This year the demand for snoods (¥¹¥Ì©`¥É), not to be confused with , has become so high among women that a department store in Okayama is experiencing a . In August the store stocked a range of over 500 snoods priced between ?5,000 to ?10,000, but supplies are already running low due to the high demand from female customers. reports that Daimaru department store in Marunouchi, Tokyo, is also doing a brisk trade in snoods, selling about 40 a week to a clientele of mature women aged 30 to 50. Both woolen and furry varieties are popular in a range of different lengths and all options tie in well with this year¡¯s trend for .

While the trend shows some resemblance to the snoods worn on last year¡¯s?,?what Japanese women are actually wearing is more of an evolved take on the classic snood. The , ready to be wrapped around the head or neck several times. What is known as a snood in the West is actually called a neck warmer (¥Í¥Ã¥¯¥¦¥©©`¥Þ©`) here, we know, it¡¯s super confusing!

Snoods are also popular with dogs but the canine snood is, again, different, being closer to an elasticated head-band used to keep long ears back when eating dinner, keeping dogs warm and as a cute fashion accessory when out for a walk. According to a pet store owner interviewed by , sales of snoods for dogs have quadrupled since dogs began to don the headgear three years ago. For a look at the range of styles on offer, check out the selection at . We especially dig this cute watermelon dog snood in the video above. Ahhhh kawaiii.