SHSH trade group Ukrainian Wool Sauna Hat Embroidered Ornament Vyshyvanka (White-red)

The felt hat is the signature of the whole sauna-core look – and it is the one accessory that is practical first and pretty second. Heat collects under the ceiling, which is exactly where a head on the upper bench sits, and many people find the top bench easier to sit through with a layer of wool in between. This SHSH hat is 100% wool felt, 3 mm thick according to the maker, in a low bucket shape 6 in (15 cm) tall.

What sets it apart is the band: a cream stripe around dark brown felt, embroidered in red and black with a geometric vyshyvanka pattern, the traditional Ukrainian embroidery. In a room that is all pale wood and linen, that one line of red is the color the photo was missing. It is one size – 23.6 in (60 cm) around, US hat size 7 1/2 – and the listing says dry clean only in one place and washable in another, so treat it as dry clean.

Tip: Hang it on a hook outside the hot room between sessions – wool felt holds sweat, and a hat that dries between rounds stays fresh far longer than one left on the bench.