TheWellDressedHead
Sydney, Australia |
Announcement Here is Keith Lo Bue's "The Well Dressed Head", repository of hand-built 1900s to '30s accurate reproduction caps using the finest rare vintage materials. True vintage caps and other accessories round out the most expansive vintage-cap resource in the world.
Announcement
Here is Keith Lo Bue's "The Well Dressed Head", repository of hand-built 1900s to '30s accurate reproduction caps using the finest rare vintage materials. True vintage caps and other accessories round out the most expansive vintage-cap resource in the world.
Items
Featured items
The FIVE POINTS - 1910s-Pattern Flat Cap in c.1930s French Check Wool and Vintage Chambray Liner- 7 1/4" (58+)
L'Étoile (The Star) - Novelty 1922 Pleated Fancy 6/3 Cap in Vintage Pincheck Wool - Made to Order
THE CLOVER Cap - 1920's-pattern 4/4 Newsboy Cap in Vintage Plaid Tweed - Made to Order
L'Étoile (The Star) Summer Straw - Novelty 1922 Pleated Fancy 6/3 Cap in Homespun Hemp Straw - Made to Order
All Items
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THE COTTON CLUB - 1920's-pattern Six-Panel Newsboy Cap in Vintage Herringbone Stripe Wool - Size 7 1/4" (58+)
$269.00 -
The NOMAD - 1920s-Pattern French Flat Cap in Indigo Herringbone Denim and Vintage Kimono Liner - Size 7 1/8" (57)
$279.00 -
L'Étoile (The Star) - Novelty 1922 Pleated Fancy 6/3 Casquette in Dashing Tweeds Merino Wool - Made to Order
$399.00 -
L'Étoile (The Star) - Novelty 1922 Pleated Fancy 6/3 Cap in Vintage Cotton/Silk Check - Size 7 1/4" (58+)
$369.00 -
THE COTTON CLUB - 1920's-pattern Six-Panel Newsboy Cap in Vintage Cream/Chocolate Windowpane Wool - Size 7 3/8"" (59)
$269.00 -
L'ARONDE (The Dove) - French-Style 1920s-Pattern Flat Cap in c.1940s French Navy Midnight Blue Wool - Size 7 1/4" (58)
$299.00 -
The EXCALIBUR - 1920-Pattern Six Piece Crown Cap - Size 7 1/4" (58)
$289.00 -
L'ARONDE (The Dove) OVERSHOT - 1920s-Pattern French Style Casquette Flat Cap in Mid-19th Century Homespun Wool/Linen Cloth -Size 7 7/8" (63)
$299.00 -
The HOG HEAD - 1900s-Pattern Railway Engineer's Cap in Vintage Denim, Wabash Stripe Indigo Cloth and Horsehide Peak - Size 7 1/8" (57+)
$289.00 -
LA GAPETTE - 1913-Pattern 4 Panel Flat Cap with Rear Pleats and Back Band - Made to Order
$299.00Only 1 left -
L'ARONDE (The Dove) - French-Style 1920s-Pattern Flat Cap in Cotton Drill with Leather Peak/strap - reserved for oinoin
$309.00Only 1 available and it's in 1 person's cart -
The KNICKERBOCKER CASHMERE - 1917 Designed 8/4 Novelty Cap with Pinch-Back Details in Vintage Cashmere - Size 7 1/4" (58+)
$429.00 -
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The KNICKERBOCKER - 1917 Designed 8/4 Novelty Cap with Pinch-Back Details in Vintage Wool - Size 7 1/2" (60)
$319.00Only 1 left -
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L'Étoile (The Star) Summer Straw - Novelty 1922 Pleated Fancy 6/3 Cap in Homespun Early 20th Century Linen - Made to Order
$369.00 -
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The GREENTREE - 1890s-Pattern Skipper Cap in c.1920s Bulgarian Homespun Cotton & Italian 1890s Polished Cotton Liner - Made to Order
$279.00 -
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L'ARONDE (The Dove) - French-Style 1920s-Pattern Flat Cap in Vintage Giant Houndstooth Wool/Silk - Size 7 3/8" (59)
$279.00 -
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The FIVE POINTS & l’Ouvrier Denim Caps - for Michael
$483.00 -
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L'Étoile (The Star) - Novelty 1922 Pleated Fancy 6/3 Cap in Dashing Tweeds Diamond Merino Wool - Size 7 1/4"
$399.00 -
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L'Étoile (The Star) Summer Straw - Novelty 1922 Pleated Fancy 6/3 Cap in Homespun Hemp Straw - Made to Order
$349.00 -
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THE MARQUETTE Summer Straw - 1920s-Inspired Casquette Flat Cap in Homespun Hemp Straw - Made to Order
$269.00 -
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LE MARAIS - 1920s-Pattern Casquette Flat Cap in Dashing Tweeds Wool with Vintage Accents - Made to Order
$329.00 -
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L'ARONDE (The Dove) LINEN - Reserved for DB
$226.00 -
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The EASTMAN - 1910s Pattern Pleated Flat Cap in Dashing Tweeds Luminescent Merino Wool - Made to Order
$329.00 -
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L'Étoile (The Star) - Novelty 1922 Pleated Fancy 6/3 Cap in 1940s Australian Vicars Suiting Wool - Size 7 1/4" (58+)
$369.00 -
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L'Étoile (The Star) - Novelty 1922 Pleated Fancy 6/3 Cap in Vintage Puppytooth Check Wool - Made to Order
$369.00 -
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L'Étoile (The Star) - Novelty 1922 Pleated Fancy 6/3 Cap in c.1920s Bulgarian Homespun Tartan Cotton - Size 7" (56)
$369.00 -
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L'Étoile (The Star) - Novelty 1922 Pleated Fancy 6/3 Cap in Vintage Ginger Flecked Wool Tweed - Size 7 1/4" (58+)
$369.00 -
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L'Étoile (The Star) - Novelty 1922 Pleated Fancy 6/3 Cap in 1930s German Summer Wool and 19th Century Quilt Liner - Made to Order
$369.00 -
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L'Étoile (The Star) - Novelty 1922 Pleated Fancy 6/3 Cap in Vintage French Bouclé Summer Wool - Made to Order
$369.00 -
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The EASTMAN - 1910s Pattern Pleated Flat Cap in Vintage Onkaparinga Wool Tweed - Size 7 1/4" (58+)
$289.00 -
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L'Étoile (The Star) - Novelty 1922 Pleated Fancy 6/3 Cap in Vintage Pincheck Wool - Made to Order
$369.00 -
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THE COTTON CLUB - 1920's-pattern Six-Panel Newsboy Cap in c.1930s French Jazzy Plaid Wool - Size 7 1/4" (58+)
$269.00 -
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L'Étoile (The Star) - Novelty 1922 Pleated Fancy 6/3 Cap in Vintage Mossy Tweed - Size 7 1/4" (58+)
$369.00 -
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THE ARGONNE - 1920s Pattern Four-Panel Flat Cap in c.1920s Chinese Homespun Cotton - Size 7 1/4" (58)
$269.00 -
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L'ARONDE (The Dove) - French-Style 1920s-Pattern Flat Cap in Wild Woven Cotton-Silk - Made to Order
$269.00Only 1 left -
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The MONTE CARLO Buffalo - 1920s Style Flat Cap in Buffalo Leather with Horsehide Visor - 7 1/8" (57)
$449.00
Reviews
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Robbie on Oct 12, 2020
5 out of 5 starsThis is the most splendid cap I've ever bought, by far. My expectations were thoroughly exceeded by The Well Dressed Head as the attention to detail and the skill of the hand that produced this cap are exceptional. The fit and drape of this cap is beyond compare. I was constantly kept abreast of the details in the construction of the project, making this cap even more bespoke and special to me. The shipping of this product was appreciably quick considering I'm across the world from Mr. Lo Bue. Lastly, I am a pleased customer of The Well Dressed Head but also a huge fan of the brand. I look forward to future creations with this Designer. Keith, You're the greateat! -Robbie
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Qrrgll on Sep 25, 2020
5 out of 5 starsYou need one of these in your wardrobe!
You'll look like a million bucks!
You will be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!
Ladies will become pregnant as you simply walk by! -
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Qrrgll on Sep 25, 2020
5 out of 5 starsAmazing!
Super high quality, beautifully made with a great keeper cushion to hold the shape when not in use.
Highly recommended!
I'm salivating over the other models now and looking forward to buying more perhaps with a cloth I provide to match against my tweeds! -
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dberry45 on Apr 23, 2020
5 out of 5 starsExpertly made, with every attention to detail. Wonderful, sturdy and beautiful hemp fabric. he perfect warm weather cap that will stand up to the worst surprise rain storm.
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Sean on Jan 27, 2020
5 out of 5 starsExactly what I expected. If you want a serious cap that will exceed your expectations, look at the Well Dressed Head.
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diamondss294 on Jan 13, 2020
5 out of 5 starsI just received my " BROADWAY" cap today and I'm very happy with it. It's made from Barleycorn Tweed and the craftsmanship is AWESOME!! Thanks again Keith for all your hard work!! 😊👍
Shop policies
For several years now I have been an enthusiast and collector of early men's newsboy, cabbie and golf/sporting caps from the 1910s through the 1930s. It always surprised me that for a fashion item that was SO ubiquitous in its time, so little knowledge of the caps has survived. Heck, so few of the caps themselves have survived!
Their big brothers, fedoras and other forms of felt and straw hat, are much easier to follow across the historical timeline. And though I do love those lids, I'm a guy who tends to go for the underdog. So many caps didn't survive the ravages of moths, hard labor or simply the passage of time. It seems beyond my understanding that headwear so beautiful in design, so flattering to a man's look, would fade into obscurity in favor of the baseball cap.
It was indeed the baseball cap that gradually over took these magnificent designs and became the cloth cap of choice for a majority of men. Even the recent reappearance of flat caps with the hipster crowd have very little to do with their forebears, and at best are mediocre designs aesthetically.
It is therefore my humble mission (along with a small handful of other talented bespoke makers) to reeducate the public about these elegant yet practical pieces of clothing that can complement the vintage or even the most contemporary wardrobe.
The Well Dressed Head will keep a selection of true vintage caps for sale dating from the late 1910's through the 1930's, with occasional later examples when appropriate.
Now, about the caps I build.
There are several elements for me to consider when pricing these caps. I can hardly factor in the time spent in fabrication - some of these caps can take three days to create - so other considerations are important.
I spend a lot of time and money collecting extraordinary fabrics from around the world that have a quality I feel are outstanding and unique, while paying homage to the historical examples in photographs and collections. Many of these antique cloths are in small pieces that may yield only one or two caps, ensuring the product is as unique and bespoke as possible.
Those caps that have leather sweatbands feature only top-quality Australian leathers, and under the 'hood' of the fabric, each visor is hand-cut from Australian leather, with a special compressed stiffening material to give it the ability to bend, yet hold its shape. No plastics are used in my visors.
Certain styles are made with grosgrain ribbon sweatbands, and for these I use NOS (new old stock) ribbon from France dating from the 1910s to the '20s.
Finally, a word about imperfection.
This is a handmade object, lovingly built with special and sometimes rare and delicate materials. There will be slight inconsistencies in the materials, weaves and stitching, These are considered the mark of the hand and intrinsic to the design. I'll leave you with a favorite quote by Charles Eames:
"You wouldn’t say an axe handle has style to it. It has beauty, and an appropriateness of form, and a “this-is-how-it-should-be-ness.” But it has no style because it has no mistakes. Style reflects one’s idiosyncrasies."
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