It’s December – and that means Art Basel Miami Beach, the art fair that kicks off the party season. But what to wear to protect one’s head against the southern sun? Clearly a woolly cap, the usual seasonal headgear, is inappropriate. Enter the luxury baseball cap. It’s become a piece of art in itself – and not just in the United States.

“The baseball cap, interpreted in a smarter way, marries two of the key trends for men at the moment – tailoring and sportswear,” says Ben Andrew, men’s fashion buyer at Liberty of London, where styles by Paul Smith and Kenzo are particularly popular. “I think this is definitely a part of the move towards men dressing up, and it also highlights the importance men place on accessories, which allow them to represent trends and buy into designer brands in a very accessible way.”

Witness, for example, street fashion label Acne, normally known for its wasted urban look, which has created baseball caps in black, dark brown, navy and forest-green tweed that epitomise the trend towards remaking a sporty basic in incongruously luxury fabrics. “I like taking generic pieces like the baseball cap and mashing them up with traditional luxe fabrics like tweed,” says Acne designer Jonny Johansson.