It’s not just a question of style.
Fashion is governed by numerous explicit and implicit rules, which do not always meet aesthetic imperatives. Some of them serve a very specific function: practicality, ergonomics, warmth; because yes, fashion is not just futile. And it shows in the smallest details of a garment. On parkas with (fake or real) fur hoods, for example, said fur outline fulfills a function that is as obvious as it is banal: to protect us from the cold. But while most people just pull the hood over their head and leave the fur as is, recently an Internet user created a worldwide buzz by claiming that in reality, everyone was wearing it wrong.
According to Jessica Alzamora, the fur should be tucked inside the receptacle, because the fur contour “is not intended to be stylish, but functional.” So, “it covers your ears (…), prevents air from getting inside, and it keeps you much warmer.” It was enough to stir up the internet. Internet users realize their ignorance and generously thank the content creator. If her point seems logical at first glance, in reality, the latter is wrong.
The fur trim is always worn on the outside of the hood and not tucked in – according to the Inuit. Scientists explain that placed in this way, said fur creates a protective barrier against the cold before it can reach the face, and drastically reduces heat transfer. A design largely inspired by the outfits of the Eskimos and Inuit, who have the “most effective clothing against the cold developed to date” according to these same researchers.
When the wind blows towards the face, the friction created with the fur causes the molecules to collide close to the skin, forming a “protective layer” without any drafts – a kind of microclimate in its own right. This configuration prevents the air from your breathing from reaching and freezing the eyelashes and face.
When the fur is long, the hairs are asymmetrical, as irregular as the “breakthroughs of the sun’s rays”this changes the way air blows around the face, maximizing this protective layer that insulates the skin. Certain types of fur – like that of Wolverine – even prevent the formation of ice crystals in extreme cold.
An observation confirmed by a weather reporter working for the Canadian channel Weather Network. So think twice before tucking your fur inside your hood.
