That Trucker Hat’s Got History
There’s nothing that feels as true to the early 2000s as the trucker hat. Icons like Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton were always rocking various blinged-out Von Dutch caps on The Simple Life, and Nicole Polizzi, better known as Snooki, was a pioneer of the accessory during her Jersey Shore era.
But that doesn’t mean it was considered fashionable. It was a statement. It was ironic. The trucker hat, per the name, was originally the accoutrement of the American blue collar and rural working class. According to accepted internet wisdom, the hat — shaped like a baseball cap and made of several diamond-shaped pieces, typically with a mesh back and a button on top — was a cheap-enough-to make piece of merch that feed shops (as in, animal food) and farming supply outlets made for their customers, who were, primarily, truckers, in the 1970s.
Trucker hats were useful. Then, in the 2000s, they became a tacky appropriation of something like country western living. But, like the arc of the UGG, all that’s changed. These days, the trucker hat is it. And it’s been adopted by some of the most fashionable celebrities.
Here, we take a look at the evolution of this beloved staple, and how it went from a feed-store giveaway item to a fashion accessory embraced by everyone from Rihanna and A$AP Rocky to Kylie Jenner and Megan Thee Stallion.
Livin That Life, Von Dutch
It’s impossible to talk about trucker caps without talking about Von Dutch. The brand was everywhere in the early ’00s, and although surrounded by various controversies, the label managed to make a massive comeback as the Y2K fashion trend grew bigger. It even inspired Charli XCX’s 2024 song “Von Dutch” (duh), and although Paris and Nicole are no longer spearheading the trend, they’ve passed the torch to celebrities like Kylie, Megan Thee Stallion, and Addison Rae.
Bieber Fever
In the 2010s, the trucker cap evolved into the snapback and fitted caps from brands like New Era. One early adopter and loyalist of bringing the trucker hat back was Justin Bieber. His signature purple cap slowly matured into backwards trucker hats, many from his own label, Drew House. Thanks largely to Bieber making it his go-to look, they quickly went from cringe to cool.
Rih & Rocky
Fashion’s royal couple Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are no strangers to the trucker cap, especially those from Rocky’s own label, AWGE. The rapper is frequently spotted wearing various pieces, both vintage caps as well as versions from brands like Kapital, and if there’s one person who can make something cool, it is undoubtedly Rocky.
Staying Low-Key
The blinged-out hats from the early ’00s might not be synonymous with laying low, but more minimal, vintage caps are becoming a staple for celebrities looking to conceal their identity. The cap is basically the physical equivalent of turning on incognito mode when browsing the internet. Of course, Jacob Elordi has been spotted wearing one, as well as Austin Butler, which means they’ve been given the Hollywood heartthrob stamp of approval.
Merch, Baby!
Trucker caps were originally a major marketing tool, and plenty of brands are still using them as such. Kendall Jenner’s tequila brand, 818, has done a handful of merch, and the trucker cap is undoubtedly one of the most popular accessories. Of course, there’s also the iconic Chrome Hearts cap, which re-sells on sites including StockX for over $600. The moral of the story is, merch will never die! Nor will the trucker hat.
