Beanies have long since been a staple item in counter culture attire. In the 1950s, James Dean and Marlon Brando made motorcycles, leather jackets, and nonchalance cool, and their devil-may-care attitude has had a lasting impact on men’s fashion and lifestyle. Today, the leather beanie is recognized as an essential element of the rough riding motorcyclist.

Beanies are a natural fit for rebellious youths that pays no heed to calls for conformity. Rather than regularly maintaining a clean-cut hairdo, you could easily disregard the merits of being tidy and put on a beanie.

The 1950s were a long time ago, though, and things have changed. Motorcycles and leather jackets are still stylish and edgy, but they no longer have the appeal of yesteryear. Instead, the hat of choice has shifted to the ever-popular baseball cap in the form of snap backs and flat bills. This is likely a result of the increasing ubiquity of hip hop and merchandising. One thing that remains the same is the ability to wear a cap instead of maintaining a sharp hair style – something all men should consider when in a time crunch before heading out to work.

If the baseball cap is not for you, which is often the case for large-headed gentlemen, there is reason to rejoice for the upcoming cold season. With the biting winter at our doorstep, we have the perfect reason to bundle up with wool accessories and heavy garb. While it would have been considered tacky or lazy to wear your True Religion skully hat on a daily basis for the rest of the year, you can do just that in the winter and nobody will bat an eye. Beanies are no longer strictly for the careless motorcyclist, they’re a comfortable and quick winter accessory.