Love it – I have a home-made knitted one that works so well. This pic is definetly prettier than mine! Snood – so, it has a name?

I would call that a cowl. A snood is a type of hair net. I do like it, though.

I remember my mum having one of these in the 80’s and i was always desperate to borrow it! Not sure about it now though.

The snood comes in handy: when you´re in doubt about wearing a hat or not, you leave the house with the snood as a scarf and you put it on and off your head without putting your hat in your pockets or bag or leaving it somewhere.
It´s the indecision hat.

Gosh, I remember wearing it in Russia 20 years ago! I still have one here, beautiful purple color, though in Israel we don’t get freezing temperatures too often. I always hated hats and this was the best option for me. Sometimes I wear it as a scarf to add a pop of color to the outfit.

Thanks for a memory, Angie!

I think that this is a great option for commuting. You can push it back off your head when you are on the train and pull it back over when you have to walk outside. I think being loose. It is also more hairstyle friendly if you want to wear your hair pulled back.

I think I remember seeing them in a few places in the UK last year, although they weren’t high street popular.

How do you think it will look on someone with a super-short hairstyle, Angie?

It’s so impossible to look good in a hat with my current ‘do that it might be worth trying on a snood (That word makes me smile. Sounds like a creature from a Dr. Seuss story!) to see if it’s any more flattering.

I love this idea! It llooks both chic and cozy. If anyone has a knitting pattern that they love, please post a link. Cheers!

When I first saw the picture I laughed a little, I admit. Then I thought of the hat hair that keeps me from wearing a hat consistently in the winter. So I second Laura’s question. How would the snood look with short hair? If I could find a pretty one (not sure what I would define as pretty one yet), I would consider it for sure.

I really like the concept. I would definitely rock one of these is a fun print or pretty color.

I saw a black cashmere snood/cowl at a boutique about a month ago, and really liked it. It was very expensive for a scarf though, so I’ve been keeping my eye out for a more affordable version. If I can find one, I’ll be sporting this look in the winter.

OK, so I started laughing when the page loaded and I saw the pics before reading the blog post. I absolutely will not be wearing this. First off, the winters here in the south are very, very mild and barely require a scarf. And I just think it looks a little silly, for sure it would look silly on me where I live. I’ll go for a hat or a hooded jacket if it’s that cold.

Ha, Ana, I was going to mention the one we saw a few weeks ago. It was so luxurious and fabulous. I’d sport one like that in the winter for sure if I could find one more affordable. I’m not so much a fan of the version posted here, though.

So, the more I think about it, the more I think that this might be the perfect winter solution for my curly hair (as long as I can keep the static down). I don’t normally wear hats in the winter, and considering I live in Canada, that’s not the smartest idea. But a snood wouldn’t squish my hair as much, but still provide warmth. Maybe I’ll keep an eye out for one, or perhaps try knitting one myself.

I agree with Christine – a viable hat alternative (better than nothing) in cold climates. Wouldn’t a teal or red look great with a dark coat?
When I lived in Olympia, we always used large scarves to make our our version of this look but didn’t really keep the drizzle away for very long.

Nordstroms has carried one of these for a while, they call it a cowl. I love it because it’s a great alternative to a hat and it doesn’t mess your hair up as much.

In the knitting world, we call that a cowl. It’s a very popular type of knitting project and can be very simple to make.

A few examples:
http://www.purlbee.com/cashmere-cowl/

http://cocoknits.com/knit/garm.....pcowl.html

It’s such a fun look, but would monkey with the delicate ecosystem that is my hair.

I love it! If it keeps me warm, and is fashionable, I’m all for it!

I got one of these last year and bought my mom one too. We both love them. I wear mine more as a scarf than as a hood, but I wouldn’t be opposed to wearing it that way. I’ve had many compliments on it.

I like these- I think the look is slightly exotic and old-fashioned, which I’m always drawn to. I’ve seen them in shops on and off in the past few years, but definitely not often enough to call it a trend. Hopefully that will change and I can find one this winter- it’s practical for London, and when I go home to Canada, too!

ChristineB … I was thinking this exactly for my curls too! A hat smashes curls, while this would lay gently over and keep the moisture off almost entirely. In fact, I have done this with a scarf before. I like it! Like the other posters, I think it is an old-fashioned and sweet look, not to mention versatile. No hat to take off and store when one goes indoors!

I think it looks like a religious garment. No, I wouldn’t wear it.

Are fingerless gloves coming back, too? Because now that I think about it, I wore something like this with fingerless gloves (and a cocoon coat) back in the 80s. Oh my.

I used to wear them a lot as a child. I had a pink, white, yellow, and striped one. I would not wear them now – they would really interfere with my long hair. But I can appreciate them on someone else.

I would wear this, seems much easier that carrying both a hat and scarf. I like the idea of having a self contained option to keep my hands free when commuting. No hat slipping off or blowing off in the wind, no scarf unwinding. Great idea. A seamstress could easily make this I think, but that’s not me That would be a great project if someone could find a pattern.

I like this idea. It also looks like something I can knit on my own if I can find a pattern.

Will I be wearing one? Most likely not. I laughed when I first saw the pictures. Something about the look makes me think of 1) and old lady hiding curlers in her hair or 2) a woman who covers her hair for religious reasons. I can’t seem to disassociate the look with one of those two categories, since that is the only way I have seen it. This look has not visual appeal to me, so I don’t think I would spend my money on one. Perhaps my eye will adjust if I see it on lots of people. For now I much prefer separate hats or scarves, but I can see it being handy if it doesn’t give your hair major static issues. Still, if I wanted to recreate the look, I would do it with one of my magic scarves.

I’m certainly not opposed to the idea. If I found one in a flattering colour and a very soft material (cashmere mmmm) I would definitely wear it as a scarf. I’ve never liked wearing hats or hoods though, so it would remain to be seen how often I’d use it for that. Although I agree with Ele: it has a bit of an old-fashioned/retro vibe going on that could look quite elegant;-)

I think it looks nice as a softly draping scarf- and then you have the option of using it as a hat if you get cold. Hmmm. I like it.

It looks nice – but not for me. I still prefer wrapping my pashmina scarf Grace Kelly style. It has the same effect, does not give me a hat hair, no need to take off and store hats, and the scarf is more versatile – so I feel I can indulge in a few in different colors/patterns.

I saw others mention curly hair and having the same problem I do with hats. I am curious – do you avoid hats altogether like I do?

I laughed at “snood” name but would love one to wear to cold football games. Something that compliments my coat would act like a scarf until the cold wind made me pull up the hood. I think this beats ear muffs and carrying a hat, and it wouldn’t muss my hair as much. I’ll be on the lookout!

I think I will stick with my hats and scarves. Someone already mentioned the old lady with curlers look, and that’s the impression I get when I see these. But then maybe it’s because I have not seen it much on younger people. Also, I have long straight hair which has nowhere to go if I put up the hoods on my jackets. Snoods would probably give me the same problem.

Sri, I have short wavy/curly hair, and I completely avoid hats. When it’s so cold that I absolutely have to cover my head, I use a scarf the same way you do. Luckily I live in the South and I can usually get away with going bareheaded in the winter!

Sri, since the fluff of curls beneath a sleek hat looks strange on me, I only wear hats when I have my curls pulled back into a ponytail or twisted up.

I love these, they look very practical.
This is the sort of thing I saw while in Anchorage last year, only they were kint as a more simple tube. They knit them from the fur of a MuskOx (Qviut) and they are as light as a feather, very warm (or cool in summer), with gorgeous patterns knitted in. All that I saw were a natural color. They don’t like to dye the Qiviut.
I was told that in winter you see these on alot of heads around Anchorage. I wanted one but they are very expensive, $350 if I remember correctly. Maybe next time I will splurge and get one.

Thanks, Cricket and Susan. It is good to know that I am not the only one with hat problems!

I ilke them and would definitely wear them with my oversized sunnies. They seem very practical. No need to worry about tying your scarf nicely and when there is a chill on your head, just pull it up. Two pieces in one.

Ever since I cut my hair short I haven’t been sure how I’m going to handle the cold this winter. I used to very much be a hat person but my floppy hat just didn’t look the same with short hair. I was thinking of a nice structured cloche, but this might work too.

Very chic, I think. Pair this with a chic handbag, fabulous sunglasses and you will look like a movie star trying to hide from paparrazzi!

Nope…I won’t be sporting this, but our winters are mild in Calif. compared.

I love these cowls and have worn them on and off for years. I’ve knitted them and sewed them too. I like them especially when I’ve had short hair, as they keep the neck and ears warm. And they are great when you are both indoors and out and don’t want to keep taking off and on the hat. I love my ivory smooth knit one with big, dark sunnies that gives the “hollywood” actress fending off the paparazzi look.

I’m with the posters who’ve said this reminds them of an old-lady-with-curlers look. It looks to me like a babushka.

Another 80s throwback?? Well I had one of these in purple in the late 80s anyway. I bought it from Marks & Spencer when we were living in England for a year.

Even though we are bang-smack in the middle of winter here in Australia, its really not that cold. I think I have worn a beanie once. So for me this wouldn’t really be practical now!

I second the poster who said it looked like religious garb. Snood brings to my mind a socklike hat worn by Orthodox Jewish women. This garment is different from that. Not for me, I will just put on a hat if it’s cold. I have several cloche styles I like.

They’re very easy to make, for those who are open to the idea of wearing one. Never pay for these designer ones.

When I look at that all I can think is “hair static.” I don’t think it would work on me, though I do think they’re pretty on others.

In the early 1990s I attended a formal event with my hair in what I thought was called a snood – a barrette with a little net bag hanging rather testicularly from it. I thought I was The Bomb.

It’s definitely a look I’d try, as it has the potential to be quite pretty. I’d probably knit one myself, as it would be a relatively quick project.

I have two I bought last year in NYC. One grey, mixed wools and a loose style, on brown cashmere and more snug.

I live in Canada, have curly hair, am in my thirties and I wear one. I’ve got a plush cashmere scarf/hood combo. Knit dress, tall boots, sunglasses, coat and the snood? You’re dressed for winter.

Multiples brand had some of these in the 80’s of jersey knit. They could also be a belt or tube top. I’mm pass this time.

I love the sound of that Mira, exactly how I had imagined it.

I’m still thinking on this. The muted color and bare styrofoam head are not helping my envision-ment. Like that it makes me think of religious covering and old ladies, and I am trying to get a mental picture in a bright color with a nice coat, which I maybe like, but can’t visualize well enough. I think I’ll have to see it. I agree though – why get a separate piece instead of wearing an existing scarf?

I do have a question, is the ‘ood’ in ’snood’ pronounced like ‘wood’ or like ‘food’ I’d always assumed like ‘food’ but if the word is derived from ‘hood’…

I like the fancy one in the photo. Looks comfy and elegant if in a nice fabric.

I think a snood is a decorative net/cover for when you wear your hair in a bun. http://tinyurl.com/lbbkug I used to wear them in ballet class as a kid.

It works well, Inge AND you avoid hat head. Win-win.

Ha…when I saw this post I knew the knitters would be weighing in. These, AND fingerless gloves, have been a “thing” among knitters since at least last year. If they are knitted in a very fine yarn they are sometimes called “smoke rings.”

I don’t remember these being worn in the 80s, which is kind of odd since I was still in the cold Northeast at the time. Anyway, 80s flashback or not, the knitted versions of these are more current in feel. Last year I made a pair of fingerless gloves in a silk blend with clear beads knitted into them.

Guess what sweeties?!

Women who cover their hair “for religious reasons” are usually called Muslims, and they rock the fashion trends too. I saw this blog-Hijabtrendz.com and she is so into Muslim ladies looking great; nothing wrong with that!

I’m thinking the cowl would look great in the winter w/a beautiful voluminous maxi ala Dr. Zhivago and tall boots, no? But then again I could also see it w/a slim denim longer length jacket, tall boots w/pants tucked inside, knitted gloves and a Gucci Irene or Babousa hobo…

Cheers!

Cee: according to this website, it’s pronounced like ‘food’ (I would have guessed ‘wood’ too;-)
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snood

Mira: Thanks! If I find one I like, I’m definitely going to give it a bash.

SherryKay, I referred to women who cover their heads “for religious reasons” in general, because it is not just Muslim women who cover their heads. Jewish women do as well, and I’ve known some Southern Baptist women who cover their heads too. I’m not saying they are unfashionable, just that the look does not appeal to me.

The snood is the way forward, I will definately be rocking this look as soon as the weather allows, think the old lady in curlers is a view that needs to be challenged, I’m all over this, bring it on!

There are some long fine cashmere snoods on ebay at the moment – I brought 2 and they are lovely. Brought 2 to double up colourways
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayI.....:MESELX:IT

That is not a snood. These are snoods: http://snoods.com I just bought a cream coloured crocheted one from there (wearing it right now). I picked up a dark red one at a Renaissance Festival a few years ago too.

However, I do think I would wear a cowl like this. I don’t have any hats, just rewrap my scarf into something that’ll keep my head warm as needed.