The Perfect Bandana For Cold Weather

For years I assumed bandanas were strictly a summer statement; something you tied around your head at the beach or slapped over your plait in July. I wanted to apologise to the entire category the day I realised what I’d been missing when I tied one under a hoodie in February. A proper cold weather bandana isn’t costume or accessory, it’s insulation with a fancy haircut. The best ones don’t just earn their keep – they’ve got a specific problem to solve. That little slither of exposed neck that lives between your collar and your jaw. You know the bit a scarf never quite covers without suddenly becoming a duvet.

The big thing that makes one actually work is fabric weight. Skinny cotton versions may look like the part but they serve no purpose, they’re essentially a yarn forward that never develops. You need something with some heft wool blend or heavy jersey material that holds its shape instead of going floppy as soon as you leave the house.
Pattern is surprisingly irrelevant.

Busy paisley or a solid mustard colour will both work just as well, it’s the thickness of the material actually doing all the heavy lifting while the design itself just dictates how much attention you want it to draw.

How you wear it is where a plain coat truly shines. Tied at the neck like a neckerchief under an open collar it can do something a scarf just doesn’t cope with; stay put when you’re biking or brisk walking. No flap flap stranglesteading, no getting an end lost down the front of your jacket. Knot it up top and under the chin and it’s hugely practical for anything outdoorsy and windy. Puppy walking, football line judging, market mornings. Loosely knotted at the throat over a sweater it’s less protective gear and more jewellery; another nice party trick for something that’s essentially doing manual labour in your wardrobe.

When to wear it – Think of it in the instances where a big scarf feels like too much but a bare neck feels like misery. Commuting, running errands, everywhere you find yourself in-and-out of buildings and don’t want to constantly be re-tying a blanket. Once you’ve had one that actually retains warmth you’ll stop reaching for the sad little ones by default.