Hats & Caps

What Is the Warmest Women's Winter Hat?

Warmth comes from the fiber, how tightly it is knit and whether the hat covers your ears, all working together. For wind, choose a fleece lined knit, because the lining stops cold air from slipping through the gaps between stitches. Alpaca and cashmere win on warmth for their weight, each soft enough to wear all day without itching at the hairline, and light enough to fold into a coat pocket once you are inside. A ribbed cashmere hat with a deep turn-back cuff, worn folded, doubles the cashmere across your ears on a raw morning, and unfolded it relaxes into a slouch for milder days. On the coldest days a hat works best with a scarf, because a warm head above a bare neck still feels cold.

Beanie, Toque or Pom Pom Hat: What Is the Difference?

In the US a close fitting knit hat is a beanie, Canadians call the same hat a toque, and the names that follow describe its details. A cuffed beanie folds back at the brim, a slouchy beanie leaves extra length to gather at the back, and a pom pom hat carries a ball on top. Whatever you call it, the cuff and the crown decide the look far more than the name on the label. Slouchy suits longer hair and a relaxed outfit, while a cuffed fit looks neat under the hood of a parka. If you are buying your first good beanie, the cuffed style is the safe bet, since it sits tidily with a wool coat and a puffer alike.

How to Look Cute in a Winter Hat

Show a little hair and a little forehead, and the hat looks styled instead of simply pulled on against the weather. Push the hat back so the edge sits about an inch behind your hairline and let some strands fall at the sides, because a hat pulled down to the eyebrows hides the face it is meant to frame. A pom pom adds height, which flatters a round face, while a slouch balances a long one. Pick a color that repeats something near your face, a scarf, an earring or a coat collar, and the hat looks chosen rather than grabbed on the way out. On brighter days a structured baseball cap keeps the sun out of your eyes and works with the same jacket. Indoors, take the hat off before you warm up and run your fingers through the roots, and hat hair is gone before anyone notices.

Silk and cashmere scarves to wear with a beanie are in Scarves & Wraps, and cashmere and alpaca gloves sit in Gloves.