A flattering hat: a history of the Flat Cap
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- 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.
Version française: • Tout un plat: l'histoi...
The caps I wear in this video come from Barbour, Wigen's and Dobbs
Title sequence designed by Alexandre Mahler
am.design@live.com
This video was done for entertainment and educational purposes. No copyright infringement of any sort was intended.
It is a perfect cap for those of us with sparsely populated head hairs.
Yes
Why? What does it do, that's any better than any other hat, for thinning or bald folk?
@ddr8215 Wearing a hat indoors is banned in the UK, unless you are female, or a small child. It's just _not done!_
Shhhhhh!
Don't let the cat out of the bag!
Unfortunately for some,@@steves7896, everybody has known all along, that those friggin' cats have been shedding.
*Wigs,* however - and *comb-overs* - they are perfect strategies! Nobody can _ever_ tell what's really going on under there, when the wig, toupé or comb-over are employed. 😐
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.
Indeed.
And some of them have a useful earflap that can be tucked away when not needed. So cozy!
i forgot about that! i like billed tobogans for the same reasons
Sin é.
_Wonderful?_ You need to get out a little more often, squire. 😐
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
I am very happy to hear that!
and a lad walking the streets of old milwaukee wisconsin usa not wearing one as well. hee hee.
Make more videos because your videos are amazi like them
I live in Hampshire in England and I would say every third man wears one in the winter.
@@MattM-ce3qe Same, as a Cornishman
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.
This channel is one of the hidden gems of UA-cam
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.
I’m 66 years old just started wearing one love it 😊
I started wearing flat caps 40 years ago and almost never go out without one.
Tell that to your profile pic!
@@seansoccer100 got him 😂😂😂
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.
why were you laughed at and ridiculed? how silly
Good for you.
Hi from Eugene
Really strange reaction, isn't it?? Very American, it seems. Very conformist behaviour @@nozrep
I get comments on mine. But I feel and look silly in baseball caps. My friends joke about it, kindly. My kids (my own and my students) line the style and wear mine when they can get it away from me. I take that as a compliment. And the opinion of 3rd graders is worth considering!
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!”
Finally I understand the difference between the Newsie cap and the Flat cap. Thank you.
Three years ago, I bought a flat cap in Ireland. I love that hat.
I love that there's a photo that shows both a horse and his rider wearing matching Flat Caps at 6:45
And the horse is wearing a tie?!
A matching tie, shirt, trousers and jacket! Together with the cap none of which I noticed on first viewing, how is that possible?
Excellent observation!
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.
Kelly, my favorite shade of green!
Incidentally, the name of the girl who took my V Card🤣🤣🤣
My grandfather called them “going down the road caps” probably because a lot of sports car drivers wore them. That’s what I called them for years not knowing the flat cap name.
I started warring them for cycling because they didn’t blow off easily, shielded my eyes from sun and rain and my Grandfather’s name seen to fit. I did switch to a bike helmet when they became more available but carried my flat cap in a bike bag for when I got off my bicycle.
Over all a very practical hat.
Cycling caps have a similar construction to the flat cap with a short stiff brim, but the body of the cap is more form fitting so it fits under a bike helmet.
Huh? "going down the road caps"..?
Was your gramps already going senile by then?
Warm and comfortable
I’m wearing one right now. We are bringing it back baby!
This has been my go to style of cap for years.
What's good enough for Fred Dibnah is good enough for me.
Big love fi Dibnah
I was in Ireland in 2018. They were having a heat wave then. It was all of 80 degrees F. Not having as much hair as I did when I was young, I needed to cover my head. We were in the village of Cong. So we went into the gift shop and I purchased a flat cap. It was a bit warm but it kept the sun off my head. Still have it. It is a very good hat for winters in the northeast. Glad I bought it.
Irish caps can be a bit heavy in fabric, 95% of the year it's perfect 👍
Nice village Cong, The Quiet Man was partially filmed there in 1952, it's only about 40 mins away from me in Galway City
I have an Irish linin flat cap summer, cool and keeps sun out of my eyes, very practical. Only downside is it wont stop the tips of your ears getting sunburn
Late Dad born and raised in Wales wore won , I wear one all the time now. Proper and with a tobacco pipe great to go mind!
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!
Libertines: Time for Heroes; 2002: "There are fewer more distressing sights than that, Of an Englishman in a baseball cap..." I have always heartily agreed.
Baseball caps, plain ones, are not childish.
Yorkshire the land of flat caps and ferrets
The Newsboy cap is also called a Yorkshire cap in the North of England.
@@geoffpriestley7310ahhhh, ferrets, the tubesteaks of the animal kingdom!
My grandson got me one from England, and it’s my favorite hat .
God bless you and your grandson
I have a heavy weight one for winter and a lighter summer one for best , then several corduroy ones as well.
I got tons of those caps
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!
I’m a flat cap loving bastard,since the late ‘90s! It was December of 1996!
One can not argue with classic, functional headware.
I used to wear a flat cap to school as a child in the 80s. No idea why, just a bit odd I guess.
Well, so did I, so I understand. Embrace the oddity.
Same. I wore one on occasion and didn't really think anything of it. One of the band members of ACDC was shown wearing one.
Think back to the movies back then. The cool anti (insert plot of movie) guy wore one.
Very interesting as are all your vids.
@@martinholmes-ue9ko I concur.
I was brought up in the wake of Two Tone, by my grandfather in Coventry, who was a very old retired publican of a famous wartime pub who was very old-fashioned even when he was young, so I have been wearing fedoras, trilbies and flat caps ever since I was the only boy in my school during the 1980s to do so, and as a result my nickname of the best part of forty years has always been: 'The Hat'. From that time, I have consistently espoused the opinion that the decline of hat-wearing in England has much to answer for, as if in jest, but actually in sincerest earnest. It has been most gratifying to bear witness to the hat-wearing revival over the years since then, especially amongst the youth. Nonetheless, I unfailingly learn some fascinating new insight into the world of hats every video I watch on this channel. It is content of the highest quality. I doff my hat to you, Sir.
Ahh, the bunnet. Very popular in Scotland. Not just Northern England and Ireland.
From the North of England, I endorse this message!
I wore various flats during the 70's disco era. Now that i'm over 60 and bald, I got a nice one from Louisiana to wear. Welcome, old friend!
honestly that's my plan if ever I should start balding. No hair? Hats're the next best thing or even better
Wore these since my teenage years in Detroit the mid 90s.
Loving the fact that there are so many more fabrics available now.
I was part of a 70’s pop band. I wore a flat cap and sunglasses 😎
Was it a look? Did the other band mates dovetail to that?
surly not 'curiosity killed the cat'...🙄
@@Alienalloythat was the 80s
I have fond memories of my grandfather wearing his to church every Sunday. He had 3 for the 3 different suits he owned. 😊
It’s one of my favorite too!!!!🤗🤗🤗
I didn't realise my leather Stetson brand 'flat cap' is actually a Newsboy cap. Thanks for pointing out the difference. The reason I wear (both) is that they're so practical. Being short, the sun visor in my car doesn't come down far enough to shield my eyes from the sun when I'm driving towards it when it's low on the horizon (to and from work). My flat cap does that job. It keeps me head warm, and when I'm out and don't want to wear it, I can fold it up, like a Cornish pasty, and stick it in me pocket. So I call em 'Pastie hats'!
I grew up in the States but have worn flatcaps and newsboys since I moved to Canada many decades ago. The newsboy has become my favourite cap though I still wear the Ivy. The newsboy worn by Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders did grab my eye.Very practical and yet stylish.
It appears that the fedora is having a bit of a resurgence in popularity.
The fedora is popular amongst neckbeards and hipster douchebags. I've refused to wear mine ever since those fat bastards soiled the reputation.
I Love Flat Caps and I like History a lot so I never expected to find a channel like this
I have one that I bought in Ireland. I love it as a classier version of a billed cap, which I wear daily outside in my working gear. My flat cap is warm, doesn't mess up my hair too badly and looks nice with my fall wool clothes.
I automatically think of my uncle. He was a faithful wearer of the Flat Cap . He had a everyday one and another that he only wore to Sunday services.Thank you for posting. ❤
I have a very fine example of a 'baker boy' flat cap ( like the news boy but with a curved peak) in Harris tweed with eight panels from Earland & Sons Leicestershire hatters. I've had it for years and it ages gracefully; it is lovely and warm in cold weather and, being Harris tweed, reasonably waterproof. I've been told it's flattering to my face by more than one lady so naturally I'm delighted with it.
The newsboy hat is absolutely my favorite hat. It STAYS ON MY HEAD. Hardly any other hat will because my wiry hair gradually pushes it off. I've probably gotten dozens of compliments on my newsboy hat, even from strangers passing me on the sidewalks. Apparently lots of people who don't wear it are still fond of it. Living in the snowy north, I like the sort with ear flaps. It's wonderfully practical and comfortable.
I've been trying to find a flat cap to try locally. Still looking.
Your video was great! Keep up the good work
Born and bred in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, reaching a certain age, and following in the footsteps of my late father and grandfathers, I recently felt inclined to buy and wear a flat cap myself. And it feels great...
Same. I have quite a few these days, as a Geordie it's a way of commemorating my ancestors as I think you are to. Pride. 😊
I never thought i could have Enjoy hats so much …. Thanks !
I'm from the US and I wear both a flat cap and a newsboy cap unusual wear the newsboy cap when it's really sunny out cause of the wide viser and the flap cap when it isn't to sunny but I like them both just the same
Such good hats. Easily fold it up to fit in a coat pocket. Perfect for holding whats in your pockets when ya sleep.
Just great.
Now I´m also old and retired I´m perfectly happy to wear a Delboy cap !
I'm really enjoying your series. My wife is a milliner, and she introduced me to the world of hats a couple decades ago. A flat cap is one of my favorites. In Japan, they're called "hunting" caps, and the newsboy caps are called "casquettes". I'm glad you pointed out the difference. Can't wait to see more.
I bought a lovely tweed flat cap to wear when driving my Mazda Miata with the roof open. All I need now is the Miata !
I was wearing mine only the other day. I live on a narrowboat on the UK canals and it's the perfect piece of headgear. My family is also from Ireland, so there's also the familial tradition of wearing them. Great video by the way.
Thanks for your post. I have several flat caps and a beret or two. I find them more convenient to wear than other types of headwear.
Terrific job! Interesting and informative! In my family, these hats are a bit of a family tradition. My 3rd great grandfather, an immigrant to the US from Waterford during the Great Famine, wore more of a newsboy cap while working in a brownstone quarry. His son wore a flat cap. My great grandfather became a Chief of Police and wore a Fadora when not in uniform. My grandfather wore a variety of hats including a flat cap. My dad has been wearing a flat cap for as long as I can remember. So it was only a matter of time before a picked up the family tradition--been wearing a flat cap for the past 3 years and love it. Now I'm trying to get my 23-year-old son to join the fun; so far, no luck there!
I love these hats. I wear one nearly exclusively. In America I don’t think most know the history so thanks for that. I feel a lot of connection to my forbears the more I learn about them. I know I’m part Scot at least. Wearing the hat actually gives me the feel of an old world intellectual and sometimes an American hipster from mid 20th century somehow.
On a recent trip back to Wales to visit my family, I live in Canada now, they had my dad’s flat cap proudly displayed, along with his Bowler hat. The flat cap was his daily wear. The Bowler for special occasions, funerals as he was a pallbearer when needed at our church. I have just found your Channel and I am enjoying it immensely . I am now looking for a flat cap or a newsboy cap for my self, as I now know the difference. Thanks John.
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. 🤠
Have both Summer and Winter versions of the Sicilian 'Coppola', which I wear most days here in Sicily. It's both stylish (my opinion anyway) and very much a necessity here. Great presentation. Thanks...! :)
I live in the US, but bought one in Dublin when I visited a couple of years ago. I like it a lot, and even get compliments when I wear it out and about.
My grandfather was a dairy herdsman in England from the 1930s through to the late 1980s and I spent much time in an agricultural environment as a child as a result of his work. He always wore a flat cap, as did my father and uncle. In old photos I can see that my great grandfather, also a dairy herdsman, also wore one.
As a child in the 70s and 80s, I dont think I ever saw an agricultural worker in the south of England that wasn’t wearing one at work.
My grandfather’s flat caps were usually brown tweed, often in a dog-toothed check pattern. He wore a smart looking one to church and a slightly more worn one on the farm. When his Sunday cap started to look a bit old, and his work cap started to wear out, the church cap was demoted to everyday use and a new, smarter, cap would be purchased for church. After he retired he still wore a smart flat cap to church or when going out somewhere, with his older one being used as a gardening hat.
I own two, which I wear quite a bit. One is grey tweed, the other a brown dog-tooth check much like the one my grandfather wore.
I have worn both styles for over 50 years! Because of practicallity!
Wind? Rain? Driving convertible? Bicycle?…you name it….
IT STAYS ON AND DOES THE JOB!
I just realised that it's kind of a thing among older men of Turkish origin in Germany. Makes sense with the Attatürk connection you mentioned!
Living in New Hampshire and coming from English and Scottish ancestry, I’ve always been drawn to flat caps. My first one was a black leather Harley Davidson cap I bought in 1977. Great for wearing while riding but, a tad warm during most of the year. Around the end of the last century, a company in Boston, Massachusetts started making them. Called the Boston Scally Cap, they sold well. I now have a black wool flat cap and a sand colored cotton weave cap. My granddaughter was visiting Ireland and sent me cap made there in a wool tweed. Love them all.
There was a hatter in Norwich, England; Rumsey-Wells, who was a well known maker of a wide variety of cap styles.
There’s a pub in Norwich called Rumsey Wells
@@sacredinstrumentals Yup. It's in the building that was Rumsey Wells shop. 😁
I wore baseball caps or welding caps for a number of years, and was given my 1st flat cap as a birthday present @30 years ago. My wife, along with a number of other female family friends, all told me that it fit my face and looked much better on me than the others, big surprise I guess as I'm of Irish/English heritage. I've worn nothing but flat caps ever since and have a fairly decent collection, with my main daily wearer being a rather battered leather one. Enjoyed learning the history behind it.
I really enjoy your videos. They are informative, clean, and nicely presented. Good job!
Another perk, for me, is that I watch both, the english and french versions. I went to a french school for a few years, as a child, in Montreal.
It's amazing how much I still remember, but don't have the opportunity to speak french very often, as I live in western Canada now. Watching the french version is helping me retain french as a second language.
Merci bien. Continuer!
Merci! Heureux de pouvoir aider!
I keep my dear dad's flat cap to remind me of him. He wore it for many years.
My grandfather an engineer wore one basically to keep his hair clean at work , the cap was filthy with oil. And going back to then people didn't get bathed or showers as often so it would make sense to have a covering for your hair when worn with overalls meaning only your hands and face will need cleaning.
I hadn't thought of that
Still true today. I work in a dirty workshop with lots of dust in the air.
I like to wear a cap to keep dust, oil, grease, paint and glue out of my hair. (I have the kind of hair that don't want to be shampooed to often)
I prefer a short-brimmed cap, (sometimes called a five-panel cap or golf cap), as it fits my head shape. I also have to wear ear protection 99% of the time at work, wich requires a cap that fits tight on the head, and doesn't have that button on top of the crown.
The flatcap has been a key element of my cold weather style ever since 2009 when I was in highschool. I have both a brown and a grey Donegol herringbone tweed cap made by Hanna Hats, which have a very nice quality appearance. I love the color specks of Donegol tweed.
Vive la Normandie, très bonne expliquation merci 🤝🏻
One of my favorite.
I appreciate your making a clear distinction between the flat cap and the newsboy cap. I am a big fan of the latter (and an old newsie myself). Ive had versions for decades, including white versions for summer and tropical wear. I've nothing against flat caps except the shape. They are too narrow for my head. The same is true for small newsboy caps, which are fashionable now.
Try looking for a Bond Cap as worn by Edward VIII, they are a round topped wool hat with a peak, wider and floppier than a flat cap, and are often seen but not discussed in this video although they are a big part of the evolution of the flat cap, don't have eight panels like the Tam O'Shanter ("Tammie") and are more like the original Blue Bonnet / Balmoral but with a stiffened peak.
I have a picture of my great-uncle from the 1920s.
Dressed in a chequered ‘Knickeboker’ suit. With a flat cap made from the same fabric. Very fashionable at the time.
My flatcap was made in Ireland by Hanna Hats. When the weather gets cold, I don't go outside without it. Thank you for this video!
I must have about 12 of those, very well made, and not really cheap once I think about it LOL
My father used to wear them. I've always rode a bike so I needed something to keep my glasses out of the rain in order not to be completely blinded. Fishing hats are dirt cheap, but the floppy brim didn't help much. Australian steerhide hats were a lot better, but also more expensive. I finally decided to follow my dad's example and bought a flat cap. I never regretted it. They're extremely comfortable. And apart from all the advantages already mentioned, I've found the forward slope keeps the cold winter wind off my forehead. I've caught sinusitis with an insulated cap made with the most modern materials, but never with a wool flat cap.
Hats off to you, sir! Fantastic video! Very informative!
My most Aerodynamic cap! Great in windy conditions
Well, again I am delighted to learn about another hat in a concise, informative fashion! I do have to ask however, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do the cowboy hat soon! I cannot wait for the deep dive, and it is on the intro art... even if not on the cowboy hat keep them coming!
Merci!
I swear it's coming, I wrote the script recently, but I have a few more that are lined up before it, so it might still be a little bit. But it'll come, I promise!
Thanks! Great video. I bought two flat caps just looking at the thumbnail. I'm tired of wearing baseball caps.
Love the history! I'm looking for a British driving cap to go motoring in my modern Mini Cooper S...or flip it around for cruising in my vintage Model A roadster! Thanks!
Brian Johnson of AC/DC is who I always relate to this hat, enjoyable clip!
Bravo Jean-Charles - had no idea this flat cap went so far back. Great storytelling to your history presentations.
Back in the 1960's my dad wore a train engineer's cap on the farm. But when he and mom were going to town, he wore a flat cap. Always.
Really enjoying the channel☺ And I will admit, ive been incorrectly calling these "newsboy" hats🤦, but they are my favorite. Ive also seen them called "snap brim" hats
Your changing outfits cracks me up. Now you're upper class.
I knew it, Haha!
Next one is the beret, I think
My flat cap is made of lovely harris tweed, its also got a curse on it, i go all 'northern' when i put it on, great vlog JC keep em coming!
I always associate them with grumpy old Yorkshiremen!
"Eeeee baaaah gum......" ;)
Yorkshireman wins the pools and decides he needs to renew his headwear. So he goes down to London and ends up in a posh emporium in Jermyn Street. The assistant oils up:
"Good morning, sir, and what is your pleasure?"
"Beer and women, but ah want a flat 'at."
Or people who stereotype Yorkshire men! 💩
This youtube suggestion is proof that our phones are always listening.
As a keen wearer of many different styles of hats, I’m pleased that only two weeks ago, I bought my first flat cap.
It’s not been off my noggin since. 😄
May I suggest the Welsh Hat as a possible for a video?
Neat channel, never thought much about the history of hats.
I like your username by the way
Great bit of presented history, thank you! My partner just picked me up one.
Extra extra, read all about it, flat cap ain't my hat
Video bien interessante, merci :)
I like flat caps like irish tweed caps. Curly Howard of the three stooges wore a flat cap, its his favorite. He wears it like if he was a little boy back in Brooklyn lol. Thanks for sharing this history of the Flat hats. It was interesting. 😊
We called them "Jeff caps" in Philly. Everyone wore them.
In Philly too, most often called a Jerry cap in my circle
I remember when fedoras and flat caps were the style in my highschool, in 2010.
I used to work in Ireland a lot. One of the sites I worked on was really rural and the local pub we all stayed in had a big restaurant with a bar on the other side. I saw this big Irish farmer guy, all ruddy cheeked sitting at the bar side tucking in the largest potato I've ever seen in my life. He had a flat cap on but his huge bonce had worn a hole in the back of it so you could see half his bald, beet red head showing. He just sat there tucking into his spud whilst I was thinking, why doesn't he get a new cap?
Flat caps are very comfortable and practical, I got one on a trip and wore it constantly till I lost it.
I will be getting another soon..
The famous bunnet 😊
Great video. I used to wear hats when i was younger, when I was a traveller. The flat cap was my favorite.
I remember growing up before I knew the proper name for these they were just old boy hats. Because people would describe it like that. "That fella in the old boy hat" for example. Because it was always old men you'd see donning them. I remember late 90s early 00s they started to appear with celebs and such and it was only then I actually learned they're called flat caps.
As a teen, we called them “college stud hats”. I own a scottish-made woolen one gifted to me by my brother
I finally know that my everyday hats are called flat caps.
Very well put together history. I’ve 3 at the moment. Two flats, but the visor is fixed, and one newsboy. Had no idea it was called that. Over the years it looks like the size has been diminished significantly. As you say, they were all the rage in the early 20th century, I think all that all my male relatives wore them.