Saturday, March 01, 2008

The American Cap

Oh my! This blog is turning into a fashion opinion blog! Oh, well, since I've already started I can as well keep going. Today - American fashion phenomena, another day - Swedish fashion phenomena (there are tons of these too...).

So. What's up with the American mens' love for wearing baseball cap at all sorts of occasions. And I'm not talking about those thin haired/bald guys that actually need them for protection - those are excused.

If it's day time.

And it's sunny.

Sometimes you can see how "naked" some men feel after they've taken off this ever present accessory, and relax first once it's back on. Do these American men consider themselves having "bad hair days"? Or is it just one of those things that sort of becomes a tradition? A true American fashion statement?

If jeans with tapered legs is one way to spot an American (guy) outside the US, so is the baseball cap. They usually come in pair.

I don't mind caps at all (not in the way I do mind jeans with tapered legs...), I think it's kind of nice looking - for outdoor activities. But I'm really curious about this almost compulsory cap using behavior it's easy to sense here...

I found this website that went through all kinds of different aspects of a cap. I thought a baseball cap was just a... baseball cap. But oh no - it's way more complicated than that... There are several types of caps; fitted, adjustable, unstructured, visors, bucket. And there are a bunch of special terms to be used when talking about your type of hat; brim/bill, buckram, closure systems, embroidery, eyelets and panels.

Almost a science of its own.

The picture is from JCPenny's new"American Living" site which I wrote about the other day... it's supposed to be "American fashion" and sure enough - there it is - the happy dad in the happy American family is wearing - tada - a baseball cap!

7 comments:

Saltistjejen said...

Japp, man ser många kepsar....!
Hade däremot ingen aning om att detta verkar vara en hel vetenskap! ;-)
Men men man lär så länge man lever.. :-)
Jag har bara keps när jag springer eller gör andra out-door aktiviteter... Och då är det ingen basebollkeps...
Dock är kepsar en räddare i nöden när håret ser för jävligt ut, haha! ;-)

Ally said...

My mom and dad were so upset. We went out to dinner in Jan. for my grandma's birthday and my parents were wondering aloud when everyone started wearing baseball caps- indoors no less.

My dad is a former baseball player and he has never worn a cap as a fashion statement. To keep the sun out of his eyes when he plays golf or works around the house but that's it.

It use to be a class thing- more working class. It's less so now, you definitely see more men wearing them.

Petchie75 said...

Jag håller med som vanligt ;-) Jag var chockad i San Juan när vi var ute på en av de finare restaurangerna och de amerikanska turisterna hade shorts och basebollkeps på sig inomhus!! Det skulle man ALDRIG se i Europa - iaf inte på ett fint matställe..
Vår värd i SF är från Dom. Rep. och efter tre dagar här har jag bara lyckats se honom en gång utan keps och det var imorse när han steg upp, INNAN hans första badrumsbesök! 10 min senare var hans huvud täckt igen... Jag hade just undrat om han sov med den på ;-)
PS Jättekul att träffas idag!!

JaCal said...

Saltistjejen - nä - tänka sig så många olika det fanns! ;-) Jag har aldrig hittat något bra sätt att ha keps faktiskt. Får inte riktigt till det - tycker alla andra ser mycket coolare ut... ;-)

Ally - it seem to be less of an "accessory" and more like part of the outfit - like a belt sort of. And I guess, if you've been wearing one all day, you wouldn't want to take it off at night unless at home with no one to see. Even if you're a guy with short hair - cap wearing shows... I hope that's the explanation anyway. ;-)

Petra H - ja, det var jättekul att ses!! Nej, det är betydligt mer sällsynt med kepsar inomhus på restauranger. Haha - innan duschen... oj oj ... han måste verkligen ha en bad hair day! ;-)

svenburg said...

jag faller in i den förstnämnda kategorin - late 30-something med tunnt svenkt hår, men har alltid gillat baseballkepa, även innan jag flyttade till USA. mark väl, från att skarpt gilla kepa är det ett steg till att ständigt ha en på sig. här i dc kan man t.o.m. se män som har basebollkeps till kostym!? (t.om. kostym med fluga!)

JaCal said...

Psv - har en som du här hemma och har inget emot dem - bara som du säger det ständiga bärandet... som tycks bli beroende framkallande. Keps till kostym går heeeelt bort. ;-)

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