Vancouver Trendz [THURSDAY]

Toque It To the Limit

Thursday, November 23, 2006

It's almost December and your ears are cold. What to do? There’s the headband option for Rambo wannabes. And some human beings do elect to wear ear muffs, but they must suffer the appropriate level of social isolation for doing so. The rest of us proudly wear toques, the headwear equivalent of singing "O Canada" all day long.

So what makes a good toque? Glad you asked. There are three qualities: warmth, not being itchy, and style.

Wool is the traditional toque choice. It's really warm. Plus, it's all-natural, which gives this headgear that rugged, 1970s hoser look that's really hip these days. Bob and Doug McKenzie, fashion icons? It's a strange world. Anyway, the down side with wool is that it's usually itchy, unless you splurge on high-quality or fleece-lined toques.

Another option is acrylic. It feels like wool, but can't quite do the things that real wool does. Kinda like how Kevin Federline dresses like a rap superstar, but actually raps like a monkey with a rhyming dictionary. Acrylic is less itchy, though. And an acrylic toque is cheaper, which means you won't cry when you lose it. Again, just like Kevin Federline.

As far as style goes, stripes are in. Big, bold primary colours or softer autumn tones, that part's up to your personal style. But go with stripes. Trust us. They're awesome.

You've got a lot of shopping options, too. We recommend starting with the following stores, which we've scouted out in advance so that you can find your toque in no time.

The Bay, 674 Granville Street, www.hbc.com

Comor Sports, 1090 West Georgia Street, www.comorsports.com

Eco Outdoor Sports, 792 Granville Street, www.ecooutdoorsports.com

Roots, 1001 Robson Street and Pacific Centre, www.canada.roots.com