Winter Style Part 3 - Where's Your Head At?

Keeping our heads and faces warm and protected from the cold is key to staying comfortable and healthy during the winter months. It's not just about looking good, this one is about feeling good too.

In my final part of this mini-series about stylishly staying warm this winter, lets have a look at the range of headgear on offer.

The no-brainer option here is of course, the trusty hat. Hats are perfect for staying warm and for hiding bad-hair days! A bit nippy outside? Throw on a hat. Are your roots showing? Ditto. And there are so many hats to choose from, there really is no excuse to be complaining of cold ears. One of the most popular styles of hat this winter are very cutesy, animal beanies. It is fair to say that you will spot a lot of these hats on Buchanan Street on a Saturday (or any other day for that matter) at the moment.

These were very sought after by many ladies (myself included) last winter and River Island's polar bear style hat was sold out in several stores and online, particularly after Katy Perry was photographed wearing it. The 'Katy Perry' hat was being hawked on eBay for 4 times its actual price at one point. Clearly on the ball this year, River Island has a huge selection of similar hats with a kawaii style that will keep you cosy. Bunnies, bears, tigers, dogs and even raccoons feature in the range. Some people don't see what all of the fuss is about, some think the style is much too immature for grown women (and men) to be wearing - but the animal beanies tap into my love affair with Japanese street style in a big way. That, and I'm a sucker for anything with a cute face.

For those looking for something a bit more classic, Gap have a great range of knitted hats and this knitted beanie is guaranteed to keep you warm. Feeling like a lady? Check out this sophisticated leopard print beret from Urban outfitters:

Leopard Beret with Pom Pom (£22), Urban Outfitters

Topshop have an excellent collection of hats this winter, and top marks go to their trapper hats. A little tougher than beanies, the trapper hat is easier to pull off than you might think and looks great on. Topshop's selection comes in a variety of colours, styles and textures so most people will find one they will like.

The next two items on my list are making a comeback after a few years out of the limelight. The first is earmuffs, which are extremely popular and can be found in most shops this season. Primark are even flogging them for a mere pound. Urban Outfitters have some very nice fluffy earmuffs for £14. Earmuffs are light, fuss free and their main point of appeal is their ability to not leave the wearer with 'hat hair'. They are, to me the go-to accessory if I think my hair looks good but I still need to keep my ears warm!

Snoods, have been around (or so I am told) since the middle ages (and if my mum can remember them, there must be some truth in that) and are now enjoying another moment of popularity in the recent freezing weather. They are fairly inexpensive and can be worn in different ways - all with the bonus of keeping you toasty and warm. Snoods in the shops just now range from high end, like this Paul Smith snood (£115):

...to the high street with Matalan's sparkle snood coming in at just a fiver.

One final quick tip for feeling and looking good this winter comes in the form of skincare. Make sure you are protecting your skin from the elements and moisturize regularly in order to soothe, calm and restore skin that is irritated by the cold. I recommend Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Skin Protectant. It might be an oldie, but it's a goodie.

I leave you with some pictures of the Botanic Gardens under the recent snowfall.



Remember, wherever you may wander over the coming weeks make sure you wrap up warm!