Caps 101

When I say caps, you probably think of the typical baseball kind. But there's actually a rather large array of caps out there -- from knit tuques to berets. Oh sure, some are dressier than others, but each is comfortable and has its own perks. Read on for the rundown on the most common types of casual headwear.

headwear vocabulary

Brim/bill/visor/rim: The edge of the cap that shades the face

Crown: The part of the cap that covers the head

Sweatband: The fabric inside the cap's crown to soak up sweat

Hatband: The band of fabric on the outside of crown, just above the rim. Mostly found on formal hats, but occasionally seen on cowboy hats

caps vs. hats

Hats are more formal than caps. Hats should fit snugly and rest just above the ears; caps should be worn close to the head, and are ideally made from a fabric that breathes (wool or cotton are your best bet).

Caps can be worn with all types of casual clothing (jeans, T-shirts, shorts), whereas hats require a more discriminating eye and should be matched to one's overcoat or suit jacket.

1- Baseball
This is an American original and is the most common type of cap you're likely to find. The baseball cap is marked by its large front bill and its tight-fitting beanie crown. The best ones are made from wool or cotton, and are sized instead of having the more inexpensive snapper back.

Wear baseball caps with jeans, T-shirts or shorts -- anything goes. They work particularly well if worn on vacations or during any physical labor, and should be avoided when going on dates, nights on the town or business.

2- Trucker
The trucker hat is the lowest-quality cap, consisting of nothing more than a large foam brim and a part plastic mesh, part foam crown with a snapper back. Of course, just because it's cheap, doesn't mean it's unfashionable.

The "trucker" has proven popular with a range of 20-something movie and screen stars over the last few years. Next to the fabled "wife-beater" and ratty jeans, the "trucker" is a cornerstone of white-trash chic. Just don't go wearing it anywhere fancy.

3- Beret
This is technically a soft hat, but its relative informality demands it be placed in the cap category. Berets are usually made from felt and comprised of a wide flattened, floppy crown.

They're historically a military hat, but in casual settings, they're somewhat more common among women than men. Nevertheless, you can get away with a beret in some business-casual environs, and it matches well with basic button-down shirts and slacks.

4- Kangol flat cap
Kangol is a persistently popular British hat brand. A Kangol's most distinct offering is its flat cap, which sports a small brim and a soft crown.

A Kangol cap can be worn with dress slacks and button-down shirts, and is just as classy worn backward as it is worn frontward. And don't worry about matching it perfectly to your clothes -- Kangols make great accents.

5- Bucket Hat / Fishing Hat
The bucket hat -- or "fishing hat" -- is an outdoors hat that is usually worn in warm weather. It possesses a loose-fitting, single-layer crown and a downward sloping, floppy brim. Its ability to keep the head cool and the sun out of the eyes makes it favored by sportsmen.

It looks best when pulled low on the brow, and it's easily paired with khakis and polos. A more formal variant of the bucket hat is the tweed hat occasionally seen on professors and European sportsmen.

Bucket hats are available in wide range of colors and fabrics, all of them being relatively inexpensive.

6- Cowboy
Now here's a truly iconic hat. And yes, although the cowboy hat is, well, a hat, it's technically considered informal (hence it's place in this article). What makes the hat so distinct is a wide, upturned brim on the sides and flat brim on the front. The conical-shaped crown creased down the middle and completes the profile.

In the Southwest, cowboy hats are occasionally worn with suits and at formal occasions. Otherwise, the hat is for rugged outdoors wear, best matched with denim, flannel or leather. Be sure to match the hat's color to your jacket's color.

7- Tuque
The tuque, also known as a knit cap or beanie, is a more stylish variant of the knit cap you wore in the winter as a kid. Usually spun from wool, the tuque goes with all kinds of outerwear -- leather jackets, ski jackets, pea coats -- but thanks to its slim appearance, it goes equally well with a simple sweater.

cleaning & repair

Unlike hats, caps don't require much maintenance or cleaning. You can help a Kangol, cowboy or baseball hat keep its shape by grabbing it by the brim rather than the crown.

Cotton caps can be laundered in the dishwasher or washed by hand. Wool caps should be dry-cleaned.

hats off to you

Remember: There's a time and a place for informal headwear. While they may be stylish, caps shouldn't be worn everywhere and with every outfit. Wear a trucker hat to the beach, sport a Kangol to the mall -- just be sure to leave the cowboy hat at home when you go for that important job interview.

Coming soon, we'll take you inside the frightening world of formal headwear. Hold on to your top hats!

6 Ways To Wear A T-Shirt

You've worn them since you were a baby. You throw them on without thinking twice. Did you even consider that you were ahead of the fashion curve all these years?

The T-shirt has emerged as one of the hottest trends to hit the streets, although it's been around for what seems like forever. Simple enough, right? With all the different options out there, you can't really go wrong by wearing a T-shirt. Between the bright colors, striped patterns, polo collars, retro designs, and cool statements, chances are you'll be sporting one of the season's most popular styles.

Before aiming for the tees that are up to par, keep in mind that the trend consists of a well-fitting T-shirt, so baggy T-shirts and sleeveless Ts are not as hot this year.

The Polo T
With the re-emergence of preppy brands like Lacoste and Ralph Lauren, the classic polo T-shirt has never been so popular. While golfers and prepsters have been sporting the neckline for years, it seems everyone is jumping on the polo bandwagon.

Basic polo T-shirts are stylish, but if you really want to go all the way, then you should sport a polo T-shirt in either a bright color (orange, yellow, green, and aqua blue are very popular), or that features stripes. Or mix both trends and wear a bright polo with stripes, such as the Kenneth Cole T-shirt featured here.

Layer it with: Wear a basic polo T-shirt underneath your bright colored polo T.

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The Striped T
While I already mentioned the stripes trend in the previous section, this cannot be emphasized enough. Horizontal stripes of any size are huge this year, and are showing up on ties, rugby shirts, and other items. With stripes, there's a wide range of how bold you can go, depending on the size and thickness of the stripes, and the colors used. This T-shirt by Hollister Co. shows how you can even blend different sizes of stripes for a stylish look.

Layer it with: Wear a polo T-shirt underneath your bold striped T-shirt.

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The Ringer T
Basic crewneck T-shirts have always been a fashion staple for men, but now they're more of a trend than a necessity. Ringer Ts specifically feature a separate color on the collar and around the sleeves, as seen on this one by Theory, giving an otherwise plain T-shirt a touch of detail. Whether you wear yours while working out or hitting the beach, these T-shirts will ring the ladies' bells.

Layer it with: Wear a long-sleeve button-down shirt underneath your ringer T, and roll up the sleeves for an added laid-back effect.


The Statement T
If you're not afraid to wear your thoughts on your sleeve, then try a statement T-shirt on for size. With a sentence or slogan emblazoned on the front, these have been spotted on male celebrities and trendsetters. From a harmless statement or single word to political or religious phrases, T-shirts have become billboards of sorts. So don't mince words and let others read your mind with the easiest fashion statement you can make. The Hollister Co. T-shirt featured here reads, "Want Some Action?" Now there's a pickup technique you likely haven't tried...

Layer it with: Wear a long-sleeve crewneck T-shirt underneath your statement T.

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The Graphic T
In addition to statement T-shirts, graphic T-shirts are in this year. Whether the picture on the T-shirt is a logo, a fancy design, or resembles a vintage advertisement, T-shirt wearers are getting graphic. Although these have always been around, they seem more prominent today than ever. This Hollister Co. T-shirt has retro appeal at the same time.

Layer it with: Wear a short-sleeve button-down shirt underneath your graphic T-shirt.

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The Retro T
In addition to the vintage-looking T-shirt, whose colors and logo give it that old-school touch, there's a whole other league of retro T-shirts: the '80s T-shirt. Of course these take on new meaning with children of the '80s, but even if you're from another generation, '80s T-shirts will definitely strike a chord with passersby. Tip your hat to shows like Knight Rider, cartoons like G.I. Joe, and cheesy stars like Kirk Cameron, and you're sure to be recognized for your sense of style (and humor). Can you think of a better icebreaker? This specific '80s Tee features Mr. T. yelling, "Don't Be A Fool... Stay in School."

Layer it with: Wear a bold crewneck T-shirt underneath your retro T-shirt.

line up your t shot

Finally, here's a trend that's easy to adopt -- after all, you've been wearing T-shirts your entire life. The options are endless and the time is right to take a chance and layer your T-shirts for an extra stylish look. Try out different combinations, as you never know how great two simple T-shirts can look when put together.

Between the polo T-shirts, ringer crewnecks, graphic Ts, statement shirts, and retro tops, short sleeves have never been so stylish... or fun.

2006 Hairstyles

While it’s a universally-known fact that the days of the mullet are long gone, men are still left with the dilemma of understanding which hairstyles are actually in style. Long? Short? Shaggy? Spiky? There are a plethora of style choices out there, so what better way to gauge 2006’s hottest hair than to look at the coifs of today’s most fashionable leading men?

To help you with your hairstyle conundrum, here are six mod cuts. Find out what each style could potentially be saying about you.

Long, layered cut

A little messy, but carefully structured, the top-heavy layered cut is a great no-fuss hairdo. With your disheveled bangs and strategically layered hair at the back, your “I don’t care” look is really screaming, “I made it fashionably messy on purpose!” A complete wash-and-wear style, achieving the appearance of organized chaos in the morning should take you no time at all.

Face shape: Square, rectangle, or oblong.

What it says about you: Just like Johnny Depp, you’re a creative, low-maintenance kind of guy with a trendy aptitude.

Buzz cut

Notorious as the quickest hairstyle to create, the buzz cut helps define the face and makes the jaw line appear wider. While this clean-shaven look has been synonymous with balding men and Armed Forces recruits, it has also become a popular, fashion-forward hairstyle of choice for many men. It lends a neat and tidy air of sophistication, and by judging women’s reactions to such “buzzed” men as Wentworth Miller, the look has become quite a fetish for the fairer sex.

Face shape: Oblong or round.

What it says about you: You’re an organized, in-charge man, who breeds a strong aura of dominance, class and sophistication.

Short and tidy

While trendy black men may still sport variations of the traditional afro made famous in the ‘60s and ‘70s, some are choosing to go modern with a much shorter twist to their do. As sported by Lenny Kravitz, this short (but not too short) and tidy style is the same length all around and is a great way to add some urban flair to your mane.

Face shape: Oblong

What it says about you: The contemporary man -- you like to change with the times, but you maintain an affinity and deep appreciation for vintage style.

Long and disheveled

Men with curly hair find themselves with very few hairstyle choices that will suit the natural style and texture of their tresses. But, much like the long, layered cut, the long and disheveled look is also gaining widespread popularity -- thanks to the likes of Entourage’s Adrian Grenier -- as men with curly hair are embracing their locks rather than buzzing them off. All you need is a little mousse or pomade to work in the curls, and you’re ready to face the day.

Face shape: Oblong, square or rectangle.

What it says about you: You have a calm, collected, laidback charm about you.

Messy and textured

The messy and textured look can manifest itself in a variety of ways, but David Beckham exemplifies the best way to do it. With a clean-cut, classic men’s haircut, add some extreme texture to the top in order to up the style ante. This look is achieved with a neat, organized cut at the back and a longer cut at the top -- rub some pomade through it and push the bangs to one side to get that messy, Beckham-inspired, trend-setting result.

Face shape: Square

What it says about you: You’re refined, elegant and fully up-to-date with today’s trends, but you’re also hiding a bit of a rebellious bad boy under that fantastic hairstyle.

Faux-hawk

The faux-hawk is a classier twist to the punk-inspired Mohawk. The hair on top of the head is combed upward to resemble a small fan, while the hair on the sides is kept short and tidy. Many men with this style opt to incorporate highlights to their hair, but the monochromatic, “natural” look perfected by Colin Farrell is the best way to sport the hawk this year.

Face shape: Oblong, heart-shaped.

What it says about you: You’re a modern man about town; you have loads of style, tons of grace and hoards of fashion know-how.

picking a stylish do

Hair is one of the first things women notice, so take the time to choose a style that complements your personality and your face's shape. Your hairstyle is just as important as the clothes you wear and the shoes you sport. Whether you opt for Johnny’s long, layered do or Wentworth’s cue ball, make sure that your style accurately reflects the personality you want to exude.

5 Fashion Misperceptions

As fashion evolves, so does its set of “rules.” While men try their finest to uphold these ever-changing standards, they sometimes overlook the fact that many of these guidelines have been updated and modernized. Believing in common misperceptions like “no white after Labor Day,” can hold you back from becoming the stylized, fashion-forward man you have the potential to be.

So, let’s debunk some of these fashion misperceptions and get you on the trendy road to becoming your better-dressed self.

1- No white after Labor Day

Possibly the most commonly cited fashion rule “Don’t wear white after Labor Day” is a misguided way to look at fashion. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when this “rule” originated, but it’s safe to say that this fashion commandment is not really applicable in today’s contemporary world. This mostly applied to the color of your shoes, and because white is a light and bright color, it was deemed appropriate solely for the summer months, whereas black and brown shoes were the color of choice for the drabber seasons.

Setting the record straight: Today, we’ve come to the realization that climate doesn’t control color. While certain colors may be in style in different seasons, your color pallet should never be limited. So, don’t fear the white shoe well into September and October. Wearing the color white in other articles of clothing, on the other hand, is a year-round venture. A white shirt, an ivory jacket, an ashen sweater... these items add a crisp, refined look to any outfit during any season.

2- Your shoes and belt must be the same color

Most people are so afraid of clashing colors that they go overboard with the color coordination. Out of this common fear stems the misperception that your belt should always be the same color as your shoes. This has caused many men to unnecessarily walk around looking like boring, meticulously monochromatic drones.

Setting the record straight: As long as the color of your belt and shoes belong to the same family, you’ll look sharp. In fact, this rule applies to your entire ensemble. There’s no need to pick two colors and have the same shade of each reappear throughout the outfit (Example: chocolate brown shirt, chocolate brown belt, chocolate brown shoes). Instead, pick similar tones and shades that belong to the same family that, therefore, work well together (Example: browns, oranges and greens) -- that’ll make your outfit more dynamic and you’ll look expertly dressed. The main thing to remember is: Colors don’t need to match with each other; they need to “go” well together instead.

3- Don’t mix patterns

Much like peoples’ fear of color, many fear combining patterns as well. More so, the “fake” rule of only wearing one pattern at a time has been ingrained in our minds. It’s an easy assumption to make, since it’s only logical that combining a green plaid shirt and a yellow polka-dot tie would make you look like a clown.

Setting the record straight: Mixing patterns can be a very sophisticated and fashion-forward look, but only if you have the know-how to pull it off. The best way to play with pattern is with your shirt and tie combo. The main rules to follow are: The colors in both patterns should be in the same tone (again, they don’t need to match exactly), and one pattern should be more subtle than the other. For example, pick a striped shirt and throw on a tie with a subtle checkered pattern that’s in the same color family.

4- Cufflinks and tie bars are out of style

It’s quite common to associate classic style elements with being out of date. It’s only common sense that if cufflinks and tie bars were staple items in your grandfather’s day, then they’re obviously taboo now… right? This way of thinking couldn’t be more wrong. Classic items of clothing and accessories get their names because of their ability to transcend the decades and evolve with the changing trends. Cufflinks and the more often overlooked tie bar are two such examples.

Setting the record straight: Nothing adds more sophistication and style to your suit than these two accessories. Cufflinks are a must if your shirt cuff requires it; whereas tie bars are just a classy formal accessory. Cufflink styles are so varied nowadays; they range in shape, color and design and are a great way to put a classic twist to your swanky suit.

5- Steel-band watches go with everything

Silver- and steel-plated watch bands are the most popular choice for wrist wear. In fact, they’re so popular that the classic leather wristband watch often gets overlooked as an appropriate choice. Truth be told, silver- and steel-plated watches are sleek accessories, and while they look great with your casual wear and even with your business-casual wear, they should never be worn with formal suits and tuxes.

Setting the record straight: Invest in a leather band watch. This is the only type of wrist wear acceptable for those formal occasions. Go with a basic black leather band just to ensure that you can get the most wear out of it as possible.

dress well

Forget about those old-school fashion ideas you've been following for ages. As fashion changes, so do the "rules." Today's fashion guidelines are much more lax, seeing as looking good is more about expressing your individuality than following a rigid set of clothing principles.