CAP IT OFF
The unassuming logo-free baseball cap is the latest symbol of stealth luxury, writes Kathryn Neale.
I’m in Las Vegas right now and, because I find gambling boring, I need something else to do. We are staying at Wynn Hotel, and I noticed it has a separate floor for the high rollers. I stationed myself at a cocktail bar near the entrance to the VIP room, and contemplated the people walking in and out. How logo-laden are their ensembles?
That’s when I noticed the unassuming baseball cap. At least half the men who walked out of the room were wearing one. Is it a tool to hide your face from a “tell” in a high stakes poker game? Or is the baseball hat this summer’s bucket hat? The defining feature of them is that they are logoless. The casino lobby boasts plenty of classic American baseball caps with sports teams, fishing stores and political slogans galore.
The baseball caps in the high rollers’ room are are quiet. They say “don’t notice me” which, of course, makes me notice.
I was watching HBO’s epic family drama
Succession later that night when I noticed it again. Kendall Roy (played by Jeremy Strong), the ultimate prodigal son, is wearing a logo-free baseball cap. He wears it with a suit as he comes for his father’s media empire.
A little online sleuthing revealed Kendall’s hat to be from Loro Piana, priced at $465. Costume designer Michelle Matland nails the wardrobe of the uber wealthy on the show. The biting dialogue may be a highlight for most viewers, but I watch for the stealth subtlety of luxury clothes.
Baseball caps always make me think of Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1990s. They seem too obvious to seriously help people go unnoticed. But a Google search of tech billionaires proves that not only is a baseball hat and suit a real look, but they must offer a layer of anonymity. Tech moguls from
Elon Musk to Jack Dorsey are photographed sporting them as they exit private planes. So what fabric should you go with: cotton twill, washed denim or crushed corduroy? Here’s my advice on how to wear them with the panache of a media mogul.
Finance bro Wear your logo-free baseball cap with a suit. Drop the tie completely, the hat is what keeps the look modern.
Date night Worn with dress pants and an expensive shirt, this is a classically understated look for a first date. It will exude confidence and sex appeal.
Weekend warrior If you are just running errands in the city, pair your baseball cap with a lightweight knit. Crew neck or short V-neck both work. You can even pair it with jeans and sneakers, just keep it clean and crisp.