Skully hats are brimless hats designed to hug the skull and keep the head warm. They were first associated with blue-collar workers and sailors and later became an indispensable part of casual streetwear. The earliest versions were worn by women in the 12th or 13th century, and in the 1990s, they became popular with snowboarders and skaters. They are now a popular accessory in the hip-hop community.
Skully hats, also known as calaveras, beanies, and beanies, are brimless hats designed to hug the skull and keep the head warm. These hats can be knitted or knitted with wool or cotton yarn, as these materials achieve a snug, close fit. The look was first associated with blue collar workers and sailors who needed to keep their heads warm without the distraction of a brim. In contemporary fashion, skullies are an indispensable part of casual streetwear. Certain styles have also been appropriated as clothing symbols by various urban subcultures.
The earliest versions of these hats were worn by women in the 12th or 13th century. They were made of embroidered velvet, taffeta, or satin and were worn over the head veil. Both men and women wore black velvet skull caps in the 16th century, but women later trimmed theirs with lace and fur throughout the 19th century. Around this time, knitted skull caps served a practical purpose for dock workers, welders, and other manual laborers. Skully hats kept hair out of the eyes and protected the head from the cold during cold days.
In the 1990s, the popularization of cold-weather sports like snowboarding and the grunge clothing trend catapulted skullies into mainstream fashion. The trendy skull cap is made of wool or other moisture-wicking synthetic fabrics, in various designs. Knitted hats that resembled sleigh caps also became popular with athletes participating in snowboarding and other winter sports. These hats were made of thick wool and served the practical purpose of keeping body heat trapped rather than a clothing statement.
The 1990s also saw the appropriation of skully hats by urban skaters. They began calling the caps “beanies” and, like many other street slang terms, the name stuck. Caps came in various shapes, sizes, and colors, but the most distinctive feature they had was a patch, logo, or woven mark where the brim is supposed to be on conventional hats. Brand visibility was important as skaters preferred to match their hats with their boards or skate shoes. In fact, almost all skate shoe manufacturers have skully hats in matching colors and styles.
When big rap artists started wearing skully hats, the hat became a popular accessory in the hip-hop community. Since hip-hop fashion is largely influenced by sportswear trends, the hats they wore often came from skate brands. Sometimes their hats carried statements like “thug life” instead of a sportswear logo.
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