The "Classic Revival": Why Staple Hunting Caps and Casquettes Look Stylish Now
Every year a new hat shape becomes the talk of the season, but 2026 feels a little different. Rather than eccentric new designs, long-standing staple shapes such as hunting caps and casquettes are once again being seen as "current." You don't want to fall behind the trends, yet anything too quirky feels a bit embarrassing—this "return to the staples" is catching exactly that mood. From the time the summer sun softens into early autumn, we sort out easy ways to bring it in with light cotton or denim, from the point of view of a hat shop in Kyoto.
QUICK ANSWER
The keyword for 2026 is "classic revival." Rather than hunting for a new shape, the shortcut is to choose staples like hunting caps and casquettes afresh to match the clothes you wear now. In summer, choose light fabrics such as cotton, linen or denim and they won't look heavy, so you can wear them from this season on. To start, simply put one on with a T-shirt or jeans you already own.
01
TREND SUMMARY
The classic revival: what is happening now
In overseas fashion media, the phrase "the year of the hat" has been appearing often since the start of 2026. Among the styles named again and again are slightly nostalgic shapes such as the flat cap and the baker boy (what in Japan are called hunting caps and casquettes). Nostalgic, vintage, classic—the wording varies, but what they share is a sense that "rather than newness, we are returning to shapes that have long been considered good."
The trend is similar in Japan. Some commentators call 2026 "the year of the classic revival," noting that, along with hunting caps and casquettes, calm colors such as a "greenish brown" are drawing attention. Overall, rather than jumping at novel items, there seems to be a growing mood of enjoying once again the staple shapes and materials that have been refined over the years.
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FASHION GUIDE
An explanation for first-timers
Put simply
A hunting cap is a flat hat with a brim that sticks out just a little at the front. A casquette is a fuller, rounder version of it. And there is also a shape somewhere in between, called the "cas-hunting cap." Unlike the casualness of a baseball cap, all of them give a slightly more grown-up, put-together impression as soon as you put one on. They may look difficult, but they are actually a group of hats that "look neat easily," which makes them a good first step.
The clothes you pair them with don't need to be anything special. A T-shirt and jeans, a white shirt and wide-leg pants—put a staple hat on your usual outfit and the whole look quietly comes together. Classic shapes are often thought to be "too formal," but in summer that isn't the case if you choose light fabrics such as cotton, linen or denim. Because the material is light, it blends easily with a simple look of just a shirt. Heavier fabrics such as tweed and wool, on the other hand, are best saved as something to look forward to once it gets cooler.
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HAT STYLE
If you want to bring this trend in with a hat
There is no need to brace yourself, thinking "Won't it only suit me if I buy a whole set of classic clothes?" If anything, keeping your usual casual clothes and making only the hat a staple shape fits today's mood better. A hat sits close to your face, so it alone can change the impression of your whole look. That is exactly why keeping your clothes as they are and taking in the trend through a hat is easy and rarely goes wrong. The way you wear it also changes the look with just the angle: pulled down deep for a calm impression, or set shallow and pushed back for a lighter one.
- Put a denim casquette on a weekend T-shirt-and-jeans outfit. The denim-on-denim textures match, and the look appears effortlessly stylish.
- Pair a cotton twill hunting cap with a white shirt and it creates natural shading around your face, combining a neat feel with a relaxed mood.
- If you're still unsure about the shape, start with a cas-hunting cap, which sits between a hunting cap and a casquette. It rarely clashes with any outfit, making it an easy shape to choose as your first.
Examples of hunting caps and casquettes being worn at the Fab store are also shared from time to time on our official Instagram.
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WORDS / Fab RECOMMEND
Hats to pair with this return to the staples
![Denim casquette [WS-50180]](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0699/2229/1778/files/wj-143.jpg?v=1788330959)
Denim Casquette
WS-50180
A staple casquette shape in easy-to-handle denim fabric. Just put it on with a relaxed T-shirt-and-jeans look and it comes together as effortless grown-up casual style. Its lightness, which doesn't look heavy even in summer, is its strength.
- Denim
- T-shirt
¥4,950 (tax incl.)
*Please check the product page for price and stock.
![Heavy twill hunting cap [WS-50146]](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0699/2229/1778/files/wj-144.jpg?v=1788331040)
Heavy Twill Hunting Cap
WS-50146
A hunting cap in textured heavy twill fabric that resists losing its shape and keeps a clean form. Paired with a white shirt or a jacket, it lets you enjoy the classic-revival mood in the most straightforward way. Choosing a brown shade gives a calm look that suits this season.
- Shirt
- Jacket
¥4,950 (tax incl.)
*Please check the product page for price and stock.
![Herringbone cas-hunting cap [WS-50188]](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0699/2229/1778/files/wj-145.jpg?v=1788331041)
Herringbone Cas-Hunting Cap
WS-50188
The most versatile shape, sitting between a hunting cap and a casquette. The fine herringbone pattern is refined and doesn't clash with any outfit. The fabric is light, so you can wear it year-round, and it is a signature style that is easy to choose as a first hat.
- Wide-leg pants
- Sweatshirt
¥4,950 (tax incl.)
*Please check the product page for price and stock.
![Herringbone casquette [WS-50194B]](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0699/2229/1778/files/wj-121.jpg?v=1788330919)
Herringbone Casquette
WS-50194B
A casquette in a linen-blend herringbone material that looks cool and light. Its moderate volume makes it easy to wear, and it goes well with light spring/summer outfits. It is one way to bring in the herringbone look being named overseas, in a fabric suited to summer.
- Linen shirt
- White tee
¥4,950 (tax incl.)
*Please check the product page for price and stock.
TRY IT ON
You can try hats on in Kawaramachi, Kyoto. The fit and silhouette, which are hard to judge from photos alone, can be checked by actually trying hats on in the store.
05
REFERENCES
Sources for this article
Who What Wear
From Pillbox to Baker Boy—5 Unexpected Hat Styles Set to be Everywhere This Spring
Published: February 6, 2026
Features flat caps and baker boys (hunting cap and casquette types) as hats to watch this season. A feature article saying that a return to nostalgic, classic shapes is the key.
Read the original articleDandy
[Trend Forecast] 2026, a Classic Revival | Hats That Suit Grown-Up Style
Published: January 26, 2026
A Japanese explainer article that frames 2026 as a "classic revival," focusing on staples such as hunting caps and casquettes and on calm colors like a greenish brown.
Read the original article06
MORE FROM JOURNAL
Further reading and next steps
For the differences between shapes and tips on finding what suits you, see "What Is a Cas-Hunting Cap? How It Differs from a Hunting Cap and Who It Suits" and "For Those Who Feel Hunting Caps Don't Suit Them", where we explain in detail. If you'd also like to see other colors and sizes, take a look at the product list pages in the ONLINE SHOP.
DIAGNOSIS
If you're not sure whether hunting caps or casquettes suit you, why not start with the Hat Finder Quiz and check which shapes and ways of wearing tend to suit you?
