A familiar situation: you try on one beanie after another, eventually picking the one that "seems fine," only to notice an unwanted "mushroom" effect at home in the mirror — the headwear alters your facial proportions and looks completely different from what you wanted. Stylist Olena Shevchenko, whose Instagram post was featured by the Styler project (RBC-Ukraine), explains how to avoid this mistake and what to actually look at during a fitting, rather than just color and material.
Why face shape is not the main guide
The internet is full of advice to choose headwear based on face geometry: certain models for round faces, others for oval or elongated ones. However, according to Olena Shevchenko, face shape alone does not guarantee a successful choice: even with a conditionally ideal oval, a poor beanie fit can disrupt proportions. Therefore, you don't necessarily need to determine your face "type" during a fitting — it is much more important to evaluate three specific details: the volume of the beanie at the top, its fit on the head, and the width of the cuff. The main goal is not to "fix" the face with headwear, but to maintain a harmonious balance between them.
Top volume: How not to elongate the face
The first detail is the volume of the upper part of the beanie. The fluffier and higher the top, the longer the face may visually appear. If the face is elongated, the stylist advises looking at models that fit closer to the head without creating extra height; for a round or wide face, conversely, more voluminous options are appropriate. This is not a strict rule for everyone, but a guideline: you should look at the result in the mirror rather than how the model looks on a shelf or in a catalog.
Fit and forehead line
The second detail is the height where the beanie ends. Shevchenko suggests conventionally dividing the distance from the eyebrows to the hairline into three parts: in one option, the headwear should cover the upper third of the forehead, leaving most of it open. If you have wide cheekbones or a prominent jaw, it is better to choose models that fully open the forehead — a too-low fit visually adds width to the lower part of the face. It is more correct to place the edge of the beanie at the hairline rather than pulling it low down on the forehead, and check during the fitting whether the face looks shorter or wider than usual.
Cuff width
The third nuance is the width of the cuff. A wide cuff visually reduces the height of the face, while a narrow one creates the opposite effect and makes the face look longer. To find a model that looks harmonious on you specifically, the stylist recommends trying on several options with different cuff widths and comparing how the perception of the face changes in the mirror.
The main rule
The simple rule in the end is this: you shouldn't buy a beanie just because it's trendy or looks good on someone else. Evaluate the volume, fit, and cuff in the mirror — and choose the model that does not violate the natural proportions of your face. According to Olena Shevchenko, it is this approach that helps avoid the "mushroom" effect and makes headwear part of your look rather than ruining it.
