help them stay clean. These early scarves were called sudariums, or "sweat cloths." To this day, they're used by various cultures to show military distinction or serve religious purposes.

However, throughout their history, scarves have been seen as practical and fashionable.

Once again, men's scarves are trending upward in popularity.

Scarves are made of material meant to keep you warm

For those of us who live in areas where temperatures plummet in winter, scarves are lifesavers. Well, neck-savers, at least.

A good scarf made out of material that holds in warmth and protects you from the elements, such as wool or cashmere, comes in handy during winter months.

Wool scarves

Wool comes primarily from sheep, but there are types of wool that come from other animals. Cashmere comes from goats and angora from rabbits, just to name two examples.

Like insulation for a house, wool retains heat. Thanks to wool's bulkier nature when compared to other textiles, wool tends to better hold in air, keeping you warmer.

Cashmere

Though cashmere technically is a type of wool, you'll notice it is often categorized separately. That's because cashmere is considered one of the best types of wool available. It's often blended with other types of wool.

Cashmere is softer and lighter than typical wool. It will also stay smoother over time, too, with a silky quality.

You'll still have no problem keeping warm with a good cashmere scarf, though.

Silk

Sure, silk is known for being lightweight and, of course, very soft, but it does a fine job of helping your body retain heat.

Silk also is very breathable and pretty good at wicking away moisture from your skin. Because of its lighter weight, silk can be a great option when you want a layered look.

Because it isn't as warm as wool or cashmere, you'll sometimes find silk scarves that are combinations of silk and wool.

Scarves add color to men's winter outfits.

Traditionally, winter clothing - especially men's clothing - tends to lean toward more subdued colors. Scarves are opportunities for men to add a little color to their winter wardrobes.

Don't worry, nobody's asking you to step out of your color comfort zone here. If you've got a favorite color or favorite color combinations, feel free to stick with them. Like a tie, though, you can look at scarves as your chance to liven up your look.

You don't necessarily have to change up your color schemes, either. Instead, go with a pattern that stands out more than a solid-colored scarf. Experiment with plaids, checks, paisley and novelty designs - again, just like ties.

New to scarves? No problem.

For some of you, scarves may be a new wardrobe accessory. We're here to tell you that, yes, you can look great - and stay warm in the winter - with a good scarf.

Not sure you can pull off a scarf? Nonsense. We've compiled a quick primer to get you started.

Men's scarves styles to know

It's a good idea to have several scarves on hand for different situations this winter. Here is a quick breakdown of the types of scarves you should consider if you want to look great no matter what Mother Nature throws at you this season.

Here are a few of the more standard styles.

Casual scarf

The casual scarf is probably the most common style that comes to mind when somebody says "scarf." These are thick, normally knitted and made out of wool, alpaca, cashmere or polyester materials.

The casual-style scarf is meant to keep you warm, but you can find some with fashionable and fun patterns, too, such as the Jacquard Muffler by Pendleton.

Business casual scarf

The business casual scarf, from a material standpoint, are similar to the casual scarf. The are often a little more traditional, though, so that they pair well with other business casual attire.

If you're going business casual, rather than a tie, select a scarf that matches a good shirt and blazer combo. Not sure what qualifies as business casual? Here's a good tip from The Coolist: If the design looks like it would be considered business casual on a shirt or

This 100 percent cashmere solid color woven scarf by Alashan Cashmere comes in various colors, looks good and the soft fabric feels great, too.

Dressy, more formal scarf

You may have a need to really dress to the nines this winter. Maybe it's a wedding or a winter social event where you might wear an overcoat, suit jacket - maybe even a tuxedo.

In this case, have a cashmere or other soft, nicer material scarf available. You'll probably want to lean toward traditional/conservative as far as pattern goes. Think plaids and checks.

Tip: How to tie a scarf

Like a tie, you'll need to learn how to properly tie a scarf at some point. Lucky for those of you who are new to scarf style, there are many resources out there about how to tie scarves.

For a very descriptive guide with photos, take a look at this blog post that includes 10 manly ways to tie a scarf from Real Men Real Style.

Browse our selection men's scarves

Hansen's Clothing has plenty of men's scarves that fit both categories and can help you improve your wardrobe this winter. We're confident you'll find scarves to match your style and are incredibly comfortable, too.

For even more winter clothing tips from Hansen's Clothing, read our blog post with fashion tips to keep you warm and stylish.