Bathing cap or balaclava: A very fashionable replacement for a balaclava
It seems that in 2019 the fashion for hats continues. We have already studied the tendency for balaclava and concluded that fantasy hats and hats will stay with us for a long time. At this time, we talk about what was seen at the recent Saint Laurent, Dior and Valentino shows of tight headgear that resemble either models from the beginning of the 20th century, or balaclava, or hats for the pool.
Text: Anna Aristova
How it all began
According to one version, the sporty cap comforters, which have become popular due to skiing (as well as balaclavas), have become the prototype of fashionable hats. The first images of such hats could be seen in the 1920s on the pages of fashion magazines and in the catalogs of large brands at that time, like Hermès or Jean Patou. Designers noticed ski fashion for a reason: after the first Winter Olympics of 1924 in Chamonix, skiing suddenly became an acute-fashioned leisure and cultural phenomenon, and in Parisian famous department stores like Le Bon Marché and La Samaritaine, entire departments devoted to active recreation began to open for home. Fashion and supplied equipment and accessories.
Among the latter, there were hats that emancipated women (who first wore a uniform that was as close as possible to the “male” one) were worn so as not to freeze in the ski resorts. Much later, a similar silhouette returned in the USSR - we think many nostalgically recall touching helmets from childhood.
According to another version, the inspiration for modern designers has become very similar in shape and appeared in the same era bathing caps made of latex, fastened under the chin just like the headgear of the pilots. In the 1920s, there was a mass of the most seemingly bizarre design options today - some manufacturers even copied popular women's hairstyles. In the 1950s and 1960s, the fashion for swimming caps took a step further, and at the head of the trends were cheerful models, embroidered with flowers. Now many people are skeptical about bathing caps, but then they were not just a functional accessory, but a real fashionable statement (you just look at the version with the crown, we would not have refused this). So it is not surprising that the accessory has appeared in modern collections - as a more universal alternative to the same balaclava.
How the balaclava became fashionable
In recent seasons, tight caps began to appear on the catwalk more and more often - only this week flickering hats resembling bathing hats could be seen on the Saint Laurent defile, and Courrèges continued the theme of blown hoods and released fluffy hats that resembled those we wore in childhood . In previous seasons, Mary Katrantzou, Miu Miu and Prada demonstrated variations on the theme of bathing caps or balaclava. They even appeared on couture shows - in the collections of Valentino, Chanel and Dior. From the Russian brands, the St. Petersburg brand M_U_R makes similar hats made of wool. Among other things, once the comforter was a real hit brand Vika Gazinskaya - pioneers in the revival of this trend.
As for celebrities, only Amber Heard, who appeared in Valentino's total bow at the London premiere of Aquamen, dared to try on a swim cap. Nevertheless, it is impossible to forget the more familiar option chosen by Rihanna for the CFDA award in 2014. Her cap has become part of the famous "naked" outfit, which later will fit into the context of feminist pop culture.
What to wear them with
Tight-fitting hats look great with any minimalist sets, but designers recommend not to be shy and immediately put them on with evening dresses. This headdress can be combined with a tuxedo dress, as did the stylists of Saint Laurent, or even just with a strict suit. Another option is to balance the multi-colored cap with a no less cheerful coat, as in the Miu Miu show. In the summer, the bathing cap will stand in one row with wicker hats or panama strings with ties - by the way, another headgear that will be popular very soon. As for the warm helmets, they will become a less radical alternative to balaclava and successfully protect against the cold of early spring.
PHOTO: Issuu, Chanel, Batsheva, Rachel Comey
