A flattering hat: a history of the Flat Cap

Long associated with the working class of cities and rural areas, particularly in England and Ireland, the flat cap, also known as golf cap, bunnet, or sometimes erroneously newsboy cap, has endured and spread to elegand upper class country estates. It has known a revival in recent years.

The caps I wear in this video come from Barbour, Wigen's and Dobbs

Title sequence designed by Alexandre Mahler

This video was done for entertainment and educational purposes. No copyright infringement of any sort was intended.

[davidsauls]

The Flat Cap is wonderful. It stays put in a wind and when you go inside, fold it, and it fits in a coat pocket.
All neat, tidy.

[braised]

It is a perfect cap for those of us with sparsely populated head hairs.

[brianholmes]

Living in Ireland, I can tell you firsthand that the flatcap tradition is very much alive and well amongst the irish farming community. It would be odd to see a tractor driver without one

[kwaichangcaine]

I grew up in Ireland 🇮🇪 and my father wore one for most of his life but switched to baseball hats later in life. Rest in peace Jack.

[toysoldier]

I picked up a flat cap at a thrift store. I have a photo of my grandfather wearing one, and it gives me a sense of connection.

[paulbainjr]

I’m 66 years old just started wearing one love it 😊

[sailordude]

Thanks! Great video. I bought two flat caps just looking at the thumbnail. I'm tired of wearing baseball caps.

[francisjo]

This channel is one of the hidden gems of YouTube

[jst]

My prize souvenir from my English study abroad trip is a Harris Tweed flat cap I bought in York. The tour guide’s daughter was in town that day with the group and when she saw me wearing it she said, “Oh it’s a Yorkshireman’s cap! How lovely!”

[Rogsie-pl]

I started wearing flat caps 40 years ago and almost never go out without one.

[Platypi]

44 year old southern American here. I moved from a baseball cap to a bucket cap when I was in high school and then from the bucket cap to a flat cap after college. I still wear a flat cap daily!

[guyjperson]

Finally I understand the difference between the Newsie cap and the Flat cap. Thank you.

[solarguy]

I had two. One from an American friend in Japan that didn't want that present from his wife and one handmade by a vendor at the Saturday market in Eugene Oregon. I started wearing one to work and was laughed at and ridiculed. Never one to care about the opinions of others, i continued to wear. Still have them both.

[Thonolan]

Three years ago, I bought a flat cap in Ireland. I love that hat.

[mnjaguar]

I love that there's a photo that shows both a horse and his rider wearing matching Flat Caps at 6:45

[trwsandford]

I’m wearing one right now. We are bringing it back baby!

[nunyabiznez]

My great grandfather was a bit of a pack rat. He came to America from Westmeath in 1903. He had one hat, a greyish green plaid flat cap hand made of wool by a relative in Westmeath. Being a packrat, when it got a bit too worn to wear he retired it to his closet and obtained another from that same relative, this time in a solid dark forest green. Some years later he obtained yet another one in a brown plaid from that relative and then he got his last one, a solid grey made by the daughter of that relative around 1950. So in his adult life he owned four. They must have been extremely well made because I have all four and while they all have wear, there are no holes. He died when I was five years old and I expressed an interest in them so he gave them to my mother to hold onto until I was old enough to wear and fully appreciate them. He may very well have had others but I only know of four. An uncle of mine obtained his Irish flat cap in 1970. His was made in a herringbone pattern. He passed away about 20 years ago and nobody wanted his cap so my aunt gave it to me and it too fits. When another aunt visited Ireland she brought back three for me and that was around 18 or so years ago. The only one I have that was not made in Ireland of Irish wool is one cousin got for me from Paris which is nearly identical in style and construction as the three most recent ones I got from Ireland but it is solid black and has the added feature of fold up ear flaps which none of my others have. That was for some years my go to winter hat until I moved to Florida though I still occasionally wear it. It goes quite well with my black suit and overcoat paired with a black scarf. That's about as formal as I get. I'm sure someone in Ireland makes them but I have never seen one from Ireland that was all black. Recently I ordered one through Amazon that is a bit brighter shade of green though not quite a Kelly green. From the oldest to the newest there is little difference in design. I have dozens of hats from various periods. But my favorite is my flat cap. It is the one I feel I look the best in.

[anangryranger]

Very old Texan here. Sure, I wear Stetson cowboy hats, but I'm equally comfortable in one of my flat hats or newsboy hats. I am somewhat of a hat wearer who has no boundaries. I enjoy many styles. 🤠

[davidparry]

My Yorkshireman step-dad bought me one as a kid in the 80’s and I rediscovered them about 15 years ago which I wore ‘ironically’ in the trendy urban environment I then lived in given . Now I live in the Scottish Highlands and just wear it as cosy, less childish than a baseball cap and super practical in keeping the wind off my ageing bonce. I love that you can flip it on to your head one handed and there it stays come what may… Great history- thank you!

[jamespeters]

I've been trying to find a flat cap to try locally. Still looking.
Your video was great! Keep up the good work