Core77

My face is freezing and design can't help me

By Rain Noe - December 15, 2010

in Object Culture

This morning in NYC, the "realfeel" temperature was an absurd 9 degrees Fahrenheit (that's about -12 for you Celsius-heads, and by that I mean the rest of the world). Coming back inside with my dogs, it felt like my face was going to fall off and shatter on the floor.

Thanks to bank robbers and their merciless fashion co-opting, I can't really wear a ski mask without some social repercussions. Ditto for bandannas and balaclavas thanks to mujaheddin and ninjas. I've poked around for ways to keep my face warm, but everything I find just looks frightening, like this ColdAvenger facemask:

You walk into any New York establishment wearing this thing and people will start lying down on the floor, holding their cell phones, jewelry and wallets up in the air while studiously examining the tiles. Can someone please design a friendly-looking face-warming device, or is the very nature of something that obscures your face an impossible design task?

Also, hint: Let's not put the word "Avenger" in the name and/or emblazon that on the side in white lettering.

o

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Gary

13 years ago

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Beardo is the best!! looks like a real beard (well almost!) But the cool thing is it is foldaway AND detachable.. such a good design! www.beardowear.ca they also give discount codes away on the facebook page all the time!
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Balder

14 years ago

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The Norwegian way: A scarf and some cold cream - your gf's "8 Hour Cream" will actually do the trick..
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Jennifer

14 years ago

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Beardo! Beardo! Beardo! I bought one for my boyfriend and it ROCKS!!! www.beardowear.ca
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Carlos

14 years ago

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A friend of mine is doing this, that i find quite cool: .............................Single piece "Gorro-Bufanda" (hat-scarf ?) with a button ..........................http://www.flickr.com/photos/mishimushibcn/5268382755/ ..................................http://img440.imageshack.us/i/76717795.jpg/
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Ken

14 years ago

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It was ether Cold Avenger or Nosecone of Wrongness.

I do think its rather ironic that the cold is in fact avenged, by making one look devoid of any style molecules whatsoever.
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Richard

14 years ago

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Minnesota, ha, you guys got nothing on Winnipeg. When I was working with concrete in the winters and it was down near -40, you just don't care what you look like. Though black matches every serious work jacket out there.

I'd never wear anything other than my black neoprene mask during regular work outside, I want that black color because it actually is warmer because of the sun on it, and that matters when it's that cold. Though all of these masks don't stand up in the cold if snowboarding or snowmobiling, for that you either go goggles and bandanna or helmet with a mask underneath that routes your breath out of the helmet.

Oh, and in the cold, stick with mittens, they're ten times warmer than gloves.
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James

14 years ago

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Get a plain balaclava and find a local airbrush artist.They can make a kick ass design for you.Just like the hockey goalie.
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mr

14 years ago

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move to chicago to become tough. then you'll realize 9 degrees isn't cold enough for your face to be cold.
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DaveHimslef

14 years ago

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In my 25 years as an NYC resident I have never... ever experienced cold that could not be tolerated for hours with a simple scarf and hat. Ever.
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matt

14 years ago

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Well, its friendly, bordering on goofy and ridiculous: http://www.beardhead.com/

too cute to be bankrobber balaclava:
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/09/from_russia_with_love_cabled_b.html

or you could try to pull off the board-style cap/balaclava:
http://www.zuzinno.com/products/Nobis-Trish-Balaclava-Beanie-Ski-Hat-Mole.html

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jz

14 years ago

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Wimpy city folk, come experience winter in Upsate! How about a good old fashioned scarf wrapped across your nose and mouth? That will take care of half your face anyway. Alternately, I usually rock a jacket with a giant hood trimmed in fake fur. The excess hoodage protects my face from the winds off the Great Lakes.
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Kley

14 years ago

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Hm. I'd agree. Offering it in a color other than 'ninja black' would be good.
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Willypilgrim

14 years ago

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Haha, 9 degrees "realfeal?" we don't even need gloves at 9 here in Minnesota ;)
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Paul Dax

14 years ago

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http://www.etsy.com/listing/62882142/crocheted-button-face-mask-beanie?ref=sr_gallery_22&ga_search_query=face+mask+winter&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes[0]=tags&includes[1]=title&filter[0]=handmade
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lucklucky

14 years ago

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Global Warming should have stopped this thing...
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Garrett Schubert

14 years ago

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It does have that menacing look to it, like the author said. People might assume your about to start throwing smoke grenades down and about to rob the place. That aside it does look like it will keep you warm and keep the elemnts out. After going to there web site http://www.talusoutdoor.com/ I now see it's 2 pieces I don't know if it's worth the price that they are selling them for.
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rukka

14 years ago

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could you get away with a CP company goggle jacket in the US or does the brand suffer from the same nagative hooligan association over there?
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SD

14 years ago

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thick woolly scarf wrapped around head, neck and up over nose. thick woolly hat pulled down to eyebrows. colour and pattern to be chosen accordingly.
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Chrizzle

14 years ago

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Just make the ski mask look like a panda... everybody loves pandas...
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Andy Brice

14 years ago

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Try the Polar Buff, it worked well for me when I went skiing, and comes in bright patterns for minimum sinisterness.
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andrew muir wood

14 years ago

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surely you've seen the beard head? all over the blogs last winter.
http://www.beardhead.com/
(i am in no way affiliated, but want one!)
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erik hedberg

14 years ago

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my friends in seattle make a nice mask.

http://www.spacecraftcollective.com/mens/headwear/masks

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Sch

14 years ago

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Maybe this beard-hat? http://vikprjonsdottir.com/product/the_beardcap_skegghufan
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Bart

14 years ago

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Have found Your answer last week on the Sideburn Blogspot.

Ask them if you can use it.

http://sideburnmag.blogspot.com/2010/12/hand-over-all-your-boiled-sweets.html
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Misha

14 years ago

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Some cold cream would surely help.
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peayq

14 years ago

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http://varlamov.me/img/fanati_manej/12.jpg 8)
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Nerdspeed

14 years ago

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This one's easy: I Made You a Beard!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/59585123/older-wiser-beard
...I worked a craft fair booth next to her once. Shes pretty cool, obviously. I would've made the link work, but I guess I'm not supposed to?
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Arild

14 years ago

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A good scarf pulled up over your nose should do the trick. Also there is this: http://www.buff.es/

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Nick Lee

14 years ago

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not quite a balaclava - but looks a LOT more friendly.
http://www.beardhead.com/
couple of minneapolis cycling winter-vikings have been riding the greenways with em.
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Jomy

14 years ago

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Design solution: Ski mask + Hello Kitty
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scott Hultgren

14 years ago

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Coal's Convertible beanie is great. I also did a version for outdoor research although it's looking a bit thug, especially with the glasses (hey, they're an outdoor company, what do you expect!)

http://www.wedesignandconquer.com/outdoor-research-2009-headwear-line/

awesome site / blog!
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Joe Rider

14 years ago

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I've actually been trying to prototype something like this in my free time, but mostly for a skiing application, so it might be overkill for the streets. Most products either look terrible or barely work. . May I suggest a beard or perhaps a scarf?
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Jody

14 years ago

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Why not ask the Buff people to make a balaclava, at least you'd have more than the mass murderer patterns from which to choose.
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Arturo Cuellar

14 years ago

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what about a ..... Beard! http://www.imadeyouabeard.com/2008/11/nuclear.html

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Mark

14 years ago

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Great post!

I'm no fashion designer, but i think if traditional balaclavas were made with a little more imagination - eg. cute styles for girls, funky dj styles for guys, another colour other than blakc or navy blue, and with some patterns, it could be a hit!

I think everyone wants to wear one for the comfort sake, just dont want to look like a criminal. I found myself wishing for one here in milan, where we had -10C yesterday morning!
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Aaron

14 years ago

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And then there's the too-creepy-for-words "Identity Preserving Balaclava" on Instructables:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Identity-Preserving-Balaclava-all-the-warmth-with/
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Aaron

14 years ago

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Not sure how warm it would be, but you could change from criminal-creepy to android-creepy with a "3D Portrait Mask":

http://www.thatsmyface.com/
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Callil

14 years ago

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Check out beard hats by various people on etsy!

http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_query=beard+hat&search_type=handmade&page=2

you could even take this on as a little side project :)
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Ryan

14 years ago

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http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Crochet-a-Mustache-Hat-Costume/
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Louis

14 years ago

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Getting the US to use SI would be solving a much bigger design problem.

Closer to the problem at hand, I think neck gaiters aren't too bad. Or just putting your scarf up to your nose. And when you get in, you just lower them to your neck, and you look fairly normal.
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Sam

14 years ago

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Beard hats on Etsy. There's some really great ones out there.
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Ken J

14 years ago

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http://www.etsy.com/listing/59655080/red-striped-bearded-beanie-sm
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hop

14 years ago

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Beard hat is the rational solution - http://www.thisblogrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/beard-knit-cap.jpg
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Kenneth

14 years ago

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I usually just wear a scarf, its quite colourful, so I don't look like I'm going to mug anybody, but really, I want one of these: http://beardo.bigcartel.com/

I know the beard tuque is kinda tacky, but this one seems well made and somehow less cheesy
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CD

14 years ago

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Check out COAL they have some nice headwear products. I have an old snoboarding hat with a fold away face mask that is extremely neat but it looks like they dont manufacture it anymore.
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Mike Chino

14 years ago

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Tadaaa!
http://www.beardhead.com/lumberjack.html
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pamela

14 years ago

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I was talking about this very thing last night. I want to wear a ski mask because my face gets really cold, but too much bad stigma attached. Makes me look like I'm up to no good. People would be concerned if not for the fact that that I'm a small framed 5'1" woman with pink gloves on :D
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Al

14 years ago

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I did see one example, forget where, for an identity-preserving ski mask with the wearer's face screen-printed on.

That said, one word. Scarf. Striped in colors of favorite football/rugby/Quidditch team, classic white aviator style, knitted-in QR code, pixel art, any variation you like. It's the official easiest textile project in the world.
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Peter Duke

14 years ago

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I believe this is what you are looking for.

http://www.beardowear.ca/

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lise

14 years ago

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how about those?
http://www.beardhead.com/
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Jay

14 years ago

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I dunno dude, I'd just go for the balaclava.
I wear one and nobody gives me looks on the train, or the street, or the office, or anywhere downtown.
You'll be fine.
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