As you may guess from the theme of this site, we’re fans of flatcaps here at the Geeky Blinders. I have a variety of flat caps that I’ve been wearing for the past year or so, many of which are in traditional patterns like herringbone or a newsboy style. While these caps look great, the problem is that they offer limited outfit opportunities. For example, while they’re terrific with a collared shirt or a jacket, they just look a little off when dressing more casually in something like a t-shirt. As a result, I had been on the lookout for a flatcap that I would wear comfortably when I’m dressed more casually, as I typically tend to be.
A few months ago, Boston Scally, my favorite flatcap company, released the baseball-themed “Youk.” As a colorful, light cap, it looked like the kind of thing that would be a comfortable, casual wear in the summer. I ordered one and was immediately pleased with the purchase.
The hat has a definite baseball theme, being named after Boston Red Sox player Kevin Youkilis. While it may seem sacrilegious to wear a hat themed for a Red Sox player while being a Cincinnati Reds fan, I figured the red color of the hat would still make for a good match with most of the Reds-themed clothing that I have. That was the primary reason I opted for the red color rather than the blue or white options. The blue accent isn’t ideal, but I don’t think it’s a dealbreaker. For what it’s worth, Kevin Youkilis is a Cincinnati native, as well.
The baseball stitching along the back, left side of the hat is a really cool accent that makes it clear what this cap is all about. I feel like it really sets things off when I wear it with Reds-themed clothing, though it’s also subtle enough that I enjoy wearing it with random clothing as well; I don’t feel pigeon-holed into only wearing baseball gear with it.
A hallmark of Boston Scally caps is that they always feature cool artwork screen-printed inside the hat, and this one has a terrific caricature of Yukilis. The plaid pattern again features more blue that I’d prefer to not have, but it’s fairly innocuous considering most people aren’t really looking under the peak.
This feels like terrific cap for the summer baseball months, as it’s very light and breathable. While some of my more traditional flatcaps offer up a bit of warmth in the fall months, this one does the opposite in a very good way. I’m curious if the material will be difficult to keep clean since it’s a solid color and is fairly soft, meaning dirt could get embedded in it more easily and be difficult to scrub out without damaging the fabric. It’s held up well so far, though I’ve only had it for a short period of time.
For any baseball fans looking for a casual cap that can be worn with low-key outfits, the Youk is a terrific choice!