Caps

The cap is one of the oldest forms of headgear, with traces of use dating back to the 16th century in the United States and Europe, popularized by literary heroes such as Sherlock Holmes in the novels of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

What is the history of the cap?

In Ireland, the Irish cap, made of wool with a visor, was worn mainly by working-class men, farmers and the working classes in general, to protect their heads from bad weather and sunburn. Ireland even passed a law requiring all men except aristocrats to wear woollen caps, to boost the wool trade. The cap made its appearance a little later, in the 19th century, in the rest of Europe and in the United States. In France, literature adopted the codes of the cap as an object of protest and social struggle, with novelist Victor Hugo's gavroche character, and the famous titis parisiens, street children brilliantly illustrated by artist francisque poulbot. In the United States, the young boys who sell and distribute newspapers and shout out the news on the street wear caps, which quickly become their uniform, so newsboys can be recognized at a glance. Ehrhardt Koch, an American designer of German origin, was responsible for the democratization of the cap through his company, the New Era Cap Company. The cap was quickly adopted by men in physical occupations for which they had to be quickly recognized, and became an essential part of the uniform of deliverymen, train drivers, and the police and army, who also adopted this lighter, more practical accessory than the heavy helmets of the time.

The flat cap and the gavroche were gradually adopted by sportsmen too, with golfers on the green adopting them to protect themselves from the sun, pilots following suit and gradually the cap became universal. Yankees baseball player Babe Ruth popularized the peaked cap, which prevented him from being blinded by light during games in the 1930s. Today, the peaked cap is a mandatory piece of equipment for baseball players. The sports world has seized on this fashion accessory as a symbol of loyalty and support for their favorite teams. Players recognize each other and sign their belonging to a sporting community, thereby initiating a role for caps in all kinds of groups: musical, academic, etc. With a cap, you show your values, your support for your city or your country.

Today, caps come in a wide range of models, worn by men and women alike for a variety of modern looks:

- the Irish cap, with its 8 panels and short peak, is round and broad in shape

- the English cap has 6 sides, and is flat only on top

- the famous Gavroche, with its 8 sides, is bulging and voluminous, and can be worn in a variety of ways: on the side, in front or even backwards, for a touch of Italian mafioso from a 60s film!

- the Basque beret, an atypical fashion accessory from south-western France, with a small, straight top called a caillou

- the military cap, sleeker and shorter, recognizable by its flat cap on top

How to wear a cap with a woman's outfit?

Since the 2000s, when fashion designers adopted the codes of urban culture and hip-hop, the cap has become an accessory in its own right, to be worn outside of a sporting activity or a day at the beach. The cap goes well with strict wardrobe pieces: tailored pants, pants with clips, classic shirts. It breaks up the serious side of your look and adds a natural touch of casualness to your outfit.

• A chic look with a cap

A basic combination that's always a hit: high-waisted black tailored pants, a classic white shirt with lapel collar, a pair of black or studded white loafers and a plain black cap with loose hair for those with long hair.

• A girly urban look with a cap

It's the return of low-rise slim and skinny jeans, and while many women don't want to give up their high-waisted jeans, others have already given in to this comeback trend to create glowy, feminine looks. And what better way to combine wide-leg low-rise jeans than with an oversized crop top, a flashy plain cap and a mini handbag for a successful throwback to the 2000s!