Items Of Clothing That May Be Worn Backward Crossword Clue

By: Five Letter Words | Last edited: May 04, 2025

Searching for the answer to the "Items of clothing that may be worn backward" clue from the May 04, 2025 New York Times Mini crossword puzzle? We've examined this fashion-focused clue and identified the perfect 4-letter answer you're seeking. For puzzle enthusiasts who prefer an interactive solving approach, we offer engaging tools to enhance your experience—use our letter-by-letter reveal feature to discover the solution progressively, or explore our specially designed hints including anagrams, alternative clues with identical answers, and detailed explanations to guide your thought process. We've also simplified navigation between related clues in the same puzzle, making it seamless to solve multiple entries. Ready to discover which versatile clothing items can be worn in reverse? Let's explore this practical fashion-related crossword clue!

Crossword Answer:

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About This Clue

The May 04, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword featured the clue "Items of clothing that may be worn backward" with the answer CAPS. This clue references the common practice of wearing baseball caps and similar headwear in reverse, with the brim facing backward. This style became particularly popular in the 1990s and remains a casual fashion choice today. The clue cleverly focuses on a distinctive characteristic of caps—their ability to be functionally worn in multiple orientations—making them one of the few clothing items specifically designed to work when worn in reverse.

Linguistic and Cultural Context

The term "cap" derives from the Latin word "cappa," meaning head covering or hood. While caps have existed in various forms throughout history, the modern baseball cap emerged in the mid-19th century as part of baseball uniforms. The practice of wearing caps backward gained significant cultural traction in the late 1980s and early 1990s, particularly through hip-hop culture and figures like Ken Griffey Jr. in sports, who popularized the backward cap as a style statement. Unlike most clothing items that have a clear front and back design, caps—especially baseball caps—maintain functionality and a distinctive appearance when reversed. The bill or brim, originally designed to shade the eyes, becomes a neck protector when worn backward. This versatility is relatively unique among clothing items, making caps a perfect answer for this crossword clue. The plural form "CAPS" works well for the crossword answer, as it fits the clue's wording of "items of clothing" in the plural. Other clothing items that might sometimes be worn backward (like certain shirts or jackets) typically aren't designed for reverse wear and don't have the same cultural association with backward wearing as caps do. In contemporary culture, wearing a cap backward continues to signify a casual, youthful, or rebellious style. It's associated with various subcultures, sports settings, and casual fashion. The practice has been embraced across generations, though it retains its origins in youth culture and sports. This cultural significance adds depth to what might otherwise seem like a straightforward crossword clue about clothing.

NYT Mini Crossword Tips

When facing clothing-related clues in the NYT Mini Crossword, consider both common garment types (like "COAT," "SOCK," "HAT," etc.) and specific variations ("CAPS," "TEES," "VEST," etc.). The length of the answer (four letters for "CAPS") significantly narrows down the possibilities. Clues that mention how items are worn or used often point to a distinctive characteristic of the clothing. In this case, "worn backward" is a defining feature that sets caps apart from most other garments, making it an ideal crossword answer. Pay attention to whether the clue is phrased in singular or plural form. The clue "Items of clothing..." signals that the answer should be plural, directing you toward "CAPS" rather than "CAP." In the NYT Mini Crossword, answers typically rely on common knowledge rather than obscure facts. The backward-wearing of caps is a widely recognized cultural practice, making it accessible to most solvers without requiring specialist knowledge. Remember that the Mini Crossword favors concise, clever clues that may have multiple layers of meaning. While this clue is relatively straightforward, it effectively narrows the answer by focusing on a specific and distinctive characteristic of the garment.

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