Putting Clothes On
Надевать is the verb for putting a garment ON. It takes a plain direct object — the thing you put on — and that is where beginners slip, because the near-identical одевать means to dress somebody ELSE.
Я *надеваю шапку. — I put my hat on. Мама одевает ребёнка.* — Mum dresses the child.
A garment goes with надевать; a person goes with одевать. Russians themselves mix these up, but the distinction is taught and expected.
| I put on my hat and scarf. | Я надеваю шапку и шарф. |
Things That Come in Pairs
Footwear and gloves are counted as pairs, and the plural is what you will almost always say:
| singular | plural | what it is |
|---|---|---|
| ботинок | ботинки | boots, sturdy shoes |
| туфля | туфли | smart shoes |
| сапог | сапоги | high boots |
| носок | носки | socks |
| перчатка | перчатки | gloves |
All five drop a vowel in the genitive plural — нет носков, нет перчаток, нет сапог. Сапог is the odd one: its genitive plural is bare сапог, with no ending at all.
| In winter I put on high boots. | Зимой я надеваю сапоги. |
Hats
Шапка is the warm winter hat; шляпа is the one with a brim. Russian keeps them strictly apart, and in a Russian winter it is шапка you will need.
| In winter you need a hat. | Зимой нужна шапка. |
