How to Display a Navy Dixie Cup (and Shape It First)

The best way to display a Navy dixie cup is on a form that holds its round crown, with the brim rolled the way you wore it. Clean it first, shape it while it is damp, and let it dry on the form. Then give it a spot out of direct sun, where people can see it.

The dixie cup is the white hat Navy enlisted sailors have worn for generations. It went to boot camp, to sea, and to every port call. Every sailor had a way of wearing it. Here is how to bring yours out of the seabag and put it on display.

What You Need

• Your dixie cup
• Cool water and a mild soap
• A clean towel
• Light spray starch (optional)
• A display form that fits a round crown, such as LidSkulls

How to Clean a Navy Dixie Cup

A white hat that sat in a box for years is often dusty or a little yellow. Clean it gently before you shape it.

1. Check the fabric. Look for loose seams or thin spots. Old hats need a soft touch.
2. Hand wash it. Use cool water and a small amount of mild soap. Rub stains softly with your fingers or a soft brush. Do not use the dryer.
3. Rinse well. Soap left in the fabric can leave marks as it dries.
4. Press out the water. Roll the hat in a clean towel and press. Do not wring it, or the crown can twist.

If the hat is very old or has names or dates written inside, test a small hidden spot first. Some ink can run.

How to Shape a Dixie Cup for Display

A damp hat takes a shape and keeps it once it dries. This is your chance to set it the way you wore it.

1. Set the damp hat on the form. Place it on LidSkulls while it is still damp. If the hat sits loose or the crown needs more form, slip the fabric bag that ships with LidSkulls inside the hat first. It fills out the crown so the hat sits right, and it stays out of sight.
2. Round out the crown. Smooth the top with your palm so it sits full and even, with no deep dents.
3. Roll the brim. Turn the brim up and work your way around the hat. Keep the roll the same height all the way around. If you wore it a different way, shape it that way. It is your hat.
4. Add light starch if you like. A light mist of spray starch helps the brim hold a crisp edge. Too much can leave a stiff, shiny look.
5. Let it dry overnight. Leave it on the form at room temperature, away from heaters and direct sun.

The same method works for other soft covers. See the SITREP guides on how to display a boonie hat and how to display a patrol cap.

Where to Display It

A white hat shows dust and fades in strong light. Pick a spot that keeps it bright for years.

• Keep it out of direct sun. Sunlight can turn white cotton yellow over time.
• Give it room. A shelf, a desk, or a bookcase at eye level works well. The rolled brim needs space so it does not get pressed flat.
• Keep it dry. Skip damp basements and spots near a kitchen.
• Dust it now and then. A soft, dry brush once a month keeps it clean.

Many veterans set the hat next to a folded flag, a shadow box, a ship photo, or a sea bag tag. The hat tells the story. The things around it fill in the details.

Why a Form Beats a Hook or a Box

A dixie cup has no stiff frame inside. On a hook, it sags and loses its round shape. In a box, the brim gets crushed flat. A form that holds the whole crown keeps it looking the way it did on your head.

LidSkulls is a low-poly, matte black skull made to hold the cover you wore. It is made in America by a U.S. veteran and fits about 95% of covers, from the Navy white hat to the Army beret. The grip finish keeps the hat from sliding, so the brim stays where you set it.

Display It With Other Covers

Many families have more than one service in the house. A Navy white hat can sit beside a Marine Corps dress cover, an Army beret, or a parent's old cover. Use one form for each cover so each one keeps its shape. For a beret, see how to display a military beret. For a Marine in the family, the gift guide for a Marine veteran has more ideas.

FAQ

Why is the Navy white hat called a dixie cup?

Its round, white shape looks a lot like a small paper cup. Sailors gave it the nickname, and it stuck.

Can I wash an old dixie cup?

Yes. Hand wash it in cool water with mild soap, rinse it well, and press the water out with a towel. Do not use the dryer. Test any writing inside the hat first.

How do I keep the brim rolled?

Shape the brim while the hat is damp, then let it dry overnight on a form. A light mist of spray starch helps it hold.

Will LidSkulls fit my dixie cup?

LidSkulls fits about 95% of covers. If your hat sits loose, the fabric bag that ships with it goes inside the hat to fill out the crown. Every order has a fit guarantee and 30-day returns, and the return label is already in the box.

How do I keep a white hat from turning yellow?

Keep it out of direct sun, away from heat, and in a dry room. Dust it with a soft brush now and then.

Your white hat went everywhere you did. Give it a place of honor with LidSkulls.