Let's take it from the top

get the look ... and get it right

This fluffy thing from Sam de Teran is the absolute hat to wear. Although I think it's ridiculous, I seem to stand alone (quoi de neuf), because everybody else loves it. It did serve a selfish purpose however - making a colleague try it on over and over again caused me to laugh so much I nearly wet my pants; you have to try it on yourself to see why. There is no doubt that it will keep you very, very warm but at a price. Luckily, there is so much variety now that keeping warm needn't mean looking stupid. Unless you want to.

Brown fury hat, pounds 165, Sam de Teran, 151 Fulham Road, London SW3. Mail order tel: 0171 584 0902.

Brown nylon and fake fur cloche hat, pounds 30, Dollargrand. Enquiries: 0171 794 3028

Blue polartec trapper hat, pounds 17.99, Quicksilver, Ellis Bingham, Wellington Mill, Duke Street, Manchester, M3 4NF. Enquiries: 0161 833 0746

Fake chinchilla fur hat, pounds 99, Sam de Teran, as before

Tweed trapper hat, pounds 18, Karrimor, North by North West, 3 Southampton Street, London WC2. Enquiries 0171 497 0716

Brown nylon and fake fur deerstalker, pounds 24, Dollargrand, as before

Knitted Kangaroo snood, pounds 24, Kangol, from major department stores. Enquiries: 0171 587 4888