The simple answer is no. Personally, I don’t support this combination. It’s like trying to mix oil and water – the two just don’t jive.
A baseball cap is mostly for casual clothes like jeans and a t-shirt, whereas formal clothes are for formal events like the office, weddings, and other special occasions. Imagine your boss at work walking into his office or speaking in a board meeting wearing his suit and a baseball hat. It’s not the most commanding combination now, is it?
While I understand your desire to be comfortable, you also want to respect the dress code, and sometimes that means sticking to formal accessories when wearing a suit.
Still feel like accessorizing your suit with a baseball cap? Keep reading for a few reasons why you shouldn’t.
Formal clothes are for formal events
Have you ever seen anyone wearing a suit and a baseball cap at, say, a funeral? Probably not. That’s because a suit is meant for special occasions where you need to dress up, and a cap doesn’t really fit into this equation at all.
Simply put, you can’t show up to a funeral, job interview, or even at church wearing a baseball cap because such events are formal and they require you to wear formal attire. Pairing a suit with a cap is like pairing shorts with a shirt and calling that an outfit. Of course, it is an outfit in the sense that you’ll at least be dressed, but it doesn’t portray you in a positive light and people probably won’t take you seriously in this ensemble.
Caps are extremely casual
Caps are casual and no matter how good your suit might be, pairing it with a cap can devalue your appearance. The good news is that there are plenty of other occasions where a cap is not only welcome but probably encouraged.
For instance, baseball caps are great for hiking, catching a game of football with friends, or even for a picnic date with your girlfriend. Now, these are all casual occasions that don’t require you to dress up and you can just relax and be as laid-back as you want.
If you’re wondering what you can pair your baseball cap with, consider golf shirts, sneakers, jeans, and shorts to name but a few.
If you want to make an impact, don’t wear a cap with your suit
“If I step out in public, I wear sweat pants and a cap.”
The baseball cap is an incredibly popular accessory that can be worn by everyone – truck drivers, delivery men, postal workers, celebrities who don’t want to be recognized, and anyone who wants to fashionably shield their face from the sun on a hot summer’s day.
But, this ubiquitous accessory won’t exactly bring the best out of your expensive, tailored suit. If you want to stand out from the crowd, there are better ways to do so than by devaluing your look with a casual baseball cap.
If your goal is to look and feel special for a date or even a job interview, leave the cap home. If you must wear headgear with a suit, accessorize with a fedora and a matching pocket square. You’ll grab everyone’s attention from the moment you walk in, and it’s a great conversation starter.
At the right moment, a cap can look cool with a suit
If you’re so obsessed with your baseball cap that you must wear it everywhere and at all times (even with a suit) then there might be a way to pull off this look but I’ll be honest; it’s not for everyone.
For instance, if you’re willing to wear your suit with a T-shirt instead of a formal shirt then you can pair it with a baseball cap. Director Steven Spielberg is particularly fond of this look and has been spotted rocking it at awards ceremonies more than once!
Be cool but don’t overdo it
We all enjoy looking cool and use our clothes to express ourselves. But, special occasions that require a suit aren’t the place to start experimenting, especially with a baseball hat. When it comes to this combination, I recommend you leave the hat for casual settings, and for special occasions that call for a suit, keep it simple and formal.
