Despite some saying that the recession is nearing an end, or even over… retailers are still hanging on for dear life.  The holiday shopping season is underway and it looks like it’s going to be a dark, dismal winter for the big box stores.  What they probably need is something new, desirable, and different, which could draw people in and get them to open their wallets.

And the Snood is the best they could come up with?

So what precisely is a snood?  Here’s the Wall Street Journal with an explanation:

This holiday season, retailers are betting big on the snood, a cross between a scarf and a hood that, when worn over the head, is reminiscent of a babushka.

If necessity is the mother of invention, then this recession just gave birth to a bulky, awkward looking head-snuggie.

But it’s a scarf that’s also a hood!

Right… put that right next to the blanket with arms in the basket of crap I’d never spend money on.

Yes it’s mainly for women, but Burberry has been pushing their version for men as well.  $295.00 for a piece of circular cashmere that you wrap around your head if you get cold.  I feel sorry for the retailers and their employees.  Because if this is the best they got, they’re in a hell of a lot of trouble.