Hand muffs in any era

by Rachel Pugh
Weekender General Manager
Times Leader Director of Community Relations

The days of boring mittens are over. If you live in an area where snowfall is common, the facts are the facts: Exposed hands will get cold. Since frostbite is never a cool thing (no pun intended), best to stay bundled up and keep your phalanges toasty.

If you’re feeling more Victorian, try a different look. Tote the muff. Whether you choose faux fur or authentic fox, you can be certain that a muff will keep you warm while making you appear ultra-formal. Don’t get nervous. You don’t have to be in a ball gown in order to pull off a hand muff. It is not 1890. Live a little and go to your next martini night with the girls with a hand muff. You can wear jeans with a pair of heels, a wool capelet and a muff. It’s not as easy to store since you can’t fold it up and squeeze it in your pocket, but fashion often means sacrifice. And if you can keep your eye on your purse, you can certainly maintain a hand muff for the evening.

Best to keep the hand muff secured on your wrist once inside an establishment. I suggest not putting it on the bar — someone could spill a drink on it — and never place in next to your chair on the floor, someone might try to shoo it out of the place or call the health inspector.

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