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Hat for Camel overcoat during a REALLY cold winter

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Stitch

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Since I got such great feedback on my jacket fit question yesterday, I figured I'd ask another question which has been on my mind.

My standard work uniform is a sport coat and trousers, which means I'm going to be wearing an overcoat throughout the winter during my commute. Sometimes this involves being outside for up to half an hour at -20C.

By luck of the draw I actually ended up with two overcoats. An old charcoal pure wool london fog one, and a gorgeous Brooks brothers 100% cashmere one very similar to this one:

https://www.brooksbrothers.com/Gold...Cashmere-Overcoat/ML00185,default,pd.html?dwvar_ML00185_Color=NTBG&contentpos=1

Image


While I have some nice black gloves, a grey and blue scarf and a charcoal tilley winter hat that goes great with my charcoal overcoat, when it comes to the camel-colored one I haven't a clue what hat to wear with it.

I've got some dark brown gloves for it, and a dark brown/maroon patterned scarf that goes well, but I need a hat for it desperately.

I do have a similarly-colored fedora with a darker brown band, which is fine in the early spring and late fall, but right now its -20 celsius, so I need something really warm for my head, but that also looks good with the overcoat.

Anyone have any recommendations? I as thinking a warm wool toque, since tilley doesn't sell a winter hat in any shade other than charcoal or black. A fedora would likely leave me too cold and with my ears exposed (almost guaranteed frostbite, ouch!) and so would most caps, I think. I'd also need a colour recommendation, since I don't see many matching toques to that color around, and I don't even know if I want to match the color or not
 
#2 · (Edited)
I usually just wear a fleece earband (looks sort of like a headband), which keeps my ears warm without messing up what's left of my hair. There are also the newfangled ear warmers, if you find those comfortable. You could wear either with a fedora, and they conveniently fold up and stow easily inside the coat.

If you're going to wear an actual hat with that overcoat (in addition to an ear covering) I think the only hats that work are brimmed hats (fedora, trilby, homburg, etc.) or a wool flat cap. If by toque you mean a watch cap/stocking/toboggan hat, I think that would look a little incongruous but would certainly keep your head and ears warm. But they give me hat hair.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
AscotWithShortSleeves said:
I usually just wear a fleece earband (looks sort of like a headband), which keeps my ears warm without messing up what's left of my hair. There are also the newfangled ear warmers, if you find those comfortable. You could wear either with a fedora, and they conveniently fold up and stow easily inside the coat.

If you're going to wear an actual hat with that overcoat (in addition to an ear covering) I think the only hats that work are brimmed hats (fedora, trilby, homburg, etc.) or a wool flat cap. If by toque you mean a watch cap/stocking/toboggan hat, I think that would look a little incongruous but would certainly keep your head and ears warm. But they give me hat hair.
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A toque is what many Canadians, such as myself, usually call a watch cap or I suppose a toboggan hat (never heard that term used before). I'd like something brimmed, but I really wonder if those fleece ear wrap-around things and a wool fedora will be warm enough.
 
#6 ·
Stitch said:
Do you think it will be warm enough for -20C though?
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Yes

Stitch said:
And how should I keep my ears warm? Ear muffs? I do have a pair in light grey...
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Consider the previous suggestion of an ear band - they are slim enough to be worn somewhat inconspicuously under a proper hat. Certainly preferable - aesthetically - to ear muffs.

BTW, I lived for 4 years in London. Winter happens, but it's not the Yukon.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
RogerP said:
Yes

Consider the previous suggestion of an ear band - they are slim enough to be worn somewhat inconspicuously under a proper hat. Certainly preferable - aesthetically - to ear muffs.

BTW, I lived for 4 years in London. Winter happens, but it's not the Yukon.
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Hah! Sorry, I completely forgot to update my profile when I moved a while back. I'm not in London anymore. I'm still in Canada, but its substantially colder where I am now. Its been around -18 to -27 the last month. I went back to visit London this past christmas... damn, it was +5 then!
 
#10 ·
-20 centigrade is about -4 Fahrenheit, so a complete hat, not just a headband or earmuffs, is mandatory. I'd stick with the Tilley winter hat because it has the fold-down earmuffs and even a fold-down flap in the front for your forehead. If you're spending half an hour in below zero weather head and skin protection are more important than style.

Great looking coat, though.
 
#11 ·
I have a camel hair driving cap, news boy cap, whatever you call it, in tan camel. Yes it's matchy, but it has ear flaps that fold up under the sides. When it's cold and I fold them down, it keeps me toasty warm. I purchased it at BB outlet, it is a 346, maybe being matchy, it's not perfect, but it doesn't clash and gets a lot of compliments. I wear the same one in black for my charcoal cashmere overcoat. The tan works just as well with my Covert coat.

I've tried Fedoras, but can't pull them off. However I have no problem wearing a Panama in the tropics. Go figure.
 
#12 ·
I have fond memories of the "Battersby" model hat I bought at Worth & Worth in Jan. 1988 in NYC, when the shop was still on Madison Ave. That hat kept my head very warm that winter.

The shop is gone, but there is still a web site with some very lovely hats. See also James Lock's site in the UK. There is a sale on now and there are some very good prices for a nice London hat.

From one Canadian to another. Enjoy!
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
jackmccullough said:
-20 centigrade is about -4 Fahrenheit, so a complete hat, not just a headband or earmuffs, is mandatory. I'd stick with the Tilley winter hat because it has the fold-down earmuffs and even a fold-down flap in the front for your forehead. If you're spending half an hour in below zero weather head and skin protection are more important than style.

Great looking coat, though.
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I may give the fedora, ear covers and coat a try in this weather and see how it goes. At worst i'll just keep using the Tilley with the wool london fog one, which does very well right now.

Thanks!
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
momsdoc said:
I have a camel hair driving cap, news boy cap, whatever you call it, in tan camel. Yes it's matchy, but it has ear flaps that fold up under the sides. When it's cold and I fold them down, it keeps me toasty warm. I purchased it at BB outlet, it is a 346, maybe being matchy, it's not perfect, but it doesn't clash and gets a lot of compliments. I wear the same one in black for my charcoal cashmere overcoat. The tan works just as well with my Covert coat.

I've tried Fedoras, but can't pull them off. However I have no problem wearing a Panama in the tropics. Go figure.
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Hmm, I wasn't able to find one with ear flaps on the Brooks site, but I know Wiggins makes caps like that. Do you happen to know if its made by them? I know a few other places stock Wiggins caps so if its one of theirs I might be able to find something similar.
 
#15 ·
The problem is there will always be a mismatch in formality between a hat with ear protection and the rather smart overcoat you posted. At -20 sounds like a clear case of practicality having to win out.

You might try to find local versions of some of these:

https://www.lockhatters.co.uk/mens/leather-fur-hats-caps.html

The 'Vermont sheepskin hat' or something like it might be the best option for ear protection, if the fedora plus ear covers approach doesn't work.
 
#16 ·
Stitch said:
Hmm, I wasn't able to find one with ear flaps on the Brooks site, but I know Wiggins makes caps like that. Do you happen to know if its made by them? I know a few other places stock Wiggins caps so if its one of theirs I might be able to find something similar.
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I have no idea of its provenance. Just that I bought them at the BB outlet back in 2012.
 
#17 ·
jackmccullough said:
-20 centigrade is about -4 Fahrenheit, so a complete hat, not just a headband or earmuffs, is mandatory. I'd stick with the Tilley winter hat because it has the fold-down earmuffs and even a fold-down flap in the front for your forehead. If you're spending half an hour in below zero weather head and skin protection are more important than style.

Great looking coat, though.
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+ 1,000.

In weather similar to Montreal's, style takes a backseat to comfort.
 
#18 ·
The answer is:



...an Ushanka in a coordinating color (extra points if it's an astrakhan). Seriously. The whole "formal-headwear-for-extreme-cold" conundrum has already been figured out. It's entirely appropriate with tailored clothing, takes no more moxie to wear than a fedora this day and age, and is less ridiculous than a brimmed hat with earflaps, IMO.
 
#20 ·
I vote for a discreet wool toque (single neutral colour, cuffless/brimless, sans pompom). I would pick a darker brown. When it's that cold, everyone is much more concerned with mucus management and their own warmth than they are with your headgear.
 
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