Copenhagen Fashion Week started on Monday, and the fashion enthusiasts attending the event have already endorsed a new trend for the summer: the crochet hat.
Artfully crafted and nostalgically appealing, the vintage-inspired accessory has its roots in the nightcaps created in the late 1800s and early 1910s to keep women’s curls from getting tangled during the night. Over the decades, the style evolved into embellished skull caps that became part of the 1920s flapper outfit, later being revisited during the bathing cap wave from the 1950s and turned into a statement accessory by pop stars and hippies in the 1970s.
Swedish pop group ABBA in 1974 in Stockholm.
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As the cycle of fashion continued, the crochet hats made a return in the late 1990s and early noughties, with Cameron Diaz, Anne Hathaway and others styling the headwear.
“Seeing this emerging woven headpiece trend took me straight back to everyone’s favorite fashion assistant, Andie Sachs, in the first ‘The Devil Wears Prada‘! Styled with a trapeze coat in the movie, it has a distinctly ‘60s feel, which is such a fun way to showcase this headwear style,” celebrity stylist Leon Gray told WWD.
Cameron Diaz wearing a crochet hat on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
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As seen at Copenhagen Fashion Week, the newest crochet caps present a refreshing alternative to conventional summer hats, from subtle neutrals to vibrant hues and beading embellishments. Luxembourg-based brand Kroon 02 seems to be one of the popular choices among the guests. The company offers a range of caps featuring fringes, crystals, raffia and other details, with prices starting at 210 euros.
Street style at Copenhagen Fashion Week.
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For Gray, the new trend gives the wearer an opportunity to play with different materials. “I really like creating outfits that include contrasting fabrications and techniques. Wearing one of these headpieces with a full silk or chiffon look feels like a unique take on cocktail or event dressing and also perfectly Scandinavian,” he said.
As fall approaches, crochet hats have the potential to be the viral transitional piece of the season. In Copenhagen, where the weather is around 60 degrees Fahrenheit this week, influencers are styling the piece with colorful sweaters, contrasting light jackets and overcoats.
Street style at Copenhagen Fashion Week.
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Other brands that currently offer crochet hats or similar silhouettes include Giorgio Armani’s braided webbing beanie hat ($395), Prada’s woven fabric beret ($1,100) and Loro Piana’s crochet silk beanie ($575).