Earmuffs knock animal hats off their perch as top winter novelty trend

http://www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/2012/feb/10/earmuffs-winter-fashion-trend

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As temperatures continue to plummet, forecasters have issued an extreme fashion warning. Fluffy earmuffs, once a novelty item, have gone mainstream.

Earmuffs, from faux fur styles to sheepskin trimmed, are the latest in a series of surprise fashion trends to have taken inspiration from the weather. Designer wellingtons became a hit on the back of rainy summer festivals while furry trapper hats were to the 2010 big freeze what earmuffs have become to this latest cold snap.

John Lewis said sales of a £75 sheepskin and shearling pair by UGG had soared by 320% this week. Topshop, which sells crochet black floral earmuffs, notes sales are also up. Asos.com offers 14 styles, including snowflake designs, a £5 faux fur pair and its bestseller featuring a Fair Isle pattern.

"Earmuffs have taken over from animal hats as this year's headline novelty trend," said Melanie Rickey, fashion editor-at-large for Grazia. "There have also been a lot of bobble hats around but I think they've been pushed into the novelty trend runner-up spot."

Daisy Travis, women's accessories buyer at Asos, said earmuffs had been selling steadily since the end of last year. Their success is partly connected to the recession, she believes.

"Like those animal hats, earmuffs are a fun way to make a bit of a statement," Travis said. "It's a much easier and cheaper way to stand out than buying a £300 pair of shoes. Plus, I think people are getting the humour in fashion right now because there is so much doom and gloom elsewhere." Asos plans to introduce more styles later in the year.

"They're a playful alternative to a cashmere beanie or Cossack hat," said Amanda Scott, head of accessories buying at John Lewis. "Earmuffs promise not to give you hat hair and, in luxe shearling, are a chic alternative to last season's snood. Black sheepskin is proving most popular, while chestnut is also selling well."

Margaux Leemans, a 19-year-old student, bought a pair by UGG. She said they were worth the money because they were so warm. "I think more people are coming round to earmuffs because they're retro and practical," she said.

It's not just teenagers and women embracing the look. Rickey said: "The other day I saw a man in fleecy ones that went round the back of his head and I wouldn't have taken him for an earmuff wearer. They were quite no nonsense, as if perhaps he'd just got off a bike."

Muji, the Japanese unbranded high-street retailer, has been selling earmuffs for four winters, including a unisex option. Yann Baudrier, head of fashion merchandising at Muji UK, said that this "compact, pocketable and easy to carry around" style had been selling extremely well since before Christmas. They were the bestselling fashion gift in December and the second bestselling item across the entire business.

Earmuffs are not the only fashion items that keep your ears warm. Rickey said Urbanears' headphones that double as earmuffs were her "amazing winter revelation". "I bought a pair of black quilted Chanel-style ones. It's just logical. It's a two-for-one thing – you can keep your ears warm and listen to music."

The headphone trend has risen in parallel with the earmuffs. Statement headphones have taken over from the more discreet white earbuds associated with iPods as a status symbol. These oversized and colourful pieces of tech kit have been seen everywhere from east London to Milan's catwalks.

Rickey does issue a warning about the longevity of the earmuff trend, though: "The second it warms up, the trend will be over."