Watch Your Cap

I’m a big fan of hats, all kinds of hats (except baseball caps), and rue the day, in my childhood, when American men decided leaving the house bare-headed was appropriate and proper etiquette for a gentleman. For those of us who live in parts of the planet that have four seasons, though, one of which can be brutally cold (at least for now, until all the polar caps melt), a fedora or newsboy hat, as elegant as they can be, don’t quite cut it in those months when warmth is the primary consideration, especially ’round the ears.

Watch caps, or beanies, then, are a favored if not essential accessory, but whether in cashmere, wool, cotton or synthetics, they can be boring and uninspiring. In recent years various designers have offered colorful caps, and the striped French fisherman classics are seemingly all the rage in New York these days, but Danish designers Norse Projects offer an incredibly soft merino wool cap that is thick, warmer than cashmere, and somehow sort of après ski elegant, no? For the ski itself, naturally, they offer virtually the same cap, but with a pom-pon (or pompon or pom pom or pom-pom, as you prefer). Wear it if you dare.

Labels: Fashion     permalink

11 thoughts on “Watch Your Cap

  1. With all due respect, sir, tomorrow morning we are going to experience here in Montreal, -40 F/ Celsius… so these trendy beanies just do not help.
    Other than that, you are clearly in my good books.

  2. I have a very unmanagable hair which means whenever I wear a hat (today for example) I’d have to spend 5 minutes in front of a mirror, after I take it off, to bring back my messy hair back to civilized world!

    Hooman, it’s about time you talk about hair products no? :)

    • Will get to hair, I promise! As for messy hair–yes, that happens with caps (or any hat, actually, unless you have a short cut or pomade the hell out of your locks). My feeling is that in this weather, messy hair is OK and forgivable–a quick run through with the fingers and you might just get that hipster “I fell out of bed” look down…

  3. The only problems with hats like this are what they do to your hair. I’m not vain, but anything more than ten minutes with a ski cap on leaves my head looking like I just woke up from hibernation.

  4. I just wanted to say how much I’ve been enjoying your site since I started reading a couple of months ago. It’s given me a fresh way to look at and think about fashion and design. I get a great sense of joy every time I see a new post on the site, because I’m quite sure that I will learn something new as I read the post. Thank you for taking the time to do this. It’s truly a great thing.

    PS I’m absolutely buying that hat soon. You made it sound too good to pass up.

    • Thanks, but you may have misunderstood me. I wasn’t implying that it is inappropriate to leave the house bareheaded today, just that it used to be. I like the idea, but of course it would be silly to revive the notion now.

  5. Mr Majd,

    I really enjoy your blog and look forward to every posting. You remind me of Cary Grant with your pursuit of elegance in all aspects of life! I also enjoy your unique political insights and have been meaning to ask your opinion on a current Iranian justice case, but I know that this is not the appropriate mode or forum. Looking forward to future posts, particularly (as already requested) a post on grooming.

    Best wishes,
    David C

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