Hats (for a change)

My best looking and fitting caps have come from B! Wear Cap Co. (http://mariposa.yosemite.net/bwear/)

@FlatCap99 thanks for the useful info! I'd kindof assumed that this style fit and wore more or less the same as a baseball cap, and I've never had a problem with a baseball cap interfering with glasses, so that's an interesting point you raise. I assume that the newsboy or flat cap and the baseball cap are closely related, and that a newsboy (despite the name) is more or less a less juvenile-looking baseball cap.

I didn't put my photos in any kind of ranked preference in the original post. I like all of them, and it's hard to say which one I would like the best, since these are all on websites and I can't actually try any of them on. #6 was the least expensive of them, but the one that the most people seemed to agree on that they liked. So, probably a good place to start.

I also really liked #3, but it's the most expensive of them (but is a hand-made item sold by an etsy seller, alas not in stock currently). I worry that it might be too big and floppy on me, but it's got a lot of character.

I'm surprised that no one has stated a preference for #2, which I might have picked as my favorite. I think, if I were to rank them, just based on these photos, I'd probably have gone #2, #6, #3, #1, #4, #5, but that I'd probably like any of them.

Since I hate it when people post stuff without linking to where it's available, I'm going to follow up with links to each of them shortly.

I have more caps than I can even remember, but now thanks to this thread I see another needless rabbit hole awaiting me. Retail therapy time.

Guppy:
An addendum. Since you like leather, don’t overlook a leather cap. This one is a vintage Dobbs that goes well with the vintage Vanson.
Just a thought...
Bowen

#1
Harris Tweed Black Fleck 8 Panel Bakers Boy Cap
40.00 GBP


Sold by Aero, this was the first one I noticed and felt drawn to. It seems like a good, basic cap, nothing fancy about it.

#2
Stormy Kromer Unisex Gatsby Harris Tweed Cap
$69.95


I really like this one, even if it's not exactly like a most of the others. But the biggest size they have in stock is 7 1/4 and I'm probably closer to a 7 3/8.

#3
Handmade Black Harris Tweed captains cap
$106.19


I love the way this one looks on the model in the Esty shop, but I don't know that I can pull off the big, floppy hat look. Around here (NE Ohio) I worry it'd make me look like a pretentious bohemian.

#4
Brown Barleycorn Harris Tweed Baker Boy Cap
$39.82


#5
Stornoway Harris Tweed Navy Wool Flat Cap
$58.07


#6
Heather Scott Harris Tweed Newsboy Cap (Black)
Currently 20% off, I think it's a clearance item as they are low on stock.
22.36 GBP in black; prices vary depending on color.


This one I think is a good balance between too flat and to floppy, and I like the color. Their barleycorn is a nice color too, but a few GBP more.

AbbaDatDeHat said:

View attachment 144953 View attachment 144954 Guppy:
An addendum. Since you like leather, don’t overlook a leather cap. This one is a vintage Dobbs that goes well with the vintage Vanson.
Just a thought...
Bowen

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I've seen a couple of these, but I think it's too much leather on top of a leather jacket... Might be better with a tweed coat.

Guppy said:

@FlatCap99 I'm surprised that no one has stated a preference for #2, which I might have picked as my favorite. I think, if I were to rank them, just based on these photos, I'd probably have gone #2, #6, #3, #1, #4, #5, but that I'd probably like any of them.
.

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I was surprised as well. #2 has a unique look and I love the way the deep purple, black, and green tweed looks. I could never pull that particular style off, but if I could find a tight fitting 6 panel in that fabric I would buy it immediately. I think I may be checking out the manufacturers of these this afternoon. Financially speaking, I find that my hat habit is far easier to sustain than my outerwear habit

I know this place is called the Fedora Lounge, but I am no hat person...never wear them. With that said, I really like the first hat you posted the best. These hats are something you can wear without looking like you're in cosplay too.

miglan30 said:

I know this place is called the Fedora Lounge, but I am no hat person...never wear them. With that said, I really like the first hat you posted the best. These hats are something you can wear without looking like you're in cosplay too.

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Yeah, that. I can't wear anything other than a baseball or knit cap without feeling I'm cosplaying, and even a baseball cap is pushing it.

I like the bowler hat, though. Wouldn't ever wear it but I like it.

And your reason for wearing a cap would be what? Isn't that the first question to ask oneself? For me it is strictly practicality. Is it for warmth? Or is it to keep the sun, or the spotlights while performing, out of my eyes? Those are the only reasons I can think of for cap wear. Once the initial question is answered, the rest of it ought to fall into place.

Isn't there a hat thread in another section? This should probably have gone there?

Peacoat said:

And your reason for wearing a cap would be what? Isn't that the first question to ask oneself? For me it is strictly practicality. Is it for warmth? Or is it to keep the sun, or the spotlights while performing, out of my eyes? Those are the only reasons I can think of for cap wear. Once the initial question is answered, the rest of it ought to fall into place.

Isn't there a hat thread in another section? This should probably have gone there?

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I just thought I might look good in this style of hat.

I didn't think about it ahead of time, but I assumed that hats were outerwear. Didn't remember that there's a whole separate forum for hats. If a moderator would like to move this over there for me, please feel free.

It starts with caps.......


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

if only I have more symmetrical ear and not one ear jutting more to the side and another flat against my head I probably would like to wear cap more as sun is killing here. but since I shave the side and back of my head, and I try to cover my ear with my hair wearing a cap makes me look like wearing a wig


but from those reveal
news paper boy
baker boy
unisex
farmer
and
"~captain~"

easy choice to me

Jury's out-Hat or no hat.Having got used to wearing appropriate headgear I feel under-dressed without it.

Didn't they hang people who didn't wear a hat back in the 50's?

Just picked up a new Wiggens yesterday. I think you’d like some of their newsboy models.

https://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/category/mens-wigens-hats.html

Monitor said:

Didn't they hang people who didn't wear a hat back in the 50's?

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More hung in the 30's-40's. Hats were already on the decline in the 50's.

Peter Bowden said:

Jury's out-Hat or no hat.Having got used to wearing appropriate headgear I feel under-dressed without it.

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This picture has loooots of cool things going on.

Bamaboots said:

More hung in the 30's-40's. Hats were already on the decline in the 50's.

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Yes and President Kennedy put a final end to them. No longer mandatory to wear, but certainly an option for a specific purpose and use—the way it should be.

@Guppy, just saw this thread and wanted to share some thoughts.

First, I'm surprised this thread didn't appear in the "hats" forum, where you'd likely get even more input and more ideas for hat options (this is the Fedora Lounge, after all). But since you're familiar with many of us in the "outerwear" forum, I can see why you posted here.

I like wool caps and have a modest collection. They're all flat caps. I think they can work really well with a vintage jacket, as shown in my last WJAYWT post with my 1950s halfbelt.



I'm not so sure wool caps work well with a mc jacket--especially a non-flat cap. Even though your choices above differ substantially from what Brando wore, people may associate that look with him and think "cosplay:"



Of your choices above, I think the "seaman"-style caps (#2, 3) would work best with something like a heavy wool peacoat, but still possibly bordering on cosplay. I associate the "newsboy" style caps (#1, 4, 6) with youths. While they all appear well-made, they seem to belong within the province of boys from another era rather than contemporary adults. I picture rag-tag kids hawking papers on depression-era street corners.

Flat caps to me are more within the adult realm, so my preference is #5. Plus, it's a Harris Tweed cap, which means it's hand-woven from the finest wool in the world. Irish-made Donegal tweed caps from brands like Hanna are also great. Their multitude of flecked colors make them very versatile with a variety of jackets/coats.

There are some links in this thread to some nice hat makers. Here's another option: Orvis. You can find numerous tweed caps there for less than $100. The Yorkshire caps are hand-made in England by Lawrence & Foster and are top quality. I believe Orvis has a current promotion of $25-off items over $50. It's a good way to enter the hat world without spending too much money. Plus, Orvis has a very generous return policy if you find a cap isn't right for you.

One last thought: caps like these will not keep your ears warm.