Bob the Cap Catcher and the Enduring Appeal of Corny Dad Fashion

A speedo-clad star is born.

This past weekend, an unlikely style star emerged at the Summer 2024 Olympic Games. He was focused. He was purposeful. He commanded the rapt attention of people from all corners of the internet—all while wearing a cheeky little floral Speedo and nothing else. Yes, I’m talking about “Bob the Cap Catcher,” a man of unknown origin whose sole purpose seemed to be diving in the water after professional swimmers’ errant silicone head coverings.

A quick Google search reveals two things about the Olympics mystery man. First, "Bob" may or may not be his real name, and second, he's a professional lifeguard, according to the Associated Press. But honestly, I don’t need any more details. This international fashion sensation won my heart the moment he strutted across that pool deck filled with hard-bodied elite-level athletes, flaunting a softly curved abdomen worthy of a Raphael painting. Only someone with unabashed faith in themselves could possibly pull off teeny tiny colorful swim shorts (hilariously referred to by The Telegraph as “budgie smugglers”) with total aplomb.

His look is a shining example of the gloriously unselfconscious “dad style” we all know and love—and living proof the corny-cool aesthetic is just as relevant today as it was when Costco sneakers first took off more than half a decade ago.

I mean, just look at some of the biggest fashion trends of the last few decades. Exhibit A: the humble cargo short. A staple of the gives-no-sh*ts fatherly aesthetic, these bad boys are traditionally worn with a furrowed brow, NYT crossword puzzle, and black coffee sipped from a chipped “Ithaca Is Gorges” mug. Lately, however, you’re more likely to encounter cargos on a 20-something influencer filming a ‘fit check in a cool downtown NYC neighborhood than on a dad mowing the lawn.

Next, direct your attention to the classic tube sock. Pulled high and tight on one’s calves, this questionable accessory choice used to be a favorite of the shaggy-legged dads shouting from the bleachers at my childhood softball games. But these days, an exposed white sock is the equivalent of a fashion dog whistle—it proves you’re in the know. And don’t even get me started on the way clunky New Balances, floppy bucket hats, and fleece jackets have fully infiltrated the luxury market (or, at least, the product drops at SSENSE).

Dad style, to me, is less about what these dudes choose to wear while, say, tinkering in the garage or grilling up burgers in the backyard and more about conveying a certain relaxed and steady state of mind. The best corny dad fashion gives the air of someone who is so deeply comfortable with themselves that they aren’t afraid to do or say something a little dopey. In fact, much like our Olympic cap catcher, they know showing their dorky side will endear them to the world.

Channeling this vibe with your clothes is the sartorial equivalent of saying you don’t really care what other people think of you—and, better yet, you’re cool enough to pull off something hokey. It’s the dad joke version of “BDE”… as in he’s got that “Big Dad Energy.” It’s Seinfeld-coded “normcore” from 2016. It’s last year’s Adam Sandler summer of baggy T-shirts and basketball shorts. And it’s definitely a boldly printed banana hammock…especially when worn on national television.

In the days since Bob the Cap Catcher’s triumphant stride across that 100-meter stretch of chlorinated water, the women’s gymnastics teams have gloriously reclaimed the spotlight. But let's not let this fun dude and his joyful swimwear get lost in the churn of high-stakes drama and sports-dominated news feeds. I haven't stopped scanning the daily scrum of photos to come out every morning from Paris to see if his viral status won him a seat in the stands next to the likes of Cindy Crawford or Nicole Kidman.

Because I’d like to think if he did show up again, Bob would grace us with a dad-forward outfit uniquely suited to the occasion, like jorts and a Hawaiian shirt or maybe a luridly-colored polo. And if Simone Biles drops a hair tie while vying for her second gymnastics all-around title? Of course, he’d be ready and waiting to catch it for her.

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