Winter Woollies
It’s that time of year again isn’t it; you wake up in the mornings and there’s a light frost underfoot, you fumble about for a little-used credit card suitable enough to scrape the windscreen ice off with and out come the good old winter woollies.
When I was a wee nipper I used to go everywhere in a green woolly pompom hat. It was my signature accessory and everyone knew me by this hat. Now that I’m (considerably) older I’ve ditched that particular incarnation, however I still do love a good “winter woolly” and have built up a very respectable collection of hats and scarves over the years, so I suppose you could call me somewhat of an expert on the matter.
So; what’s most important when searching for the perfect winter accessories? First and foremost you must think about why you need them. The intended use has a big impact on what type or style you go for. Do you want a practical hat & scarf to keep you super warm if you’re outside for long periods? Do you want a glamorous set for a night out or do you just want something to keep the chill off but still look dressy for walking about the shops doing your Christmas shopping?
Next important thing to think about is what they’re actually made out of. Most of the cheaper hats and scarves are made from acrylic which is a synthetic fibre. This means it’s cheap to produce, very washable and can be mixed very easily with other fibres so often you’ll see an acrylic/wool blend.
In my humble opinion the best possible fibre to make winter woollies out of is, well, wool. Wool is a natural fibre which means it’s incredibly sustainable, it’s also the warmest of all the materials (well it has to keep sheep cosy doesn’t it) and best of all, it’s naturally antibacterial so if you get all hot and bothered whilst wearing it at least you won’t end up smelling of sweat as you may do with acrylic. Wool can be worn numerous times before it needs washing; a truly brilliant material.
Don’t be fooled into shunning wool because you think it’s itchy though, there’s a dazzling variety of winter woollies available now made from a variety of types of wool: merino which is a cotton-fine soft wool typically from New Zealand, lambs wool which is thicker than merino but still soft and cosy, and also angora which is the softest of all and has a luxurious feel when knitted up.
Here’s a selection of my favourite winter woollies:
- Knitted Turban BLK/WHI – Topshop: I’m not one to sacrifice warmth and comfort for fashion, but that’s why I love this classic knitted turban. It’s extremely stylish and keeps your head and ears warm when trawling the shops this winter.
- Aqua Cable Fish Beanie – The North Face: If I was going hiking this would be my hat of choice. 50% wool blend with a fleece half-lining it’d be super warm and comes in a nice choice of colours to suit men or women.
- Black Sequin Beret – ASOS: A beret is always a stylish option and while it may not be the warmest it’s bound to help a little bit.
Have a warm a woolly winter everyone!
Totally agree about wool. My ‘never be without’ in winter is a woollen scarf in Burns Tartan design. I’m an old traditionalist and wrap it around my neck as opposed to the current trend of looping it!!
Merino wool is by far my favourite material for the winter woollies.
Merino wool is used a lot for thermal undies/baselayers too. I have loads of merino wool t-shirts and long johns for winter walks. Lovely and snuggly warm.
Plus, an added advantage of merino is that it keeps you warm even if you’re wet (i.e. sweaty). Dries pretty quickly too.
It’s a bit of a wonder fabric really isn’t it!
why not knit them yourself as I do salsa scarfs in all colours. to match any outfit.
I LOVE that suggestion Cynthia, I knit myself a couple of scarves a few years back and never managed to pick up the needles again but I might just have another go over Crimbo and copy myself that North Face one ;o)