You never quite escape the practicalities. As the temperature plummets and the mornings become a symphony of ice and
fog, you’ll want a few winter accessories to keep you warm. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun along the
way. Clothes are like meals: you can’t do without them, but they are more than merely a pragmatic requirement of
life. They can be bland or memorable. Sometimes it’s the whole composition, sometimes only a little detail that
charms the eye or tongue. The ones that stick in my head most connect me to a certain time or place. Linen all
summer in Paris. The tie for a successful job interview. My first proper tuxedo. It can be a sense of glamour, or
the deliciously mundane. Vintage champagne or train station coffee. A perfect bagel. Oranges. You remember the
thing—sometimes that’s all you remember—but you know deep down that it’s the people and places that matter most, and
our tastes are just our ways of praising them.
Forgive me if I'm getting whimsical (I am about to espouse the merits of winter accessories after all), but
insulation will be mandatory in the coming months, so you'd be well-served to choose something that stands out. Take
a risk or two with your winter accessories. Whatever else happens, you’ll be far less likely to leave them in the
back of a taxi if they're of a bold hue. Here’s my guide to memorable cold-weather kit.
Scarves add extra colour and warmth without the weight of another whole layer. They can be worn prominently or just
to peek out from under a coat. Asides from ties, scarves are arguably the only real opportunity for men to wear
strong patterns in a traditional wardrobe, unless of course you moonlight as a court jester. If that sounds
appealing (ties that is, not jesting), you’ll want to look at this season’s offering from storied English shirtmaker
Budd. There are solid-colour scarves in dense, ribbed Loro Piana cashmere, but the real stars
are the madder silk paisley pieces. The silk is finished in Macclesfield in the original way: screen-printed and
dye-dipped using traditional, earthy colours, producing intense tones and a distinctively matte, chalky hand. The
patterns are shimmering and bold. Most strikingly, they’re huge: cut from hefty 40oz silk and intentionally
oversized. I’m particularly drawn to the green
model, but it’s a strong statement in every colourway, whether worn with a suit and overcoat or over a
Shetland sweater and jeans.
If you prefer something a bit less busy, consider one of the solid-colour scarves from Anderson and
Sheppard. There are plenty to choose from, but my favourites are the hand-woven cashmere model,
loomed and dyed in Nepal in a range of perfect autumnal tones. It’s so big they call it a shawl, but airy and light
compared to its industrially-made cousins. In gold it sits perfectly with
navy and olive outerwear; in red it’s the natural
complement to any tone of grey. Or if you have formal events on the horizon this winter, look to the hand-finished
black cashmere option from Scottish
stalwart Johnstons of Elgin.
A good pair of gloves are a trusty companion. Like shoes, a good pair made from traditional materials will last for
years. For that reason, it’s well worth picking something that will make you smile every time the cold weather sets
in. A subtle option is these British-made suede shearling gloves from
Udeshi in espresso. Like a suede penny loafer, they are unassuming but elegant. At a distance they
don’t seem out of the ordinary, but as you put them on you’ll notice the extensive hand-sewn details. If you want
sometime a little more unusual, take a look at the distinctive full-grain Carpincho leather model
from German leather specialist Dalgado, or try Neapolitan glovemaker Omega’s tough but flexible cashmere-lined peccary leather
designs. Try their classic sporty tan pair for a casual look, or go
full peacock with the yellow
option. Finally, for smooth refinement, look to Parisian tailoring legend Cifonelli’s soft black
calfskin gloves, lined in silk.
Perhaps the most diverse category of winter accessories is hats. Like anything that sits on or around the face, the
choice is a bit more personal. When you find the right piece it becomes almost part of your character. The most
versatile, accessible option is a knitted cap like this navy cable-knit from Drake’s, a
ribbed
cashmere version from Budd, or the brightest of woollens, Heimat’s brilliant ‘rescueorange’
mechanic’s hat. A little higher up the hat hierarchy is the flat cap. This one’s not for everyone:
every time I try them, I look like a trainee judge at a sheepdog trial, but a close friend of mine exudes
mid-Atlantic charm in his. If it works for you, consider Paul Stuart’s cap in beautiful Donegal herringbone
tweed, or go for a bit of continental luxury with the wool flannel option born of the Rake’s collaboration with storied mill Vitale Barberis Canonico and Italian hatmaker Cappellificio Biellese. At the top of the pyramid, of course, is the full felt fedora: look no further than a London hatmaker with three centuries of experience: Lock and Co. of St. James.
