Russian Hats for Christmas Gifts
In a romanticized view of the Russian winter, you can hear the sound of troika bells, feel warm hands tucked into a fur muff and try to read the eyes peeking out beneath the fur of a Russian fox hat. In the extreme cold of Russia, and with muses like the Cossacks, Russian hat makers know how to transform fur and leather into fashion. For a warm and romantically inspired Christmas gift, consider the artistry of a Russian hat.
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Russian Fox
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A fox-lined ushanka with flaps down If you fancy Russian fox, chose from red, black, blue, silver or polar at prices between $270 and $450 in 2011. A woman's hat that encircles the head has a crown of either leather or fur. The ushanka or trooper hat has ear flaps to tie on top of the crown or wear down. If you prefer a fox hat with a tail, a unisex ushanka adjusts to the wearer's head size.
Astrakhans
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Astrakhan refers to the curly Persian lamb used to make a variety of hat styles, with 2011 prices ranging from $160 to $230. Leonid Brezhnev wore the Gogol style, named for writer Nikolai Gogol. It has flat sides similar to an American army hat. The Gorbachev or diplomat style resembles the Gogol and has an extra layer of fur that wraps around the hat. A Cuban' Cossack, named for the Cuban' River, has a round crown and tall straight sides. Astrakhans come in gray, black, brown and white.
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Mink
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Luxurious mink, when used in a Russian hat, has a luxurious price tag. If you prefer to think mink, plan to spend between $420 and $550 for a Russian mink hat. Choose from a women's brimmed cap, rare black mink men's or women's ushanka and a men's diplomat style. (See Resources 4 and 5.)
Leather
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Wrap up a Russian leather cap for Christmas. Russian leather caps have more casual looks and less luxurious prices than fur hats. The Luzhkov cap, worn by long-time Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov, resembles a coaster cap with the crown that extends over the brim and attaches in front. Lenin's cap has a front brim, slightly raised sides, and a low flat crown that overhangs the sides. (See Resources 1.) The Austrian-style winter cap has a tall, flat-topped crown, front brim and fur ear flaps that fold down. (See Resources 2.) The Russian ushanka also comes in leather. In 2011, prices for leather hats vary between $50 and $130.
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References
Resources
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