Cap question

psugrad98 · Dec 1, 2011

So I've been taking to wearing flat caps

I've really been into flat caps recently, especially in the cool fall and cold winter her in the Northeast USA. I went from a single 8 panel newsie last year to a few I got in the past week. I have a oilskin one I got from Woolrich, it has flaps that come down for the ears, and I got a rounder one I got at the Bollman Hat outlet in Adamstown, PA.

I really like how they stay on your head, and can be worn with damned near anything. Anyone else get into a certain hat at different times of years?

filfoster · Dec 1, 2011

yes, I like to alternate the more '30's stlye 'newsboy' caps and Basque berets with fedoras in the winter.

Giftmacher · Dec 1, 2011

They are great, can't wait till I get one. Fedoras doesn't fit to all outfits after all.. (I have tried it on B-3 jacket-horrible

)

TidiousTed · Dec 1, 2011

I often wear flat caps or a sixpence as they're usually called around here. My favourite for this time of the year is a woolen charcoal one made by Ralph Lauren. It cost me an arm and a leg, but this is the fourth autumn I'm using it and it still looks new so I guess it was worth it

Gene · Dec 1, 2011

It's funny, I've been unconsciously wearing mine more often this time of year, and now that I think about it, I've tended to gravitate towards it during the late Fall/early Winter for the past few years now...must be programmed!

Tomasso · Dec 2, 2011

I've got a bunch, from tweed to cashmere to linen. They're great for windy days as they stay on better than most any head wear. My tweeds have drop-down rabbit lined ear flaps which will keep one nice and toasty on those arctic like days.

Historyteach24 · Dec 2, 2011

I wear flapcaps on casual Friday's with jeans and a sweater. You are right they go with damned near anything

Hepville · Dec 2, 2011

I have about 25 newsboy caps I guess... for every season, different colours/ fabrics and matching to most outfits I wear... and more are coming
For me they don´t have to look like new when worn over a longer space of time... each of them becomes an individual shape also I´ve used the same pattern for them.

psugrad98 · Dec 2, 2011

I was in line for a book signing yesterday and there were quite a few folks wearing flat caps. It seems that either they never went out of style and I'm noticing them more, or they are coming back.

Tomasso · Dec 2, 2011

psugrad98 said:
or they are coming back.

I think that they are gaining in popularity.

The Wiser Hatter · Dec 3, 2011

Flat caps have never gone out of style. An they are easy to find you can even pick one up at Walmart. I have a lot of them that I wear back and forth to work picked them up at Dillards they always have new colors and fabric's for each season. Thou I love newboys the best as you can tilt them more for different looks. Just picked up a vintage malrov that is fantastic. I will post pictures in the Cap faction thread soon.

psugrad98 · Dec 5, 2011

One question I have is why do flat caps and newsies have buttons on the brim? Why not just sew it shut?

gdc · Dec 5, 2011

psugrad98 said:
One question I have is why do flat caps and newsies have buttons on the brim? Why not just sew it shut?

I have a dozen or more flat caps. All but two have one snap, a full 8 panel has two. The nicest and most expensive one is a Borsalini Doria which is sewn shut. The brim is nicely joined to the cap without any of the uneven puckering from the snap. I would never wear one unsnapped.

MJH · Dec 7, 2011

I have quite a few caps. My favourite is the Stetson Mesquite which is sewn shut. It is a brown newsboy style cap and is brushed cotton and looks like leather. I also love my James Dermot caps. I can't believe how much you can tell the difference between a cheap cap and a quality one. I'm after a cashmere cap for Christmas.

The Wiser Hatter · Dec 7, 2011

psugrad98 said:
One question I have is why do flat caps and newsies have buttons on the brim? Why not just sew it shut?

What the snaps are for is to allow the user to adjust the lay of the cap. When the top is sewn shut you can not adjust the cap to how you want to wear it. Sort of like the stamped in crease of current felt hats.

Edm1 · Nov 27, 2014

Hey, I see some caps with snaps holding the cap down to the visor. I also see some with no snaps where it is sewn. When did the makers start sewing as opposed to putting the snap on? Or as it either way from the start?

Thanks
Edit...I didn't mean to post as a addition to this thread. When I titled the thread it must have seen that there was one named that already and revived it.

GregNYC · Nov 27, 2014

It's a good question, when the changeover from snaps to sewn visors. Speculation here, but I wonder if snaps go along with leather sweatbands and sewn-down visors go with grosgrain visors. Retailers aren't doing leather any more, as of 15 or 20 years, as I was told by one long-time hat salesman.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

DamianM · Nov 27, 2014

Sewing the cloth to the brim is a fast and lazy way manufactures have pushed too.

Its very much modern innovation

I personally dislike them

Johnny J · Nov 27, 2014

I really haven't seen any old vintage caps with the crown sewn down to the visor. Either they had snaps or didn't.

seabass · Nov 27, 2014

sewing the brim down is a cheep shortcut for the modern factory made cap
vintage caps have all the good stuff & I have some vintage with grosgrain & leather sweats
& im talking pre WW2 vintage & older
there was always different grade of cap you can buy but even the cheapest cap of early vintage was made well compared to todays caps

good thing we have custom cap makers around that rival quality of yesteryear as well

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