Gloves, scarves take center stage as winter accessories

Posted by Bengtsson on November 23rd, 2015

Don’t stuff fashion accessories to the back of the closet just because it’s getting colder outside.

Whether it’s a mild or brutally chilly winter, you can still look as though you’ve stepped out of a style session in a smashing pashmina, an attractive fedora, a cute slouchy hat, and in a pair of practical fingerless or dressy leather gloves.

Getting right to the point, retailers are about as ready for shoppers to snatch up these and other items to purchase as shoppers are anxious for this week’s Black Friday.

Richard Lies, general manager at JCPenney at Franklin Park Mall in West Toledo, said wraps for women are important this season.

“It’s a great fashion item for customers, as wraps are really big,” he said. “Some have fur trimmed collars and they come in different sizes, so they are a good accessory.”

In line with wraps are items that were popular during the 1970s: ponchos. Yes, they are back, and they look great, making them must-haves for the style conscious woman.

Ponchos, blanket wraps, capes – whatever you call them, they are easy to throw on and warm. Solid colors include black, blues, grays, reds, and tans. There are big and small plaids, animal prints, the classic houndstooth, and chevron patterns, too.

You can coordinate a terrific cape with a scarf to keep your neck warm. Pashminas come in soft and warm fabrics, such as cashmere, silk, and various blends. They can be narrow, perhaps a foot wide, but maybe five or six feet long. Some are much larger and allow a wearer to wrap her body in one. They fold up nicely, making them easy to transport.

Cindy Witzler, owner of Elegant Rags in Perrysburg, said the infinity scarf is out front in that category.

“They are the biggest trend as far as scarves, especially for outdoors,” said Ms. Witzler, adding that the chunky knit and faux fur and that come in such solid colors as black, light pink, cream, and tan. “You can twist it once or you can make them as tight as you want, or loose.”

Mr. Lies added that cowl neck scarves are also favorites this season, though they are much smaller and loop only once.

“Customers really like knits for warmth,” he said. “So not only do scarves serve a fashion purpose, they keep you warm.”

Though there seems to be some debate as to how much body heat is lost in cold weather when our heads are not covered it seems to simply make good common sense to put on a head covering when it’s cold.

While the popularity of headbands has returned, Mr. Lies said that in women’s wear, fashionable knit hats with various adornments are must-haves among customers.

If you don’t mind having your ears exposed, the fedora-style hat for women and fedoras for men are important choices, too.

“Hats with wide brims, though not too wide of a brim, that are like felt hats with a leather band” are also other top choices for women, Ms. Witzler said. “I have them in black, brown, tan, and maroon.”

For men, women, and children, there are also tams, berets, slouchy hats, and simple knit pull-ons, too.

Earmuffs are also a great option for the whole family. Men might choose dark solid faux furs; women like earmuffs in faux furs in solid colors and in animal prints, while earmuffs for children are colorful and fun.

Don’t forget about gloves, which range from dressy leather to practical knits for men and women. And for you who want to keep your hands warm while still using your technology, there are touch-screen gloves that still let consumers text or Google on their smart phones and iPads without taking them off. Though they have been around for a while, they have become an important winter accessory.

“The big thing is that touch gloves have the feature to let you use your smart phone,” said Ms. Witzler. She also said they come in microfiber and leather, too.

Mr. Lies said the best sellers at JCPenney are knit gloves for women in tans, creams, blacks, and grays and in numerous fashion colors. These gloves let the fashion conscious woman choose to wear one pair, or more than one pair in different colors, showing off the different colors.

Meanwhile, fingerless gloves expose each finger. Though anyone can wear them, you can often find them being worn in the cold months by cashiers trying to at least their hands warm when they work on registers that are near entrance doors.

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