The question of how to wear beanie hats is largely dependent on upon your own unique style and clique. Designed to help you brave the great outdoors throughout the cooler months, beanie hats for men work best when they're worn with a sense of casual nonchalance, but also when they're balanced with your outfit in order to strike the desired effect.
The first step in working out how to wear a beanie, then, should be a consideration of cultural factors such as your social milieu. Once you have determined the type of beanie that would work best for you, you can then develop your overall outfit around these same style codes. A chunkier beanie Moncler hat paired with a leather jacket spells grunge, while a printed style recalls an art school setting and the slouchy beanie stems straight from the street.
There are certain factors that remain consistent here though, such as the fact that a beanie tends to call for a non-hairdo hairdo. Suffice to say this isn't exactly the item you would choose to wear with a tuxedo for evening events, but it can definitely help you to get from A to B once the mercury drops. Particularly when crafted from wool or cashmere, men’s beanies offer a great alternative to the cap for winter.
Chunky beanies epitomise grunge
If your world is focused on the music industry, then you might lean towards a grungier style of beanie when considering how to wear beanie hats. Choosing a slightly thicker, knitted style perfectly captures the spirit of this counter-cultural movement. Especially when worn slightly pushed back on the head, a darkly coloured knitted beanie hat can serve as a nod to 90s grunge and the icons of the era.
In order to complete this look, why not incorporate some other markers of the grunge movement as well, like a leather jacket or a plaid shirt? For AW17 Menswear Christopher Raeburn presented this slightly pushed-back style using his patchwork grey beanie hats for men. The collection was also peppered with oversized knitwear such as that favoured by Kurt Cobain – and when worn together, this ensemble makes for a contemporary take on the grunge aesthetic.
Printed beanies recall the halls of art school
If your social milieu is more of an artsy crowd, however, then you might be drawn to printed beanie hats for men instead, like those designed by New York label Opening Ceremony. An interesting pattern can add an artistic spin to your outfit, while also serving the dual purpose of providing maximum warmth. When teamed with a collared shirt, layered underneath a light sweater and tailored trousers, this look calls to mind artists such as Lucien Freud.
The key here is to pick a patterned beanie that anchors your look with a bold statement such as Kenzo hats and to then balance this out with more minimalistic details throughout the rest of your look. Choosing a knitted hat with a dual-coloured pattern means that you can echo hints of the same hues in the wardrobe department, too. A blue denim jacket makes a compelling case for blue and white, for instance, while wearing a white shirt underneath will tie things together for the perfect blend of smart-casual.
Slouchy beanie
A slouchy beanie is perhaps the most relaxed approach when it comes to knitted hats for men, so is therefore perfect for those that favour streetwear. Of course, how to wear a slouchy beanie is really just a matter of balance. The laidback approach of this particular style invites the opportunity to introduce some sharper tailoring as a point of contrast. You could consider taking inspiration from the Fendi AW17 menswear presentation here, where knitted beanies were paired with tailored jackets and more formal styles of trousers.
For the runway, Karl Lagerfeld designed striped beanies with a little nonchalant slouch to them. The designer then juxtaposed this sense of attitude with slim-fit suits or streetwise bomber jackets – and the result was a balance of both proportion and style. It's important here to opt for a more streamlined beanie such as those by The Elder Statesman. In fact, the brand’s brightly coloured styles are particularly striking for those that are feeling game. Overall men’s beanies make a style statement of their own, so choosing the right one for your personal style will always stand you in good stead.