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TODAY'S BELOVEED ITEMS

Hat

A type of headwear. It serves to protect the head from temperature changes, falling objects, and other elements, and is broadly divided into two types: "hats" and "caps."

▶Related Q&A | Types of hats, your summer essential, and how to properly care for them

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The flat cap, whose prototype is believed to have appeared in the mid-19th century, was originally designed as a hat worn by British aristocrats when hunting .
Before the advent of the flat cap, it was common to use stiff, padded hats like top hats or bowler hats as helmets when hunting. However, the flat cap was more functional, softer, and more comfortable to wear, so it seems to have been very popular among hunters at the time.


Moreover, perhaps because they could be mass-produced cheaply, they gradually became popular among ordinary people, and by the beginning of the 20th century, the perception of the flat cap had shifted to that of a "symbol of the working class." The same was true for the newsboy cap.
For example, in the past in Europe and America, the flat cap was an iconic symbol representing shoe shiners and newspaper boys, and in Japan, it was the typical hat worn by apprentices (the character famous for wearing one in incense commercials also wore one). Lenin, who led the Russian Revolution to success, is also strongly associated with wearing a newsboy cap.

Furthermore, before World War II, flat caps and newsboy caps had a much larger "crown"—the part that covers the head—compared to today's caps. One theory suggests that the wartime shortage of materials forced a reduction in the amount of fabric available for hats, resulting in the current size, but the truth remains unknown...

Text by Takahiro Iino

Takahiro Iino: After graduating from university, he worked for a major steel manufacturer before becoming an independent fashion journalist and researcher. He writes about men's clothing in general, including dress shoes and suits, and discusses topics from the perspective of someone with business experience. He also teaches modern and contemporary fashion history at a vocational school and appears on and supervises television programs, making him a well-known figure in men's fashion in general. His books include "Enjoying Dress Shoes: From the First Step to Mastery," "Enjoying Dress Clothing: Choosing an Outfit That Suits Your Body and Mind" (Asahi Shimbun Publications), and "A Comprehensive Guide to Shoe Polishing and Care for Long-Lasting Shoes" (Ikeda Shoten).

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Photo: ISETAN MEN'S net
Text: Takahiro Iino

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