The Case for Caps
Juliet et al.
A little bit ago, when the weather was starting to turn, I was trying figure out what Thee Winter Hat is this year. I’m talking a realistic everyday option that will let the other patrons of Williamsburg know that I’m cool and With It.
I’ve been wearing a very standard black cashmere beanie that I’ve had for years, and it’s fine and “classic,” a wardrobe staple if you will, but it’s unremarkable and feels a little bit… I don’t know, sk8r girl. We’re over the Carhartt beanie, over the teeny fisherman beanie, the girls are trying to make cossack hats happen but it’s really not for me, and I love a beret and believe someday they’ll be back but they haven’t quite made it yet. If you ask me the balaclava is decidedly done and dusted as of 2023 and I am indeed full of rage at The New York Times declaring that it’s the year of the bonnet when I already crocheted myself a little elfin bonnet in 2021 and got over it. Wasn’t cool when I was doing it! Now look! (so what if I pulled it out and wore it to Trader Joe’s today and got a lot of positive attention and I love attention).
So all this has been bouncing around in my mind and really nothing has made made me feel excited except… for one little idea, one little concept as yet uncharted. The cap.
Firstly, a cap is not a bonnet. If it has strings that wrap under the chin, it’s out. Not a cap. I’ve always been partial to a juliet veil for bridal, but it was for sure the Bode caps that got my wheels turning on the casual use of a cap because Bode can bring back a vintage trend like no other. Caps have had their moments before, namely on 20-30’s brides then crocheted in the 70’s and again in the 90’s, so in the cycle of things a revival is on schedule.
Recent incidents include a cool looking girl I saw at a party wearing one, this cute Copenhagen street style moment, and Lady Gaga wearing what is most certainly a beanie but is pretty cap adjacent at the Grammy’s.
I do also suspect the wide black headwrap is conditioning us to accept the concept of a tight fitting cap, but the girls are gonna have to un-slick back their buns if it’s gonna happen and who knows if they can handle that. I have illustrated these points below:
A cap is essentially useless and that’s what I love about it, but that’s also the thing that makes it hard to pull off. A juliet cap or a little delicately crocheted beanie is notttt keeping anyone warm, so while you can defend a silly balaclava or a bonnet for their inherent functions, the cap is quite plainly a vanity accessory. Sure you can say a lot if not most accessories are useless, but an accessory that serves no purpose and is not (yet) trending is a harder sell.
All that said, I’m feeling it and I’m personally just gonna once again re-learn how to crochet so I can make myself one. If you’re feeling it too or are just up for a project, I’ve gathered my favorite cap & pattern options in the cap shop for you:
Ok love you bye!
Totally onto something.