As an arctic blast hit the UK this week, most of us turned to our trusty down jackets and wool hats. Others have unearthed something a little more surprising from the treasure trove of accessories. It’s a micro beanie.
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These bijou beanies are worn high on the forehead and are intentionally rolled up by the wearer to leave the ears exposed to the elements. It has roots in maritime and military environments and is sometimes called a fisherman’s or watch cap, although it was originally rolled to avoid hearing obstruction. But instead of being worn on the high seas, they are now worn by creative types in offices and coffee shops from London to Lancaster.
“I usually wear my beanie pretty flat or horizontal,” says Jake McCabe, a London-based creative director. Jake McCabe first started wearing micro beanies as a teenager. “It has the perfect balance and silhouette. The exposed ears are actually just a symptom of being rolled up too many times.”
This act, which the paper calls a “helix” (exposing a part of the ear called the helix), sounds pointless on paper, especially during cold snaps. However, McCabe and his colleagues argue that micro beanies can still keep you warm because they cover most of your head.
Unsurprisingly, microbeanies have become the subject of ridicule and frequent memes. Many comments were read saying, “I feel sick right away.” “Teen Weenie Beanie” was also the subject of a Jimmy Fallon skit featuring Paul Rudd. But if anything, this ridicule only added to their appeal. In the same way that Perello’s Olive and Daunt Books tote bags have become icons of social style, the placement of a micro beanie says more about the wearer than just a bad hairstyle. I will tell you about.
Micro beanie enthusiast Ian Wright is modeling M&S’s debut hat collection. Photo: Ian Wright for M&S
The good news is that micro beanies are now mainstream. This week, former footballer Ian Wright championed headgear by including two versions in his debut hat collection for M&S. The beanie modeled by the Arsenal legend is pre-rolled in the lookbook and is described as “exuding understated cool”. Other micro beanie influencers include Jacques Cousteau, Marvin Gaye, Bill Murray, and Tyler, the Creator.
McCabe prefers to source vintage versions from Brut Clothing in Paris. He also has “beautiful handmade things from Anthony Peto” and things from Arket’s children’s section. To achieve the perfect head-to-ear ratio, he prefers to roll his own, keeping it to “one big roll or two small rolls” to avoid bulk.
While this trend has been particularly popular in menswear, with micro beanies finishing off almost every look on the GmbH and Hermès catwalks this season, it has yet to catch on in the womenswear market. Digital creator Natasha Mutula blames women’s long hair for getting in the way. It wasn’t until she had a shaved head that she started experimenting with beanies. “When I had hair, I never thought of wearing a beanie like this because I wouldn’t have been able to get the look I wanted,” Mutula says. “Hair is distracting. I work better without it.”
Curiously, Mutula buys his colorful version in the men’s section of Asos after discovering that it has a smaller fit. “It accentuates the shape of my head. It’s also a great way to showcase my ear stack (multiple ear piercings).”
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With an arctic blast in the air, only the temperature will determine whether the team’s micro beanies will continue to move with it.
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