The newsboy cap has come a very long way.
A Newsboy Hat's Journey: From Newsies to Mario and Beyond
The Journey Begins:
Long before Mario and Luigi donned their iconic newsboy hat it had quite a history. The newsboy and Gatsby style hat is very similar to a flat cap. It is also known as a baker boy, Apple, eight quarter, or cabbie. It has the same overall shape and a stiff peak like a flat cap but the body is rounder and fuller. Newsboy and Gatsby style hats are also paneled with a button on top as well as a button attaching the front to the brim. The newsboy hat at first was synonymous with the early news boys that sold newspapers on the street corner. The newsboy hat was associated with the young boys who sold newspapers but they were not the only ones that adopted this hat style. The hat was worn all throughout North America in the late 19th and 20th century by both boys as well as adult men. The newsboy cap was loved by all people and all classes, especially the “lower class.” Many early photographs from this time period depict someone wearing this classic hat style. Just like wearing a baseball cap did not mean that you were a necessarily a baseball player, the same was true that just because you wore a newsboy cap did not make you a news boy. The news boys might have helped this hat style grow in popularity but this hat was soon worn by other professionals such as dock workers, high steel workers, farmers, artisans, beggars, and other professions. This hat style began with the lower class but was soon adopted into the upper class as well. What started as a simple inexpensive hat style eventually led to construction of higher quality caps. These were worn by the upper classes for use in their leisure activities like golf. F. Scott Fitzgerald was the author of a popular book called the Great Gatsby. One of the characters was Jay Gatsby. The novel was so popular that a new style of hat was born. The hat became known as a Gatsby style cap. This has is similar to the flat cap style but is simpler featuring a more pronounced bill. Nowadays you will be hard pressed to not see hundreds of newsboy style Mario hats on costumes all across the country.
The Evolution of Style
The newsboy cap is a hat style that not even the hipsters can ruin. A newsboy hat or Gatsby style hat can be found today is many styles, colors and designs. These caps have been referred to as baker boy, golf cap, cabbie, or driving caps. All these styles maintain that same classic design but add tweaks for both style and comfort. Gatsby cap, ascot, Apple, and 8 quarter styles remain popular to this day. Not many people have heard of this hat style but the ones that love it are very passionate about it. It has been one of the most popular hats for men in the last decade.
Modern History:
The newsboy and Gatsby cap style has been around for over a century now. The style has changed and evolved while also staying true to the integrity of the original design. It has graced the heads of early news boys, factory workers, farmers, beggars and artisans. It has been popularized by famous literary characters. It has evolved from being a cap worn by the lower class, to becoming a very popular hat of the affluent upper class. The newsboy and Gatsby style cap will continue to evolve in both style and function. We will continue to be on the cutting edge of current hat styles and trends. This hat has been around for over a hundred years and newsboy, Gatsby and other flat cap styles will be around for another hundred years. Believe it or not but Mario has been around since 1981 years and his iconic red cotton elastic newsboy hat is still worn as a Halloween costume every year, now that's staying power. Mario isn't the only one having all the fun, his slightly younger brother Luigi, created in 1983 has his own iconic green cotton elastic newsboy hat.
Hat Care:
These 5 tools will become your cap's best friend.This is a delicate hat style and as such requires delicate care. Look for a soft bristle brush to help you delicately remove stubborn stains. Be sure to use circular patterns when cleaning you hat to gently remove dirt and stains. Try to not get your cap overly wet and if you hat becomes wet simply shake off the excess water and let air-dry. Using these tips as well as the ones listed below you will be sure to keep your hat looking stunning for years to come
Here are some common hat care tips:
- Every hat will develop its own personality and style with time. Small marks on the hat are all part of the hats life cycle and only add to its authenticity.
- All hats can be treated with a waterproof spray if necessary
- Some hats might shrink if they are exposed to high heat, or left out exposed to sunlight
- A stiff brim allows your hat to be shape the way that you would like, but some hats feature a flexible brim that allows the hat to be crushed.
- If you do not have a hat form, place the hat on a bowl while it dries to keep its form.
- The dishwasher is another viable option for washing a hat but can sometimes fade the colors of the hat,
- Dry cleaning is also a cheap and effective way to keep your hat clean
- If you are completely lost about hat care check the tag to find washing instructions