Women's balaclava: which one to choose and how to wear it in town
The balaclava is no longer just for skiing. In knit, it replaces a beanie and a scarf in town: one piece, nothing slipping, the back of the neck covered when the wind picks up.
Ribbed or fine knit
The ribbed balaclava has a thicker, more structured knit. It holds its shape around the face and suits frosty mornings, long waits on a platform and cycling commutes.
The fine-knit balaclava is lighter. Its face opening is clean, it folds down around the neck like a collar when you walk into a shop and fits in a bag without taking up room.
Both have the same composition: 40% wool, 30% viscose, 20% polyamide, 10% cashmere. Wool keeps you warm, cashmere is soft against the cheek, polyamide helps the knit keep its shape.
How to wear it
- Under a high-collared coat, with the bottom tucked into the collar: the warmest option.
- Over a straight coat, the bottom lying flat on the shoulders: the balaclava shows, so pick a strong colour.
- With a crew-neck sweater rather than a turtleneck, to avoid two layers of knit at the neck.
Colour
The ribbed balaclava comes in 10 colours, the fine knit in 12, from neutrals (black, navy, charcoal grey, mocha) to bright shades (red, orange). A neutral goes with every coat. A bright colour lifts a camel or grey coat.
Care
Treat it like a wool sweater: hand wash or cold wool cycle, with a wool detergent, dry flat. Stored over summer, it attracts moths as much as a sweater: our article on clothes moths explains how to protect it.
Balaclavas, beanies and scarves are all on the women's balaclava page.
