Also known as a “pageboy cap,” a newsboy cap is a hat that features a slouchy, full design with a button on top and a structured front brim. Some styles of newsboy caps may also display an additional button and flap above the brim of the hat, or a sleeker, flatter design. The newsboy cap was first popularized by “Newsies,” who were child laborers that sold newspapers in the US and Europe during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today, the newsboy cap is a unisex, casual-wear fashion accessory that comes in a wide variety of colors and fabrics. Newsboy caps are most commonly sold in earth tones and patterns such as plaid, pinstripes, herringbone, and gingham, and fashioned from such fabrics as wool, tweed, corduroy, and leather.
The newsboy cap is known for its versatility as well as its popularity with several celebrities. Pop star Britney Spears is sometimes credited as being one of the first stars to usher in the newsboy cap comeback of the early 2000s, when she was often seen sporting the style in pink leather, sequins, and other eye-catching combinations. Other members of young Hollywood soon followed suit, and today the newsboy cap adorns the heads of such A-list stars as Justin Timberlake, Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham, Ashton Kutcher, Gwen Stefani, and Taylor Swift. In 2007, actor, Brad Pitt began wearing newsboy caps on a regular basis as part of his “Make it Right” charity, which endeavors to help re-build New Orleans. Pitt auctions the hats from his own personal collection and then donates the proceeds toward building homes for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The newsboy cap is often worn with other casual accessories such as scarves and sunglasses. As a casual-wear item, the cap best complements a relaxed outfit, including such garments as distressed jeans, t-shirts, oversized sweaters, and vests. Although the newsboy cap can serve as a warm winter accessory when fashioned from wool and other heavy fabrics, it’s occasionally worn indoors and in warm climates purely as a fashion statement. The newsboy cap projects an image of someone who is fashionable, fun, and on-the-go, and is carried by such popular retailers as American Eagle, Urban Outfitters, Old Navy, and Gap. Oregon-based hat company Hat People fashions a line of the caps from Pendleton Wool, which makes them water, soil, and even fire-resistant.