Cap Cousins: The Flat Cap and Newsboy Hat

Have you noticed? We are seeing many famous guys trending flat caps and newsboy hats. Brad Pitt, Princes Charles and William, David Beckham and the super adorable Hyun Bin are sporting this hat style. We forget its humble origins.

In the 16th century, the British Parliament wanted to encourage and promote the wool trade in the country, so it passed legislature forcing non-noblemen to wear a woolen cap on Sundays and holidays or face a fine. It was not a law for long, but the accessory never lost its charm among the working class. Its popularity continued among laborers, factory workers, longshoremen, and newspaper boys in the U.S.

There are two styles. One has a “level, trim silhouette due to the single-piece flat construction of the top of the hat. The body of the cap is pulled forward over the brim, and it is either sewn or snapped to the top edge of the brim to create a triangular side profile.” It is usually made from wool or a blend. These hats are worn during all seasons except summer. The other, the newsboy cap, is a looser version of the classic one mentioned. It is created by “sewing 8 [or 6] triangular panels of material together from a central point on the top of the hat, which is covered by a cloth button. The body of the cap is also pulled forward over the brim, but less so than its flat cousin.” The newsboy cap became popular in the U.S. during the 20s and 30s when newspaper boys sold papers on city corners.

Recently, Brittany Spears, Victoria Beckham, and Alex Bornstein, of The Marvelous Mrs. Meisel fame, are seen sporting the accessory. It is timeless and genderless. Remember when in the mod-60s top models Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton wore the style on covers of magazines?

It seems to me the cap cousins remain popular because of their simplicity and working-class roots. Although in Britain, where the cap goes back centuries, the upper classes wear the accessory as a casual item when in the countryside and in pursuit of leisure activities, albeit it is made from very fine fabric. Some opt to wear it as formal wear, not a good look in my opinion, but the style continues to be a classic for casual and informal attire.

Sources
www.gentlemansgazette.com
www.the guardian.com/fashion/shortcuts/2019/mar/12