Material World

A snowman at Davos yesterday. AFP/Getty Images

Reading the FT’s live blog from Davos as I sit warm in my hotel room in Paris (it is one of life’s cosmic jokes that Davos always coincides with that ultimate in 1 per cent consumer indulgence, couture), I was struck that among the debates on income inequality, critiques of Angela Merkel’s speech, and the growing concerns of the private equity folks about the end of their special tax status, one of the few topics everyone agreed on was the importance of hats.

Indeed, before the repercussions of George Soros’s lunchtime talk were analysed, his special hat was noted, and compared with the bigger furry hat of FT columnist Martin Wolf. Personally, however, I think both pale in comparison to the enormous furry gloves worn by Sir Martin Sorrell of WPP.

Martin Wolf as seen on CNBC

The accessory issue is interesting. I had a number of conversations with colleagues last week about what they were going to wear to Switzerland (our Mystery Shopper columnist wrote a piece about it, which is running this Saturday – I encourage you to check it out) and though everyone seemed to have sussed the need for snow boots, and the importance of a black trouser suit above all other garments when inside, no one mentioned hats. Clearly, that was an oversight.

Here’s the problem: though meetings and seminars and speeches may take place indoors, where the black trouser suit does, indeed, serve well, interviews, especially TV interviews that are broadcast all over the world, seem to take place outside, the better to have some snow-capped mountains in the backdrop. And outside, while your coat matters, actually it’s the hat and scarf that are the most visible (interviews tend to be largely done from the shoulders up) – plus, for anyone who talks with their hands, the gloves. Yet it’s the hat and scarf and gloves that are often the least considered part of any wardrobe. Oops.

Sir Martin, for example, also wore an eye-catching Crayola-bright striped scarf that when combined with his furry gloves made him look distractingly like a child’s teddy bear. Dennis Nally, chairman of PwC, had on some black leather gloves that probably seemed innocuous enough when he tossed them in his carry-on, but that in photos call to mind all sorts of associations with bad guys pulling on gloves so they don’t leave fingerprints – not exactly the image an executive wants to convey these days.

By contrast, the award for smartest outerwear thus far goes to Azim Premji, chairman of Wipro Ltd, whose red scarf was not only mediagenic and face-framing, nicely set off against a dark coat and suit, but was also looped with the sort of skill you see more often at menswear shows than economic forums. What other hidden talents does Mr Premji have?

The next few days will tell, I supposed, as well as treating us to some more choice headgear.