Christmas Gift Ideas for Teens, Women - Knit Hat

Beanie Caps, Chunky Knit Berets, and Slouch Hats

Nov 21, 2009
Christina Gregoire

: Slouch Hats - louisegreen.com

2010 UPDATED: A great winter trend for women: Try a knit hat with or without a scarf. Beanie/skully caps, chunky knit berets, slouch hats, Mod caps, slouch caps.

One of the best birthday or winter gift ideas for women is a knit hat with (or without) a scarf. Beanies (sometimes called skullies), chunky knit berets, and slouch hats are cute and hip on ladies of every age. These trendy winter hats are great presents for girls.

Knitted Hats

For the longest time, knit-hat-and-scarf sets were the gift of last resort; the kind of present that clueless Aunt Josephines would send to their distant nieces. But, baby, things have changed. This year, knit beanies, berets, and scarves are the trendy hits for tweens, teens, and women of all ages.

Some of these coveted knit hats are not cheap. However, it’s fairly easy to find knockoffs with more reasonable price tags.

Knit Beanie or Beret

Some women look good in both beanies and berets, but here are some helpful tips:

Women and girls, who look good with their hair pulled back, often look better in beanies. This is because beanies fit tighter on one’s head.
Beanies are usually worn by younger ladies, from tweens to twenty-somethings, though something like a Louise Green hat is good for any age.
Both beanies and berets are casual hats, though a beret is a bit more sophisticated. Beanies are good for tomboys.
Women, who don’t like to wear their hair pulled tightly back, usually look better in chunky berets, because these berets add a halo of soft color around their faces.

Knit Hats Over $100

The trend of big slouch hats started a few years ago with Eugenia Kim (and Stella McCartney). Now, these, and similar styles, are all over the internet and can be found in all price ranges. Here are some beautiful, high-end hats in fun, funky, and elegant styles:

Eugenia Kim Montana Buffalo Check Slouchy Hat: For a funky Gossip Girl / Jenny rocker style.
Eugenia Kim Shelby Herringbone Beret: For a chic East Coast money look.
Eugenia Kim Valentina Lace Cable Beret: Perfect for anyone.
291 Outsiders Cashmere Beanie: Cute for a trendy girl.
Diane Von Furstenberg Carlisle Hat: The more I see this, the more I like it. At first, I thought it was over the top...but it's cute. I'm going to try it.

Louise Green: The prices at LouiseGreen.com can be high, but the quality is worth it. Her hats never go out of style. See photos at bottom of page.

Cute Hats Under $100

Many of the following hats (and matching scarves) are found at Saks, Bloomingdales, or Nordstrom, but don't stop there. Almost every online store has their own collection. Here are some examples of great hats, but look around for the best deals.

Helene Berman Flower Beret Perfect for anyone who does not have a tiny face. A delicate face might be overwhelmed by this...though any female over 40 or 50 will look good in it.
Portolano Cashmere Beret: Just now I've seen this same hat priced from $98 to $64.50 (Savvy Sheitel) so it pays to click around.
UGG Belted Cardy Visor Cap: Totally Mod.

Knit Hats Under $50

Lots of stores have cute berets and caps under $50. These cheaper hats may be made from acrylic instead of wool, but what the heck? Even Target has a couple of cute chapeaus.

Michael Kors Fisherman Knit Hat: This is adorable and comes in several neutral colors.
Cara Accessories Slouchy Knit Head Wrap With Flower: A girl with blonde hair should wear black or gray. A girl with dark hair should wear white.
Peaks and Valleys Cap: Cute. It's at Anthropologie.com.

Hats Under $30Wow. Some stores have gone all out to lure you into their stores and onto their websites. Hat prices rock this year.

$12 Rubbish Slouch Beanie at Nordies.
$28 Nordstrom Chunky Beret.
$23.99 Jessica Simpson Hat at Macys.com.

Hat and Scarf Sets

Some of these trendy winter hats come with matching scarves, but is it worth it to get the whole set? Well, it depends on the girl, the colors, and the price. The most important thing to think about when buying a hat or a scarf is: Will the color look good next to the girl's or woman's face? Unless someone is trying to keep warm in a snow storm...nothing is more important.

There are quite a few great discoveries online. The hats and scarves mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg. Some of the berets are preppy. Some of the hats are more bohemian. But, all of them are great.

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