For those who don’t wear caps of any kind, the difference between a baseball cap and a dad cap might not be very clear. As summer progresses, caps with visors seem to have regained popularity, even surpassing the beloved bucket hat. According to The Guardian, since the beginning of this year, it has become one of the most popular accessories for women. Rihanna, J-Lo, and later, Glastonbury have all endorsed it as the accessory of the summer. The Guardian also reports that since March, searches for baseball caps on Depop have increased by 22%—thus, vintage and second-hand options are now in vogue. We will discuss the characteristics that distinguish the dad cap from the baseball cap, how a cap with a visor can change any look, and which ones are our favorites.
The Difference Between a Baseball Cap and a Dad Cap
A baseball cap refers to a wide range of caps with visors, whereas the dad hat, traditionally worn by dads in many sporty looks, is a less structured version. It is a sort of relaxed fit as opposed to the more rigid lines of caps worn in the hip-hop and trap scenes. Essentially, a baseball cap consists of five or six rigid panels along with a structured front panel and a stiff, curved visor. The dad hat, on the other hand, has six panels with unstructured front panels and a very loose visor.
We ordinary folks who don’t need to dodge paparazzi can wear any cap with a visor to protect ourselves from the sun, to tone down formal looks, or as the finishing touch to a sporty outfit. Some prefer it to hide those days when we don’t like our hair—the so-called bad hair days—or simply to follow the trend. Versatility is another aspect not to be underestimated, given the variety of contexts in which it can be worn. Ultimately, we are talking about an accessory that has now become a true fashion statement and not just something functional to casually add to our looks.
Our Favorite Baseball Caps
While you can find all kinds of caps on Vinted (and the results will surely entertain you), the most popular ones, as we mentioned earlier, are the vintage ones. Ralph Lauren, Nike, or even some rather anonymous no-brand options remain excellent yet simple choices for this accessory. As for more playful alternatives with slogans and writings, the parallel with our beloved Slogan Tees is almost immediate. Wearing a message (even on your head) remains one of the most relevant trends this year.
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The most iconic baseball hats are undoubtedly those from New Era, specifically the 9TWENTY line—the unstructured hats line—which in their new campaign focuses on revisiting the dad cap. All of this includes the classic logos on the front, the flag on the left side in collaboration with the MLB—the Major League Baseball. Among the caps we like the most are the Rambler Flame Camp Hat by Golf Wang (Tyler The Creator’s brand), those from Discoteca Italiana—consistent with the theme of the latest selection we made in The Checklist—and among the many from Carhartt WIP, this is definitely our favorite.
