You will rarely catch Jay-Z, Fabolous, or LL Cool J without one. They come in different colors, sizes and designs, and most men have at least one; the fitted hat. Whether it's yielding a baseball team logo or initials of a hometown, a fitted hat is the "finishing touch" to a man's ensemble.
"I only have one" says Bowie McGilligan, a sophomore English major from Wisconsin. "But it goes with most of my outfits."
Although there are many components that make each hat different from the rest, there are basic elements that are highlighted: the brim, the size and most importantly, the logo.
"I wear a fitted mainly because I like to rep where I'm from," said Erick Vilson, a senior audio production major from New York, who owns about 40 fitted hats.
Sophomore biology major Martin Corniffe agrees. "All I wear are fitteds' that have the letter D on them cuz I'm from Detroit."
Fitted hats have been a trend within the fashion industry since the early 80's. Back then, the wild colors were in style and would be seen gracing the heads of young men at all angles including backwards and shifted to the side. Those trends have returned and have done so with a vengeance in today's fashion world.
Many of those interviewed reported that although they do agree that the logo on the hat is a vital component when shopping for one, it is not as important as its color scheme.
"If I am getting a hat, it must mean that I got an outfit to match it," said Robert Parker, junior marketing major from Tampa, Fla. "I like colors," Vilson said. "I always try to find a hat to match my sneakers."
Any design imagineable, from pin stripes to tie-dye, can be printed on a hat to enhance its wearers style and unique appeal.
But where do these young men find these hats?
"I personally go to New York to spots like 125th street in Harlem" Vilson said. The 'mom and pop' stores, like this one called "My Shirts" in Patterson, N.J., usually have the more exclusive hats. Stores like Footlocker and Champs are too main stream, so they only have the basics."
Graduate student Vincent Moorehead, who owns nearly 100 fitted hats, is rarely seen without wearing one.
"Last time I counted, I had about 80-something," Moorehead said. He says the only time he is not wearing one is if he is in the shower or wearing a suit.
He also shops at the more private and smaller boutiques on his search for the perfect hat.
"I get most of my hats from a store called Lids," he said.
The fitted hat is not a part of the "one size fits all" party.
It comes in different sizes unique to the particular size and shape of the wearers' head. The sizes start as small as six and go up to a size eight.
The way it fits depends on the wearers' likes and dislikes.
The average size for a man's head is 58 centimeters or a size fitting of 7 and 1/4.
Freshman electrical engineering major of Bowie, Md., Alix Martin wears this size and likes his fitteds to fit tight.
"I don't like them loose," he said. "I want it to fit."
On the contrary, Parker, who also wears a 7 and 1/4 likes to have a little breathing room. "It has to fall just above the eyebrows, slightly hug the back of the head, and barely sweep the forehead," he said with a smile. Most men like to have their fitted hats be a little big just for comfort and urban appeal.
Whether to flow with the color scheme of those brand new Jordans or to cover of the embarrassment of an overdue haircut, the fitted hat serves its purpose.
One basic understanding within the world of hats, is that one can never go wrong with an all blue Yankee fitted. "It's a classic," McGilligan said. "That is the only hat I have, and I'm not even from New York." From Rawlings, to the New Era 59/50, the fitted hat is a trend that will never go out of style.
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