Urban trends

Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 8.48.27 AM     Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 8.48.37 AM     Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 8.48.32 AM Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 8.48.22 AM     Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 8.37.28 AMScreen Shot 2016-02-02 at 8.48.15 AM

Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 8.37.32 AM            Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 8.37.37 AM             Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 8.37.14 AM

Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 8.37.22 AM     Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 8.37.18 AM

Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 8.37.08 AM Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 8.36.54 AM Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 8.37.03 AM Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 8.37.00 AM

There was once a time when hats were seldom seen at this school. An urban baseball hat could been seen atop the likes of Greg Monfils, Riley Maddox or actual members of The Urban Baseball team, but that was about it. There were some students that always wore hats, however, such as Nick Lacey (‘16), who claims that, “a hat is meant to be backwards” and can be seen wearing a variation of about three hats every single day. But now, hats of different shapes, colors and styles can be seen everyday at Urban.

   Out of all the trends and fads to arise at Urban, wearing hats is undeniably the most popular this year. More students have been seen coming to school with their hair concealed under a hat of some sort, the most popular being the comfortable, but stylish traditional baseball cap; favored to other hats such as five panels and snapbacks, which tend to have bulkier silhouettes.

   But now, there is almost an Urban subculture surrounding hats. It is mostly boys that wear hats daily, but girls can be seen occasionally participating in the trend as well.

   But why wear hats in the first place? Where does the hat originate from and what is it used for today?

   Hats maintain an excellent balance between style and functionality, and both of these elements can be observed at Urban. Multiple boys wear hats because their hair is getting longer. In that awkward in-between phase, a hat can prevent hair-related incidents from getting out of control. A beanie can protect one’s head from the harsh conditions of El Niño, and any hat with a brim protects the eyes from the bright California sun. Other students wear hats for fashion-related reasons: to support a certain brand, complete an outfit, or ironically brand themselves with some logo.

   What does it mean to consistently wear a hat in a school environment? Traditionally speaking, it is disrespectful to wear hats indoors. The wearing of any hat, baseball caps in particular, creates an informal environment. This is not a big problem however, considering that Urban tends to be casual in almost every aspect of education and any other interaction. I asked Arnaud Finet about the matter, since he comes from the very traditional French schooling system and strictly enforces the no hat rule himself. He explained that as a student in France the rule was strictly cultural and that teachers never explained it to students because it was universally agreed upon. Moreover, hats can be a distraction to students and teachers. A brim tilted at the right angle can prevent student-teacher eye contact, and lower engagement. Yet this is only speculation, and when asked if he thought hats detracted from learning, Arnaud responded, “Me personally, no.”


   It is still custom in schools across the country for a student to remove their hat before class as a matter of respect for the teacher and the class itself. However, removing a hat means revealing the wild hair that students generally use hats to cover. Should students be expected to remove hats in classrooms as a matter of respect, or is it fine to wear a hat all day for whatever reason? These are questions to ponder, as more and more students can be seen wearing hats.