Are Snapbacks Still The Most Popular Hat?
IT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU TO KNOW THAT SNAPBACKS ARE STILL THE MOST POPULAR HAT STYLE. THE CASUAL CAP HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME AND IS ONE OF THIS YEAR’S MUST-HAVE TRENDS.
WHY ARE SNAPBACKS SO POPULAR?
A common misconception surrounding the history of the snapback is the decade it originates from. Whilst most people associate the snapback with the nineties rap music scene, it actually originated in nineteen-fifties baseball culture.
After initially being worn by the Brooklyn Excelsiors in 1958, the snapback was in high demand and hat-makers were keen to capitalize off the new hat design. Four decades on, in the nineteen-nineties, the snapback returned and became one of the fashion trends that defined the decade. This time, it wasn’t baseball players, but rap and hip-hop performers popularising the snapback.
This rich history doesn’t mean the snapback hasn’t faced significant competition. The most notable being its nineties rival, the bucket hat. In the last few years, the popularity of the bucket hat has soared. Alongside the bucket hat, the humble knit beanie and the Parisian beret have also been worthy contenders.
It’s clear that the popularity of the snapback continuously wavers, and is closely linked to prevalent hairstyles.
Despite these fluctuations, the snapback keeps returning and gaining mass popularity as a fashion trend every few years. As a leading hat retailer, we’re constantly asking ourselves what it is that makes the snapback so popular? Is it the rich history or simply how easy the cap is to style?
SNAPBACKS AND POPULAR CULTURE
As we’ve briefly outlined, snapbacks have a fascinating cultural history. This history dates back to the nineteen-fifties when the Brooklyn baseball team debuted the style, to more familiar (and more hilarious) styling from actor and icon Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Smith and other hip-hop icons of the nineties made snapbacks one of the most iconic fashion accessories of the decade. It was here that the snapback became the trendy street-style accessory we associate it with today.
In the nineties, as in the modern-day, the snapback is more at home when styled with a graphic tee, baggy jeans, and sneakers. Attend any skate park or hip-hop show, and you’ll encounter a sea of caps and the cool yet casual outfits associated with them.
WHO’S STILL STYLING THE SNAPBACK?
The snapback isn’t solely a male fashion accessory. Supermodel, Gigi Hadid, proved that ladies can rock the look just as well. In 2019 the American supermodel greeted Paris fashion week wearing a Louis Vuitton cap and an oversized white suit.
One sports-style icon that can’t get enough of the snapback is David Beckham. The 45-year-old ex-footballer regularly showcases an extensive hat collection, with snapbacks often featuring heavily. Unsurprisingly, Beckham tends to pair his hat with a luxury sportswear ensemble. With timeless style icons like Beckham wearing high-end and custom snapbacks, it’s unsurprising the snapback is still so popular.
Another celeb famous for his extensive hat collection is Chance The Rapper. Chancelor Johnathan Bennett, otherwise known by his stage name, Chance The Rapper, is always sporting a snapback. Over the years, Chance has established a signature look: the world-famous rapper and hip-hop star keep it casual in a white tee, denim jeans, and his signature number three snapback. Chance’s look is easy to replicate from your existing wardrobe, and with a custom-made snapback with your own design on it, you’ll have nailed his look easily.