Flat cap advice

[joe_bloggs]

I never wear any sort of hat except a bog standard woolen one in winter. Thought I'd try something more stylish for a change when it's not too cold so thought I'd start off with a flat cap. I'll mostly be wearing it with a dark charcoal grey peacoat like below. Are there any rules regarding styling or colour of the cap? Would it be best to find one which is a similar colour but not an identical match?

 

[robxznyc]

If your entire outfit is monochrome grey, a hat in a different, complementing color will make you look more alive than a grey hat. Grey works with all colors and depending on your skin tone, either warm colors (mustard/brown/red) or cool colors (green/blue/mauve) or both can look good on you. Things I'd match between the hat and the outfit are the shade of colors and weight and texture of the fabrics.

 

[Blake Stitched Blues]

Tricky to get this one right and the chances of looking like a 'dapper' Pinterest douchebag are very high. High enough that if you have to ask you're probably not cool enough to pull it off. The guy in the image already looks like a prissy douchebag with his too short, too tight pea-coat and aversion to soap and razor blades. This is no good.

If you must do it, I say a tweed cap would be your best bet. Accessorize with a world-weary frown, a copy of the Racing Post and a battered hip-flask in one of the pockets filled with Plymouth Navy Strength. The closer you can look to a character from a Ralph McTell song the better.

 

[joe_bloggs]

thanks for taking the time to reply @robxznyc and @Blake Stitched Blues . I like the tweed idea, might look for one in a more muted colour though. @Blake Stitched Blues those two hats in the image your posted are newspaper boy hats, I'm going to go for a more traditional flat cap, the newspaper boy style comes off as a lot more try hard I think and I don't believe I could pull it off. Baby steps! I'm definitely aware in some places you could come off as a douchebag, however they are pretty common here in the UK and don't have negative connotations. If it doesn't work least I've given it a go and can continue on my style journey!

 

[johng70]

I have a variety of flat caps / trinity caps. If you search for Mucros flat caps or Hanna Hats tweed caps you'll find some great hats.

 

[Count Laszlo]

Love Hanna Hats. Have several tweed. Fun to mix and match.

 

[joe_bloggs]

Well glad I decided to start trying different things as the flat cap finally turned up, went for a subtle grey herringbone. Liked it soon as put it on and have already had a few compliments. Fits like a glove as well. Will definitely look into getting different some different styles, some of those mucros trinity caps look great!

 

[orangehaggis]

I have a variety of flat caps / trinity caps. If you search for Mucros flat caps or Hanna Hats tweed caps you'll find some great hats.

Big fan of the Mucros 'trinity' model flat cap. Seems to suit my face better than the other models or caps from other makers. I own four or five of them.

 

[Casaubon]

How does one gauge whether a flat cap is decent quality or not? Is it just the fabric? What about the construction? I just purchased an inexpensive one online because it was 100% wool tweed in a herringbone fabric with a cotton lining, but looking at it now that I have it, it looks kind of strange. Not having much experience about them, I can't really put my finger on anything -- aside from the fact that it also seems to be too big for my head, apparently.

 

[orangehaggis]

How does one gauge whether a flat cap is decent quality or not? Is it just the fabric? What about the construction? I just purchased an inexpensive one online because it was 100% wool tweed in a herringbone fabric with a cotton lining, but looking at it now that I have it, it looks kind of strange. Not having much experience about them, I can't really put my finger on anything -- aside from the fact that it also seems to be too big for my head, apparently.

Country of manufacture has proven helpful to me. All of my favourite caps have been made in Ireland. There's a maker in Yorkshire whose produce is resold by several different retailers ... their caps are of good enough quality but the shape doesn't suit me.

As far as determining what shape suits your head, there's no substitute for going along to a shop and trying on different ones and seeing yourself in a mirror.

If you're in Canada or the USA, you might see if there are any Irish import shops nearby. If you're in the UK, try to find a shop selling traditional country clothing.

 

[Casaubon]

Thanks. This is, more or less, the answer I received from my father in law. He's had quite a few of these and, as it turns out, he is more satisfied with the ones made in the UK/US as opposed to elsewhere. Hasn't tried Irish-made ones yet. That being said, we are in Serbia and we don't get much import goods from these countries: best thing I can look for is to order online. Although, I think now that the one I bought some days ago isn't bad at all, I just wasn't used to wearing one.

 

[josepidal]

My favorite has been the Gill cashmere caps from Lock Hatter in London. Where do these rank by people's reckoning?

 

[Panama]

Country of manufacture has proven helpful to me. All of my favourite caps have been made in Ireland. There's a maker in Yorkshire whose produce is resold by several different retailers ... their caps are of good enough quality but the shape doesn't suit me.

As far as determining what shape suits your head, there's no substitute for going along to a shop and trying on different ones and seeing yourself in a mirror.

If you're in Canada or the USA, you might see if there are any Irish import shops nearby. If you're in the UK, try to find a shop selling traditional country clothing.

Are you referring to Lawrence & Foster?

 

[Panama]

My favorite has been the Gill cashmere caps from Lock Hatter in London. Where do these rank by people's reckoning?

Lock is a retailer. It's less expensive to buy direct.

 

[josepidal]

Any advice on where?