At the stadium in the middle of winter or at the edge of the pitch under the June sun, your head deserves the club's colours too. The hats and caps of football bring together the beanies with cuffs and pom-poms from OM, PSG or Arsenal, and the club caps, from Real Madrid to Juventus, including several by New Era or '47.
Your colours, from the stands to the edge of the pitch.
The turn-up hat, known as cuff knit in English, folds over the forehead to double the thickness of the knit around the ears: it's the model of the Arsenal Cuff Knit or the OM Essentials. The pom-pom hat, like the PSG Core Cuff Pom or the Pompom Essential from OM, adds a classic touch from the stands; the word pom-pom actually comes from French, and the Napoleonic infantry already used it to distinguish their companies by colour. More understated models, like the Mizuno hat or the hats from FC Metz and OGC Nice, can be worn both in the stands and during winter warm-ups.
To complete the outfit, Gloves keep your hands warm during winter matches, Water bottles accompany tournament days in the blazing sun, and Sliders take over after the shower. Those playing in screw-in studs will find their spare parts in Studs, and scarves, armbands, and other everyday items are gathered in Accessories.
New Era, founded in 1920 in Buffalo, New York, by Ehrhardt Koch, names its caps by styles. The 9FORTY, like the PSG Ripstop or PSG Core, is structured, with a pre-curved visor and an adjustable strap at the back: a one-size-fits-most design. The 9TWENTY, similar to the PSG Houndstooth, is unstructured, softer, and lower on the forehead. The 39THIRTY from FC Porto, finally, closes with an elastic band and comes in sizes from XS-S to L-XL, depending on head size.
The brand '47 gets its name from 1947, the year when twins Arthur and Henry D'Angelo, Italian immigrants settled in Boston, launched their business of flags and souvenirs around Fenway Park. It notably designs the Arsenal Diamond Cut Hitch cap. Other baseball caps in the colours of Juventus, Real Madrid, OGC Nice, FC Metz, or OM, as well as those of the Portugal and Tunisia national teams, provide shade during end-of-season tournaments and July training sessions, with a visor that keeps your eyes in the shade while watching the ball.
A beanie in the club's colours is the ultimate supporter gift: during Black Friday and the end-of-year holidays, look for it in the Equipment Promotions. The winter sales clear out the last beanies of the winter, while the French Days equipment in spring opens the season for caps. The summer sales and the return of training sessions, finally, see models with old logos or colours go to Clearance.
Wrap a tape measure around your head, just above your ears and across the middle of your forehead, following the widest part of the back of your skull. Compare the measurement to the brand's guide: if you're between sizes, choose the larger one.
Models with adjustable straps often tighten enough for a teenager, but can still be large for a young child. For younger ones, opt for a cap offered in children's sizes or an elastic fit in the smallest size.
Wash it by hand in lukewarm water with a gentle detergent, without scrubbing, then press it dry in a towel. Let it dry flat, never hung up or on a radiator, so that the knit and pom-pom keep their shape.
Avoid the machine: it can distort the visor and the structure of the front. Instead, clean by hand with a soft brush and soapy water, then let the cap dry on a rounded support to keep it in shape.
The rules of the game allow head coverings if they pose no danger, are black or the main colour of the shirt, and are not attached to it. A supporter’s pom-pom beanie is therefore not suitable: for playing in very cold weather, opt for a thin, plain beanie.