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Newsboy cap

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Eight-paneled caps in various colors
Newsboys inSt. Louis,USA, 1910

Thenewsboy cap,newsie cap,orbaker boy hat(British) is a casual-wearcapsimilar in style to theflat cap.

It has a similar overall shape and stiff peak (visor) in front as aflat cap,but the body of the cap is rounder, made of eight pieces, fuller, and paneled with a button on top, and often with a button attaching the front to the brim (as the flat cap sometimes has).

History[edit]

Ironworkers wearing newsboy caps in the famousLunch atop a Skyscraperpicture, 1932

The style was popular in Europe and North America in the early 20th century among both boys and adult men. As the name suggests, this headwear was predominately worn by working-class boys, especiallynewspaper boys.The style was also preferred by the middle-class businessmen who disliked the bulkiness oftop hats,also popular at the time.

Flat caps were very common for North American and European men and boys of all classes during the early 20th century and were especially prevalent during the 1910s and 1920s, particularly among the working "lower" classes. A great many photographs of the period show these caps worn not only by newsboys, but by dockworkers, high steel workers, shipwrights,costermongers,farmers,beggars,bandits,artisans, and tradesmen of many types. This is also well attested in novels and films of this period and just after. Eight-piece style caps are essentially an offshoot of a Scottishtam o' shanter.[citation needed]

While they were worn by boys and men of all social classes, they were worn by the "upper" classes primarily for leisure activities, and the style became associated with well-to-do country sportsmen, drivers, and wealthy golfers.

Resurgence[edit]

AC/DC singerBrian Johnson
Woman wearing a newsboy cap

Although traditionally a men's cap, it has recently seen a resurgence as it has become popular with affluent women and fashion houses in the 2000s. It has also become popular among thehipstersubculture. Baker boy hats are now seen in many high street retailers. For summer, many girls and women are choosing soft cotton options as the brim offers sun protection. In winter, wool blend baker boy hats are a popular option for those who want to wear a natural material. In 2011, floral cottons are the current trend following a renewed interest in home sewing.[1]

Roots Canadaoutfitted the Canadian Olympic team at the1998 Winter OlympicsinNagano,Japan.The outfit's most popular item was the red "poorboy" cap (or poor boy cap), worn backwards.

Harry Hibbs,aNewfoundlandaccordionist, wore this style of hat as his trademark headgear.Brian Johnsonof the rock bandAC/DCis frequently photographed wearing this style of hat. AthleteDavid Beckhamis frequently photographed wearing his signature baker boy hat fromJames Lock & Co.[2]WWESami Zaynwears this style of hat.Impractical Jokers'sBrian Quinn commonly wears this style of hat in many of episodes. The hat is worn by the Shelby family and their associates in the British TV seriesPeaky Blinders.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Home Sewing Renaissance".Woman's Hour.BBC Radio 4,February 3, 2009.
  2. ^"David Beckham Wears Lock & Co Hatters Cap And Saint Laurent Boots in NYC".upscalehype.com.RetrievedDecember 28,2017.

External links[edit]

  • Boys' flat capsHistorical Boys' Clothing website. American Newsie caps were one of many names for the flat cap.