4 street style-approved tips for wearing a winter hat properly

Date January 20, 2016

Navigating the winter fashion landscape is a difficult task. After all, winter winds don’t care whether or not your face is suited for a hat. But with Canada’s rapidly decreasing temperatures, mastering the art of the toque isn’t just nice—it’s a necessary skill. Here, we provide four simple steps to wearing a hat properly all season long (buh bye, condom head!). Flip through some of our favourite looks and tips.

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1. Pull it down

Let your head fill up that awkward bulge. Pull your beanie down all the way so there is contact with the top corner of your hat and head. Fold or roll any excess fabric up to provide extra insulation for your ears. Not feeling the fold? Check out the children’s section for hats with less length.

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TopShop Wool Mix Beanie Hat ($29, topshop.com)

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J.Crew Ribbed Knit Beanie ($53, jcrew.com)

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2. Add some texture

Upgrade the traditional style with fuzz and fullness. Not only do nubby fabrics wear well after many seasons, but they’ll also add some framing action around your face.

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Joe Fresh Stripe Texture Hat ($5, joefresh.com)

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Old Navy Popcorn Knit Beanie ($8, oldnavy.gapcanada.ca)

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3. Try a statement Hats

If the rest of your look is black or neutral, pick a primary hue or go nuts on embellishment. Some of this season’s best include toques with Russian tulle veils and gemstones.

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BCBGMAXAZRIA Striped Veil Beanie ($51, bcbg.com)

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Wool and the Gang East Beanie ($597, woolandthegang.com)

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4. Slide it back

To avoid the dreaded “condom head,” slide the beanie back for a laid-back skater girl slouch. Moving the hat back on your head on a soft an angle (it should start at your forehead, not your brow) will allow the hat to flop more naturally, bypassing the upright point of the bubble. You’ll look carefree with your hair down even though perfecting the placement may have taken a couple of tries in the mirror.

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Baja East Leopard-intarsia Cashmere Beanie ($103, theoutnet.com)

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White + Warren Cashmere Plush Rib Beanie ($99, whiteandwarren.com)

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Pompoms

While a pompom seems playful it’s also a fashionable and practical solution to the floppy tipped hat. Let a fluffy hat topper help hold the point upright and add some flavour to an otherwise basic look. Look for thicker knits that can handle the weight of you round bobble.

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