Trends Not to Try: Granny Caps

I was blissfully unaware that people actually thought Katie Holmes’ sloppy knit beanie look was worth emulating until those darn NYC Prep kids came along. On last night’s episode, Jessie, who desperately wants to work in fashion, walked into a Charlotte Ronson interview wearing her granny cap. While I am admittedly not particularly interested in the arc of Jessie’s future career, I found myself muttering, “take off the stupid hat. Please take off the stupid hat for the interview.”

There are trends that are a little controversial, and there are trends that almost seem specifically formulated to mark you as a blind follower. Granny caps, with their propensity to instantly render their wearer frumpy, belong squarely in the latter category. Hats in general can be a little tricky to work and can be a detracting factor from an otherwise well put together ensemble, which is why most of us avoid them on a daily basis (unless weather forces their necessity).

If you find yourself desperately yearning for a granny cap despite reason and aesthetics, try a beret a la Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde instead. It’s a cleaner look overall, and will make you appear to be more woman of mystery, less bag lady.

Katie Holmes photo credit: Daily Mail