FASHION

Capping it off

From baseball to Bangkok

Story by  Isabelle Joussemet

Famous rapper Nelly loves his baseball cap.

It's versatile, practical and oozes street style. Yes, it's the baseball cap. The baseball cap can be seen everywhere from the street to the movie screen, worn by celebrities and nobodies (that's you and me!) alike.

From its origin on the sports fields of America, the baseball cap has become an instant way of making a fashion statement depending on the logo or brand you wear. Stars such as Eminem, Nelly and Missy Elliot are rarely seen without a baseball cap. Closer to home, Thai stars such as Da Rim and the guys from Armchair wouldn't leave home without their favourite hats.

Suthinan Nanthamanop, a Bangkok market vendor explained the timelessness of the baseball cap. "A baseball cap is never in or out of fashion and can be worn by anyone of any age. Our customers are as diverse as the colours and brands that I sell. Fake brands can be found for as little as 50 baht while the real thing can cost anywhere up to 2,000 baht," she explained.

Even if you aren't the sportiest of people there's nothing stopping you looking the part by wearing a baseball cap. So it's hats off to the baseball cap!

Vocabulary

visor (n): curved piece of plastic, etc. worn on the head above the eyes to protect them from the sun
versatile (adj): having many different uses
practical (adj): useful or suitable
ooze (v): if somebody/something oozes a particular characteristic, quality, etc., they show it strongly
origin (n): point from which something starts; the cause of something
timelessness (n): not appearing to be affected by the passing of time or by changes in fashion
diverse (adj): very different from each other and of various kinds