Hats Off BY GEENA PROVENZANO PHOTOS BY RYLIE PERONE
A
lthough the conductor hat has been around for over 100 years, it has never been as popular as it is today. According to PopSugar, Pinterest searches for the trend have spiked 327 percent over the past year, thanks to celebrities like David Beckham and Bella Hadid. Both Beckham and Hadid are constantly being photographed on the streets in various versions of the conductor hat. Beckham pairs his with a solid overcoat or sweater, while Hadid opts for a denim or fur coat. This “new” trend actually came to life in the late 1800s, thanks to the rise of America’s favorite pastime, baseball. As the sport became more popular, players such as Babe Ruth and Harry Walker regularly took trains to get back and forth between games. The employees of the trains became inspired by these new stars and formed their own baseball leagues.
30 | THREAD
Chicago engineer and amateur player George “Stormy” Kromer thoroughly enjoyed sporting his baseball cap on the job. Yet, he soon realized his newest accessory could not withstand the heavy winds that accompanied a conductor’s daily tasks. Kromer turned to his wife, Ida, to redesign a more stable and efficient cap. After stitching together some blue and white pinstripe cloth, the traditional conductor hat was made. In May, Hadid collaborated with the Los Angeles brand, Chrome Hearts. The 40-piece collection featured a white, patent leather conductor hat adorned with silver chains. Unfortunately, Hadid’s pieces, including the hat, are only available in boutiques throughout large cities like Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. But, there is no need to worry because popular stores including Forever 21 and Nordstrom provide