
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.
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Reviews
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goldenfoufie on Feb 22, 2021
5 out of 5 starsYou know what I think Keith but again thanks for everything, the pictures before having the cap and your kindness! The cap is insane and fits perfectly! Love from Belgium ❤️
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christian on Dec 30, 2020
5 out of 5 starsA long awaited purchase that was truly worth it! Quality like none other, I couldn’t recommend one of these caps more! Cheers Keith!
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reg on Dec 22, 2020
5 out of 5 starsAmazing hat! Blows any other main street hats out of the water! Thick and comes with a cushion can you believe it.
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diamondss294 on Dec 21, 2020
5 out of 5 starsI just got my BROADWAY CAP a couple days and in nothing less FABULOUS!! Great craftsmanship and design. Keith always amazes me. Thanks again for all your hard work Keith!!
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bncarter1947 on Dec 7, 2020
5 out of 5 starsThis cap is a work of art in addition to being extremely well-constructed and a superb fit. A+ in every aspect.
Keith Lo Bue is a true master of his craft.
The cap was well-packed and shipped as expeditiously as an international parcel can be expected to be.
Keith is a pleasure to do business with. I will be back. -
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! -
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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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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