Denim Headwear is having a moment
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Image credits from top right: Gucci.com ; Crosscolours.com ;
@beyonce, Levi’s REIIMAGINE Campaign, simonlyphotography, via press.beyonce.com
Ball caps, cowboy hats, and buckets. Denim headwear is in style, but it’s not the first time. Here’s a look back at who wore it first, who made it popular, and why this indigo accessory feels so fresh yet so timeless.
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Denim Bucket Hats | Denim Baseball Caps | Denim Cowboy Hats
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In the 1800’s, denim apparel surged in popularity among the rugged cowboys, miners, and railroad workers of the American West. Denim was not used for headwear, however, until WWI when the U.S. military issued denim uniforms for chore work. The uniforms came complete with a brimmed hat for sun production while laboring outdoors. This brimmed hat, now known as a bucket hat, was the debut form for denim above the collar.
The bucket: From workwear to Fashi0n
Vintage “Denim Work Hat” issued by the U.S. Army during WWII.
The bucket hat continued to be worn for sun protection, and was eventually adopted for beach/resort wear in light colors. It was, however, still seen as utilitarian rather than stylish (think “Giligans island”). The bucket hat didn’t become fashionable until the Hip Hop stars of the 1990’s made them cool. So cool. LL Cool J is often credited with bringing the bucket hat to Hip Hop style in the late 80’s with his signature Kangol. Although LL Cool J is most associated with the red Kangol, mixing bucket hats with streetwear become the hot new look that is now quintessentially 90s style. With the rise in popularity, bucket hats became available in a wide range of new fabrics, including denim. In 1992, Mary J Blige wore a denim bucket hat by streetwear brand Cross Colours on a MTV appearance with Grand Puba. Cardi B wore the same hat on tour, 26 years later. 90s style is back in 2025, and so are denim buckets. The iconic Cross Colours denim bucket is linked below, along with several other beautiful choices you can shop today.
Mary J Blige on MTV in 1992, wearing the Cross Colours denim bucket
Image credit: MTV video clip shared by @chambersofhourrors9393 via Youtube
The late music artist, Aaliyah Haughton, at a signing in the 90s.
Image source unknown. Please contact for credit.
The Ball Cap: From Sportswear to Style
Around the same time, in the early 1990s, when LL Cool J was rocking his signature red Kangol, a monumental shift in fashion was happening: sportswear was gaining acceptance outside of athletics and into mainstream streetwear. Prior to the 90s, baseball caps were primarily used as on-field sporting equipment. The fusion of sportswear into fashion brought casual materials, such as denim, to athletic styles for the first time. Brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Guess began offering denim caps as lifestyle products in the 90s, but they’re more popular today than ever before. The current surge started with the “quiet luxury” phase in 2023 and has been gaining momentum since. At the 2025 Grammys, Kendrik Lamar topped his Canadian tuxedo with a custom denim Los Angeles cap by designer Christina Marie Rivera. Today, many brands are offering their take on the denim ball cap, so you can now get the low-key look at non-luxury prices.
Denim Cowboy Hat: For decoration Only.
While denim bucket hats first emerged as a functional workwear staple, the denim cowboy hat tells a different story. Cowboy hats are traditionally crafted from materials that hold a rigid structure, such as leather, felt, or straw. Denim is soft and lacks weather resistance, so it never made the cut for real cowboy workwear.
The first denim cowboy hats were created exclusively for fashion, likely sometime during the Western Glam (“Rhinestone Cowboy”) era of the 1960s–1980s. In 2001, Justin Timberlake, accompanied by Britney Spears, wore a short-brimmed denim cowboy hat to the American Music Awards. The moment was iconic — but it didn’t ignite a trend.
Fast forward to 2024: Beyoncé releases Cowboy Carter and, in 2025, tours in head-to-toe denim — including, you guessed it, an assortment of denim cowboy hats. Unlike the 2001 JT appearance, Beyoncé has ignited a broader trend for western wear, with denim once again at its core. The denim cowboy hat, however, remains a bold statement. Most are opting for a more traditional cowboy hat paired with a denim-heavy ensemble below the crown.
Image credit: Beyonce.com
Shop Our Picks for denim buckets, ball caps, and cowboy hats
This is the Cross Colours hat worn by Mary J Blige and Cardi B, 26 years apart. It also comes in “Vintage Indigo” for a lighter wash.
Image credit: crosscolours.com. Image to be updated with affiliate image upon program approval.Check site for current price and availability.
Coach created this up-cycled denim bucket hat from repurposed garments, giving each hat a unique look. No two are the same, so you can own a one-of-a-kind twist on the style.
Image credit: Coach.com. Image to be updated with affiliate image upon program approval. Check site for current price and availability.
This limited edition denim bucket hat by Imogene + Willie is another beautiful choice made from repurposed jeans. We love the worn-in fading that comes from using pre-loved denim.
Image credit: imogeneandwillie.com. Image to be updated with affiliate image upon program approval.
Check site for current price and availability.
The vintage shape of this baseball hat pays homage to authentic sportswear roots. The light wash is perfect for a summer day outside.
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Levi’s wears the crown for head-to-toe denim. Of course we can rely on them for a classic, casually cool, denim dad hat in a variety of colors.
Image credit: levi.com. Image to be updated with affiliate image upon program approval.
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Tommy Hilfiger brought back the denim Tommy Girl cap that reined supreme in the 90s. This one looks fresh, but feel free to wear it until it looks like a thrift store find.
Image credit: Tommy.com. Image to be updated with affiliate image upon program approval. Check site for current price and availability.
Clarev brand is self-described as “laid-back California style with Parisian polish,” and this embroidered denim ball cap proves it. Ciao!
Clarev
Baseball Hat, Navy Denim w/Embroidered Cream Ciao
$70
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Celine blends laid-back cool and high-fashion polish for the Triomphe Baseball Cap. The elegant patch against, soft, washed denim makes this cap feel as luxury as the price tag.
Image credit: Celine.com. Image to be updated with affiliate image upon program approval.
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The Artichaut cap has a waitlist, but don’t worry, Jacquemus has several other superb designs to choose from. If you want this one you’ll need to get in line for it, and it’s easy to see why. The frayed brim creatively displays a side of denim usually reserved for cut-off shorts, and the adjustable strap is somehow down-to-earth and elevated at the same time.
Image credit: JACQUEMUS.COM. Image to be updated with affiliate image upon program approval.
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JACQUEMUS
The Artichaut cap
$170
Denim cowboy hats first appeared during the rhinestone cowboy era of the 70s and 80s, often bedazzled with embroidery and sparkle. Levi’s Rodeo Hat strips away the rhinestones for a cleaner indigo look, but thanks to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, even this pared-back version feels glam. The topstitched seams with gold thread is a heritage Levi’s design, adding authentic detail to the more modern shape of the crown.
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The Wrangler Denim Pocket Cowboy Hat has turned seams, which minimizes the stitching and showcases the shape instead. The cattleman crease at the crown is more exaggerated than the Levi’s Rodeo Hat, giving it a more traditional cowboy hat construction.
Image credit: Wrangler.com. Image to be updated with affiliate image upon program approval. Check site for current price and availability.
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Sources:
Heddels – “Wartime Blues Part 2 – Denim Uniforms of the U.S. Army” (James, 2023)heddels.comheddels.com.
Google Arts & Culture – “CCC Uniforms – Fatigues, 1933-42” (Civilian Conservation Corps Museum)sites.google.comsites.google.com.
Stan Ray (Workwear Brand) – “Roots of Hickory” (2022 blog article on hickory stripe denim fabric and railroad caps)stanray.comstanray.com.
Trains Magazine Forums – Discussion on Railroad Engineer Caps (user Paul_D_North_Jr citing Stormy Kromer cap history, 2009)forum.trains.comforum.trains.com.
People.com – “Look Back at Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s Iconic Matching Denim Moment”(Hanna Flanagan, Oct 13, 2022)people.compeople.com.
Vogue – “LL Cool J, Missy Elliott, and More: The Kangol Hat’s Greatest Hip-Hop Style Moments” (Brooke Bobb, Dec 16, 2016)vogue.com.
Harper’s Bazaar – “Kendrick Lamar Doubles Down on Denim at the 2025 Grammys” (Rosa Sanchez, Feb 2, 2025)harpersbazaar.comharpersbazaar.com.
Gucci – Product Page: Denim Baseball Hat with Double G (Pre-Fall 2025 Collection)gucci.comgucci.com.
Hypebeast – “Diesel’s Fall/Winter 2025 Runway” (Feb 26, 2025, coverage of Glenn Martens’ collection)hypebeast.com.
IMA-USA.com - Product page: Original WWII U.S. Army Daisy Mae Blue Denim Fatigue Work Hat - Size 7 5/8 ima-usa.com.
Marie Claire - “Beyoncé Adds Another Layer to the Double Denim Trend” marieclair.com