• Dad caps explained: 

    what they are, how to wear them and how to choose the right one

You’ve probably heard the term “dad hat” thrown around in online fashion posts and in general conversation, but what actually is one? Most people have worn a dad cap without knowing that's actually what it's called. 

A Dad hat is its own genuine silhouette, not just a style. It gives you the soft, slightly slouchy shape that gives you that lived-in feel and comfort from day one. It's completely different to the fit and style you get from a snapback or a structured cap.

None of these is objectively better than the other - they're built to do different things. 

The closure is usually the easiest tell between similar styles: a fabric strap or buckle points to a dad cap, a plastic snap points to a snapback or trucker hat, and a fitted or adjustable band with no visible closure at all is more likely a structured baseball cap. 

’47 MVP is the structured baseball-cap example if you want to feel the difference side by side, and our curved brim and snapback hats collections cover the other two.

At '47 we've been a family-run brand since 1947, and we're the creators of the original unstructured cap, ’47 Clean Up. It's the silhouette that set the standard for the rest of the dad cap category, and the benchmark they're all still measured against. We're the original dad hat brand, so we wanted to break down exactly what makes a dad hat, how it compares to other styles, and how to style one.

Model wearing a LA Dodgers cap with white embroidered logo, styled with a brown jacket and yellow shirt.

What is a dad hat?

In simple terms, a dad hat or cap comes down to a few defining characteristics. It is a soft, unstructured cap with a low crown, a curved brim that's already pre-shaped, not flat, and a fabric strap closure instead of a rigid snap. 

The majority of caps that follow this style are six-panel builds, with a small eyelet at the crown for some added breathability, and a metal or plastic buckle in place of the branded plastic snap you'd see on a standard structured cap. 

The defining factor that makes a dad cap is the lack of structure in its shape. It doesn't come down to a type of material or colour, it's that relaxed, unstructured fit that makes a dad hat and gives it that broken-in look even when it's brand new.

Why is it called a dad hat, and where does it come from?

The majority of alternative silhouettes to the dad hat give some form of stiff, performance-sport structure, and that's really where the whole name of the dad hat came from. 

At its core it does none of that. It gives you a practical, unshowy look instead of something built for sport, comfortable, unpretentious and worn-in, exactly what your dad would wear.

Black-and-white archival photograph of a sports merchandise shop filled with team pennants, hats and memorabilia, with two people standing behind the display counter.

That practical, unshowy quality runs through the cap's origin with ’47's own story too. It started with twin brothers Arthur and Henry D'Angelo, who emigrated from Orsogna, Italy, to Boston in 1938 and started to sell merchandise to fans outside Fenway Park. They produced a cap with no stiff structure for real fans, aiming to be comfortable and unpretentious, not built to impress anyone. 

That's where the dad hat started, and why it has that vintage aesthetic and washed finish from the start. It's not a trend that's been added recently, the dad hat has its roots deep in working-class fan culture and has been around for decades. If you want to read the fuller story on the history of ’47 you can check out our post.xt here to tell your story.

How should a dad hat fit?

Because there's no rigid crown holding a dad cap's shape, it should sit close without gripping. The strap holds it in place, not the structure, so it can run very slightly looser than a structured cap without ever looking wrong. 

Check the strap has a spare notch either side of your fit so you can adjust your comfort levels. It isn’t ideal to have your cap sitting right on the tightest or loosest setting. If you're unsure of your size, we have a size guide that walks you through measuring properly before you buy.

Dad hat vs baseball cap vs snapback vs trucker hat

Knowing the difference between a dad hat and some of the other popular silhouettes  and styles can help you know which style is right for you and the look you’re aiming for. We’ve broken down the core characteristics below to help you know what style works for you.

Style Crown structure Brim Closure
Dad cap Soft, unstructured, low profile Curved, pre-shaped Fabric strap or buckle
Baseball cap Structured, held with buckram or card Flatter, less curved Adjustable strap or fitted
Snapback Structured, flat crown Flat Plastic snap
Trucker hat Structured front panel, mesh back Curved Plastic snap

None of these is objectively better than the other - they're built to do different things. 

The closure is usually the easiest tell between similar styles: a fabric strap or buckle points to a dad cap, a plastic snap points to a snapback or trucker hat, and a fitted or adjustable band with no visible closure at all is more likely a structured baseball cap. 

’47 MVP is the structured baseball-cap example if you want to feel the difference side by side, and our curved brim and snapback hats collections cover the other two.

What makes a good quality dad hat?

There are many imitators and poor quality examples, but the true quality of a dad cap comes down to a handful of tactile details, not any one flashy feature. 

You're looking for something made from garment-washed cotton twill that's been pre-softened as part of the construction process, not just treated to feel soft on the shelf. The cap should have clean stitching around every panel and eyelet, and a strap that adjusts smoothly without feeling flimsy or awkward in your hand.

A well-made brim matters more than it looks like it should, too. It should hold its curve without a stiff insert that can crack or crease over time. A dad hat should look worn-in, but not poor quality - in fact, the opposite. It should look vintage and understated while still holding up as a quality product.

Find the perfect dad hat

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How to style a dad hat

If you've decided that a dad cap is the right style for you, then your next question is probably how to style one. The good news is that they pretty much work with almost anything, mainly because, at its core, the product doesn't try to compete with anything. It works perfectly as a part of any minimalist fit or as part of a gym look. 

If you’re looking for a few simple and easy combinations worth building around, we’ve listed a few of our favourite looks below:

A washed neutral dad cap with a knit crewneck and straight jeans, easy enough for every day without reading like you didn't think about it.
A black dad cap with tailoring, a wool overcoat or a blazer; the contrast between structured and unstructured gives it a deliberate edge instead of a sporty one.
A faded or vintage-wash dad cap with plain basics, letting the cap's own worn-in character carry the look.

As a general rule, black and other neutral tones are the safest starting colours. They sit under almost any outfit without clashing with it. None of this changes by gender either, a dad cap looks the same no matter who's wearing it, so the styling advice above works for whoever's buying. 

Are dad hats still in style?

Yes, and they're more popular than ever. A dad cap has been a genuine menswear staple for decades, not a passing trend, and that popularity doesn't change that. This comes down to the fact that its relaxed, unstructured shape works with almost anything you already own. If it were going to fall out of favour, it would have by now.

Adding pins, patches and personal touches to your dad hat

Adding a personal flair to a dad cap can make it feel that bit special, instead of just another team cap someone else might be wearing. With a dad hat the front panel is often much plainer, which gives you somewhere to add these touches without competing with an overly complicated design. 

Add personal touches with a light hand: one or two is enough, five starts to look cluttered, and stick to the front panel, not the side or back. If you add anything where stitching is in place, it's more likely to distort the shape of your hat or cause damage.

How to pick your dad hat

If you're picking your first, a few things matter more than the exact style you land on. 

Colour is the easiest. A washed black or stone goes with nearly everything you already own, so you're choosing one accessory instead of building a whole outfit around it. If you want a single cap to do the most work across the widest range of outfits, the '47 Clean Up in a neutral wash is the safest call. It's the exact shape the rest of this guide has been describing: soft, low crown, curved brim, nothing on it fighting for attention.

Past that, let your own style and how much wear you like your clothes to have decide the rest. Some people want the most broken-in option on the shelf, since a dad cap earns its character through wear and there's no reason not to start closer to that point. Others would rather start crisp and let it soften naturally over the following months, which says more about patience than it does about which cap is actually better. 

Either way, the fabric, the brim and the strap covered earlier in this guide matter more than colour or finish, since those are what decide how well any cap holds up once you've actually chosen one.

Key takeaway

A dad cap is the perfect silhouette for anyone looking for a relaxed, polished look that works with any outfit. 

It's not tied to a certain colour or material, it's defined by its lack of structure. It fits looser than you'd expect, it looks better worn-in than box-fresh, and it works with almost anything already in your wardrobe.

At '47 we have a long-standing history with dad hats, so you can be safe knowing you’re buying quality when you purchase from us. Explore our Dad hats collection or ’47 Clean Up directly.

FAQs

Why is it called a dad hat?

A dad cap gets its name from what it lacks: the stiff, performance-sport structure of a team cap. What's left is a soft, practical, unshowy shape associated with comfort over statement.

What's the difference between a dad cap and a baseball cap?

A baseball cap holds its shape with buckram or card in the crown and a flatter brim. A dad cap has none of that structure. It has a curved brim instead of a flat one, and it softens further the more it's worn.

What's the difference between a low-profile cap and a dad cap?

The terms overlap a lot. Both describe a shallow, unstructured crown, but "low-profile" usually just refers to the crown height, while "dad cap" describes the whole soft, broken-in construction, brim included.

Are dad caps still in style?

Yes. It's been a menswear and streetwear staple for years, not a passing trend, precisely because the unstructured shape works with almost anything.

How should a dad cap fit?

Close without gripping. The strap holds it in place instead of the crown holding its shape, so it can sit slightly looser than a structured cap without looking wrong.

Can you wear a dad cap with formal clothes?

Sparingly. A dad cap sits comfortably alongside smart-casual tailoring, a blazer or an overcoat, but it's not a fit for genuinely formal occasions where any cap would look out of place.

Can you wear a dad cap backwards?

You can, though the curved brim and soft crown are built to sit forward. Worn backwards, it loses some of its shape at the front, so it's more of an occasional look than an everyday one.