TheWellDressedHead

Early 20th-century Reproduction Caps & Accessories

Sydney, Australia 194 Sales On Etsy since 2014

5 out of 5 stars (69)

TheWellDressedHead

Early 20th-century Reproduction Caps & Accessories

Sydney, Australia | 194 Sales

5 out of 5 stars (69)

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Keith Lo Bue

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Keith Lo Bue

Announcement    Here is Keith Lo Bue's "The Well Dressed Head", repository of hand-built 1910s to '30s reproduction caps, plus Well Dressed Neck accessories and true vintage caps from the early 20th century.

Announcement

Last updated on Nov 25, 2016

Here is Keith Lo Bue's "The Well Dressed Head", repository of hand-built 1910s to '30s reproduction caps, plus Well Dressed Neck accessories and true vintage caps from the early 20th century.

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5 out of 5 stars
(69)
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quality 22 shipping 10 customer service 15

Shop policies

Last updated on December 1, 2014
Welcome to The Well-Dressed Head - saving the world, one cap at a time.

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."

Accepted payment methods

Accepts Etsy Gift Cards and Etsy Credits
Returns and exchanges
I will take a cap back and issue a refund if notified within three days of receiving the cap and the cap is returned in the condition in which it left me. Buyer will ship the cap back to me at his or her expense.
Payment
PayPal, money order and check accepted. If paying by check, please inform me before you order your cap so I can instruct you on how to proceed. Items will be sent out only when funds have cleared.
Shipping
Items are shipped via Australia Post. Orders outside Australia are shipped airmail, however insurance will be extra and is up to the buyer to request from me. Combined shipping is offered for all multiple sales.
Additional policies and FAQs
I want, first and foremost, for you to be delighted with your cap. I'm a good fella, and will bend over backwards to get it right if something goes awry. So just communicate your needs and I'm on it.