The Cap Faction

[GregNYC]

You guys have got me thinking about caps! I've never worn one. The closest I've come was my black beret in the Army while I was Intel with the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell back in the 1970s.

But I've got my eye on a few customs from the talented makers here. I'd love a leather sweat band! Towards that end, I went and bought a few retail, to see if I really like caps, whether they suit me, look good on me. I certainly like the comfort. I can go to a movie theater, sit back in the seat and not have to take my hat off (that won't work with a fedora). I might be able to wear a cap with my A-2s and G-1s.

So anyway, what do you think?

Tweed Newsboy by Stetson




"Gatsby" by Hanna. It seems a bit big and poofy on my head, and doesn't look as good looking at myself as this style looks on others. I think I just need to get used to it. I was tending to pull it to one side, like one does with military berets. How would this look good on me, if at all? I would like your advice!

 

[dh66]

Looks good Greg! I like 'em both, great fabric on 'em. I like the casualness of the Hanna on you, maybe roll that brim a little to go with the flop.

 

[GregNYC]

Yeah that's a stiff brim. I was rolling it, but it kept snapping back. I'll work with it some more. It took us 3 days of wetting and shaping to get our Army berets into form, get rid of their natural atomic bomb shape. Thanks!


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[Zombie_61]

Looks good Greg! I like 'em both, great fabric on 'em. I like the casualness of the Hanna on you, maybe roll that brim a little to go with the flop.

Gotta' agree with Dale here. They both look good on you, but the Hanna laid over to the side has more of a casual look with a hint of attitude (but in a good way).

 

[1mach1]

Nice ones, Greg! I like them both as well. Hanna is more casual as stated above, but no loss of looks!!

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

"Gatsby" by Hanna. It seems a bit big and poofy on my head, and doesn't look as good looking at myself as this style looks on others. I think I just need to get used to it. I was tending to pull it to one side, like one does with military berets. How would this look good on me, if at all? I would like your advice!

The size is not the problem but the construction and fabric. I think capmakers like Cordova, Simonds, Monsivais can make you caps that are as big but not poofy. They will look different (better!) on you.
I think caps suit you. Go for it!

 

[GregNYC]

Thanks Zombie, Harv! Flatfoot, that's just what I had in mind - those retail caps as a test run - do caps suit me? I now know enough to go ahead and contact a custom maker. I was actually thinking of the three you mentioned!

 

[seabass]

With the cooler weather coming upon us Caps do end up being quite convenient.

GregNYC
With caps you can end up with a ton of forget me not's as they store EZ
FlatFootFloey has a point better to have 1 or 2 well made than a ton of caps that just don't cut it
Major difference modern factory made verses Bespoke
yea not cheep but when I look at the tons of caps I wasted good coin on & compare em to the bespokes
man I could have a great collection by our Bespoke guys & saved some good cash in the long run

the 2 you have on are nice but your ready for the real deal as you look good in em
I'm a ex Lower East Side Boy myself & would be proud to sport a bespoke in NYC.

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Yes! I did the same. A few years ago I bought several modern tweed caps. I never wear them anymore since the custom stuff is much better. The small caps feel funny now. You'll get used to them very fast.

 

[Rudie]

Amen.

 

[GregNYC]

Thanks Che, Harv, Flatfoot, Rudie! I've begun to make contact! There are a few patterns I have in mind, and we'll see where it goes from here!

Che, thanks for making those Cordova videos! BTW, I grew up in the Los Angeles area, and later on I was stationed at Defense Language Institute back in the 70s. I think I'd be proud to wear a bespoke cap around NYC too!

I looked around at headgear in Manhattan yesterday, walking around the city. The most common headgear is the ballcap. But second most common is the flat cap. Like Che said in his videos, you can't find the older shapes anywhere. Tweed, yes. But the shapes are sort of amorphous shape, something I associate with the Kangol style.

The two retail caps I purchased at J.J. Hat Center. I had asked for something with a leather sweatband. You know what they said? That no manufacturer has made flat caps with leather sweatbands for 15-20 years! So that is another excellent reason to go custom. I'm glad that there are talented makers here! And I really appreciate the combined knowledge and encouragement from my fellow lounge members as well!

 

[seabass]

GregNYC
Good descript of modern caps 'amorphous shape'
My younger brother is a rock star & gets freebies from Kangol & Addidas , is it safe to say a NYC thing ?
any way he throws a few my way & I throws em away !

Those cap videos still playing around ? Glad they were useful .
Yea you will sure sharpen the Borough of Manhattan in a bespoke cap,

 

[GregNYC]

Lol, those modern caps - I can't tell if they're wearing 'em forwards or backwards!


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[Stuffsmith]

Blackthorn, I'll chime in to agree that you've got a great cap there! Isn't it amazing what top craftsmanship Johnny delivers.

GregNYC, you look great with your cap! You do need to get used to a larger cap, but once you do, it's hard to see smaller ones on! It's ruined me for all my more modern caps.

While it does look good off to one side, perhaps try not to drape it so much that it flops beret-style down below the band - although it is of course personal taste, I think it detracts from the structure of the cap.

Keep on rockin the look, it's a great alternative to fedoras!

 

[GregNYC]

Thanks for your advice, Stuff! After the photo I took, I played around with a more symmetrical shape. I actually liked it better. I'll do some photos later!

 

[GregNYC]

I've placed a custom order with three makers - Barry Simonds, Johnnie Cordova and Damian Monsivais. I can hardly wait! I mean - leather sweatbands!!! The grossgrain of my retail caps does itch my head a bit. You guys have got me really liking caps!

 

[Stuffsmith]

Well done, my friend - I think you'll be blown away by the quality and variety these three guys can provide. Be sure to post noggin shots when they arrive!

 

[Blackthorn]

I've placed a custom order with three makers - Barry Simonds, Johnnie Cordova and Damian Monsivais. I can hardly wait! I mean - leather sweatbands!!! The grossgrain of my retail caps does itch my head a bit. You guys have got me really liking caps!

It is contagious.

 

[Two Types]

It is contagious.

Yep, once I got a custom cap on my head all my moden caps were abandoned. The capmakers here are real stars!

 

[GregNYC]

Yeah, I'm thinking, once I get my size dialed in, I can order lots of different fabrics, colors, etc.

In anticipation of their arrival, another shot of my Hanna Gatsby ...

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