16 Cool Ways to Wear a Beanie

Beanies are the perfect winter accessory, because not only will they keep your head toasty warm, but they can also look incredibly chic too. 

Not quite sure how to style a beanie? 

Here are 16 cool ways to add a beanie into your outfit: 

The Simple, Standard Beanie

This is the simplest and most straightforward way to wear a beanie. 

Rather than turning it up at the cuff, simply pull it over your head so that it covers your ears. Allow the front of the beanie to sit just above your eyebrows. 

 

This method may not seem very stylish, but it is definitely one of the warmest ways to wear a beanie. 

To add a bit more personality to this look…

Tilt it back slightly, so that it sits at an angle but still covers your ears. 

Wrapped Up Curls

Do you have very curly hair?

If so, you likely already know that this can sometimes make styling a beanie quite the challenge. Curly hair can often affect the shape and silhouette of the beanie when it sits on the head, causing misshapen bumps and lumps to appear underneath.

Fortunately, there is an easy fix to this…

All you need is a head wrap. Simply wrap your hair up with the wrap, before pulling the beanie down over the top of this. This will give you a much smoother and sleeker silhouette, and the wrap will not actually be visible at all.

A Single Cuff

The single cuffed beanie is another classic look. 

This refers to a beanie that has been folded over at the bottom, to form a cuff. 

 

This style looks especially striking when worn with loose hair. 

The Fisherman Beanie

This beanie style was originally inspired by workwear, and consists of a standard beanie being rolled up, or cuffed, at the bottom twice. 

The fisherman beanie has become extremely trendy, and is a style that many hipsters tend to favor. While it may not be that warm, with the ears being exposed, the fisherman beanie does look ultra chic. 

The beanie should be worn at the top of your head, but it is completely up to you whether you angle the beanie forwards or backwards. Experiment with both styles, so that you can see which one best complements your hairstyle as well as your face shape. 

A Pop of Color

Beanies are quite a subtle accessory, but are still a great way to add a pop of color to your outfit.

 

This can be especially useful in the winter months, when many people tend to stick to darker and more neutral colors.

Simply pick a vibrantly colored beanie in your favorite shade, and top off your winter outfits with this.

The Pom-Pom Beanie

To some, the pom-pom beanie may seem a bit costume-y, but this beanie style actually originated in the military. From the regiments of the Scottish Highlands to Napoleon’s infantry, soldiers all over the world have fought for centuries with a pom-pom at the top of their hats.

Why? 

Well, back in the day, the pom-pom was used to gather up all the seams that were created when the hat was made, since this was long before knitting had been invented. 

When it comes to styling a pom-pom beanie…

It always looks extra chic if the color of the pom-pom matches some of the other colors in your outfit, as this can really bring your whole look together. However, try to stick to beanies that have just a single pom-pom, rather than ones that feature multiple pom-poms, as these can often end up looking childish and over-the-top. 

 

One thing to be aware of when purchasing a pom-pom beanie…

Many of the furry pom-poms from some of the big brands out there are supposedly made from faux fur. 

However, recent testing on these fabrics have shown that they are actually made from animal fur, whether this may be rabbit, dog or cat. 

How did this happen? 

Because many of the pom-pom beanies of today are made in China, where it is easier and cheaper to source real fur than synthetic fur. Clothing labels only need to reflect 80% of the garment’s composition, meaning that companies are not legally required to state whether or not the pom-poms on beanies have been made from animal fur.

How can you tell what type of fur a pom-pom is made from? 

Separate the fibers at their base. Faux fur will have a fabric webbing underneath, while real fur will be attached to skin. 

Oversized and Slouchy

Many would say that it was David Beckham who popularized the oversized and slouchy beanie, as he was constantly being photographed with this style perched at the top of his head, especially when travelling. 

The verdict is split down the middle when it comes to this style, with some people absolutely loving it and others hating it. 

 

Want to give this style a try?

You will need to wear your beanie as far back on your head as possible, allowing any extra fabric to slouch up around your ears. Make sure that your ears are still covered, and pull out a few strands of hair from the front to complete the look. 

Patterned Beanies

If you have been getting a little bored of your winter outfits, try adding in a patterned beanie to spice things up a bit.

Many people tend to stay away from bright colors and patterns in the winter months, but a beanie is the perfect way to add some excitement into your outfit without having to invest in a whole new wardrobe.

Whether you decide to go for checks, stripes, animal prints or anything else, a patterned beanie is actually much easier to style than you would imagine, and can work with such a wide variety of looks.

Beanies and Bangs

It can sometimes be quite challenging to style a beanie when you have bangs. 

Do you let the bangs hang down from the front of the beanie, or do you tuck them in? 

Well, both answers are correct, as it all depends on the look you are going for. 

If you want a bang-free day, there is nothing wrong with sweeping your bangs up and underneath your beanie. This can be especially useful if you are having a bad hair day! 

Alternatively, if you have short bangs, then you can always leave your bangs to drop from underneath the front of the beanie. 

 

Wondering why you can’t do this with long bangs? 

Because the beanie will press against your bangs and flatten them, making them appear even longer. This would cause your bangs to be held flat against your eyes, preventing you from seeing properly. 

If you do have a long fringe and want to leave your bangs hanging down…

Try sweeping them to the side instead. This will keep them out of your eyes while still allowing them to be visible. 

Beanies and Braids

Chances are, if you are planning on wearing a beanie, then it is probably quite cold outside. 

If the wind is quite strong too, then this is the perfect recipe for a bad hair day. 

While a beanie can help to keep the top of your hair in place, a messy and tangled mass of strands falling out from underneath the beanie is never a good look. 

This is where braids come in…

Braids are the perfect hairstyle for a blustery day, and pair so well with a beanie. 

 

Of course, there are several different braid styles out there, but one of the best to try with a beanie would be a side braid. 

Why? 

Because the way in which a style braid hangs subtly down from the side of a beanie looks so chic, and tends to be a more popular look than a single braid down the back. 

Want to add more excitement to this look? 

Experiment with the type of braid you create. A three-strand braid is the simplest, easiest and quickest to put together, but other braid styles will give your hair more texture and dimension. Try a fishtail braid, or a French braid, for added sophistication, or a double braid for a fun and feminine look. 

Fully Tucked In

Are you having one of those days where you just cannot seem to style your hair in the way that you want? 

Well, a beanie can be such a huge help in these circumstances. 

How? 

Well, rather than letting your hair hang loose beneath your beanie, try tucking all of your hair up underneath your beanie instead. You may need to first tie or pin it in place to ensure that it stays put, and then pull your beanie down over the top of this. 

Beret-Inspired

Love the way in which a beret sits on the head in a slightly tilted manner? 

Well, there is no reason why you can’t do this with a beanie too. 

 

A slightly oversized beanie is usually best for this look, and all you need to do is sit this on your head at a slightly angle. 

The Fitted Beanie

Fitted beanies sit snugly around the head, and are fantastic for providing warmth.

However, this is a style that many stay away from, as the fitted nature of these beanies draws attention to your head and face shape.

Of course, if this is something that you want to highlight, then a fitted beanie would be perfect for you.

The Gnome Beanie

You need to be quite brave when trying out the gnome beanie style, because this is something that can either completely make, or totally break, your look. 

What exactly is the gnome beanie style? 

It refers to a beanie that is worn standing tall on the head, so that the top sticks up quite straight. 

 

It is a fresh and fun way to wear a beanie, but not everyone can pull this off. 

Is there anyone who shouldn’t try this style? 

If you have a long face shape, the gnome beanie probably is not for you, as it will only make your face appear even more elongated. 

Unusual Fabrics and Textures

You may think that a beanie needs to be made from wool, but this is not necessarily the case…

Beanies come in so many different fabrics and textures, and this is the perfect opportunity to go for a beanie that is slightly more unusual. 

Need some ideas?

If you are a denim lover, give a denim beanie a try. For a country look, nothing beats a tweed beanie, while leather beanies are full of attitude. 

These fabrics are not likely to keep your head as warm as a knitted wool beanie, but still definitely make a huge style statement! 

A Pulled-Through Ponytail

This style is only really possible with crochet beanies, and gives off quite an Ariana Grande vibe. 

Begin by pulling your hair up into a high ponytail, securing this with an elastic band. 

Then, pull your beanie over your head, keeping one hand around the base of your ponytail. Once you have placed the beanie on your head, find a hole at the top middle and pull your ponytail through this. Make sure that you are gentle while doing this, as you do not want to stretch these natural holes out too much. 

Once you have pulled your hair through, you are ready to go. Alternatively, you could take this a step further and twist your ponytail round into a bun, creating your very own pom-pom for the beanie. Experiment with different up-do’s over the top of your beanie, as you never know what you may end up creating. 

Beanies really are the perfect winter accessory, and are an item that every woman should have in her wardrobe. Whether your personal style is edgy and rebellious or classy and sophisticated, there are so many different ways of wearing a beanie that you will definitely find something that works well for you.