Weird hats are in this winter How to stay fashionable when it's cold outside

Which hats should you buy this winter?

Beautiful, ugly, felted, passed down through generations or found at a flea market, it doesn’t really matter what shape it’s in: in winter, the hat becomes more of a necessity than an accessory. And yet, despite its purely functional nature, the headwear segment seems to be finding new life.

Maybe it’s the whole “little luxuries” thing, but already in the FW25 shows brands like Paula Canovas Del Vas and Comme des Garçons introduced new and playful interpretations of the simple beanies once beloved by 2010 hipsters. But more than a quirky accessory, it now seems that the stranger they are, the more hats are in fashion. Have the cool kids finally figured out how to stay trendy even in freezing temperatures?

If we’re talking about weird hats, we have to mention Charles Jeffrey Loverboy, who managed to build an empire with his chunky beanies. First presented during the FW20 show, the hat went viral thanks to its cat ears. But the real explosion came with the FW22 collection, when the British designer introduced the rabbit version, which, within a few months, became the it-item of the entire Asian market, with Korean and Japanese celebrities constantly drawn to the playful piece.

Rabbits, cats, and dogs: the “animal” beanie

Today, however, the market for “animal” hats has become ultra-competitive, and leading the strange-hat revolution is Atiissu, the new brand from II Combined (the Gentle Monster group). Founded this year, the brand aims to revolutionize headwear with futuristic designs, exactly as the Korean group had already done with eyewear. And that’s exactly what they’ve done, combining Y3K elements, intricate knitwork and a touch of affection for the animal kingdom. Because who wouldn’t want to look like an angry doberman braving the cold? Or maybe a basset hound with extra-long ears reaching down to the hips.

Even though they’re not yet available for purchase outside South Korea, Atiissu’s hats are already super viral on social media, thanks also to the celebrities who have worn them, from Stray Kids’ Felix (the brand’s first and only ambassador so far) to Blackpink’s Lisa.

On the other side of the world, celebrities are also into strong, strange hats, like Justin Bieber, Kai Cenat and Jay Guapo, all fans of the independent American brand Arkyve. Although here, more than hats, we’re talking about crocheted balaclavas and ski masks with feline shapes, recalling both the ’90s grunge beanie in their colors and techniques, and the looser, open stitches you’d find in your grandma’s quilts.

The swim cap hat, the new trend of Winter 2026

Then, if we’re talking about current headwear trends, we can’t ignore the wave that has taken over menswear in recent months. The trend doesn’t have a precise name, as GQ also pointed out, but it’s everywhere. It vaguely resembles the Smurf hat or the swim cap, sitting loosely on the head with a soft tip, and it’s a more relaxed evolution of the skull cap.

The issue with this new hat is that it looks a bit too much like a durag. According to GQ, it all started unsurprisingly with Justin Bieber, who for months has been rolling the edges of the beanies from his brand Skylrk far more than necessary, exposing the inner seams. That gesture has become so recurring that it’s now a clear stylistic choice, easily recognizable and quickly imitated by others. Among them is Romeo Beckham, who in recent months has been seen with almost theatrically rolled beanies and tightly wrapped headscarves, a kind of déjà-vu considering that his father once sparked controversy with his infamous black durag worn in front of King Charles in the early 2000s.