Who wears a balaclava if they’re not in the arctic or planning a heist? Though balaclavas—also known as ski masks—have been popular for a long time in frigid locales such as Eastern and Northern Europe, they weren’t as common in a city like Montreal.
At a certain point in the winter, dressing often loses all of its magic and becomes purely functional, but when you let the darlings of Old Hollywood guide you, being warm can also look fabulous.
I think the growth in the popularity of thrifting and vintage has exposed people to more types of headwear and more eras of dressing when hats were a staple part of an outfit. I also think, culturally, there has been a huge embrace of cultivating personal style, which has allowed people to feel more free with their accessorizing and experimenting with different shapes and styles.
Personally, I’ve been wearing a cashmere balaclava pretty much every time I step outside. Covering my head when the wind chill makes it freezing has always felt like a necessity, but with this dainty little wrap, it feels like a luxury. A beanie just can’t do that.
Balaclava – H&M