The Snood Goes Mainstream

In a recent posting on DoubleX, Lauren Moser discusses the retail phenomenon known as the "snood," a scarf-hood combo that has been selling particularly well as of late. When I first read this, I got excited. Finally, a fashion trend begun in the Orthodox community successfully crosses over into mainstream society. I'm now waiting for curly side locks to make an appearance in the men's fall fashion lines.

Here are a couple of images that accompanied the piece.



But as I scrolled through the slideshow, I became disappointed. These weren't pictures of the snoods of my youth. In the first, one strong gust of wind would've blown the so-called "snood" right off the woman's head, exposing her hair to the world. In the latter, she's not even wearing it on her head. She's wearing the "snood" as a striped, preppie necklace.

Having grown up in Brooklyn's Orthodox community, I saw a lot of a snoods and to me, they all looked like oversized socks that women wore to cover their heads.

They perfectly complimented the long, shapeless velvet Shabbos robes, many of which cost more than the dress I had worn to synagogue in the morning for services. I would've thought that sewing in a waist would have added to the price but what do I know? I am not a seamstress.

Anyway, the best pop culture explanation of the "snood" has been created by none other than the folks at the Daily Show. The segment embedded below is one of my all time favorites, dating all the way back to 2004. (Check out the hilarious "snood" reference at 1:55. And again at the very end.)

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
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