The street style set during New York Fashion Week—which is diligently documented every season at Vogue, thanks to photographer Phil Oh—is the best place to spot what’s new and hot in fashion. Well-heeled showgoers will often step out for the collections in trending of-the-moment pieces (last season, for one, was all about the Martine Rose x Nike sneakers). This week, during the fall 2024 presentations, we’ve already seen VIPs sporting some seriously great outerwear, from khaki trenches to puffer coats. But there’s a more humble accessory that’s still proving to be the persisting crowd-favorite: A classic baseball cap.
Sometimes known as a “dad hat” or a “fitted,” the baseball cap—whether emblazoned with a Yankees or Dodgers logo—is one of this season’s most-worn accessory at the New York shows, and it doesn’t take a fashion degree to figure out why. The staple piece adds an effortlessness to just about any look; This season, we’ve seen it styled with everything from jeans and a varsity jacket (sporty!), to an overcoat with a collared shirt and tie (dressy!). Whether dressed up or down, the hat gives any outfit an instant cool factor.
Photographed by Phil Oh
It’s certainly not a new accessory in the street style rotation. Almost every season, classic caps make their rounds on the heads of showgoers, and their persisting presence is a real testament to how versatile and timeless they really are. Designers are catching onto this, too. This fall season, elevated cap styles made several cameos on the runways. At Coach, New York caps were clipped onto the label’s mini bags; Tommy Hilfiger’s gray wool styles featured the brand’s signature red, white, and blue logo. Intentionally or not, street style is clearly influencing the catwalks.
With just a few more days left of NYFW, we’re bound to see even more trends emerge from the street style scene. Maybe someone will even dare to wear the Rick Owens inflatable boots. But there’s something earnestly simple and unpretentious about the normy baseball cap and its staying power; After all these years, fashion people still love them—no matter how played out or popular they are. And in an industry that always prizes the new and the unique, the willingness to sport an accessory that makes you blend in is perhaps the most shocking trend of all.
