subject: Flat Caps - The Essential Cap Of Many Names [print this page] Though once reserved for specific groups, such as English farmers or American newsboys, now just about anyone can add a touch of dapper to their look with a flat cap. This headgear is characterized by its small, rigid bill in front that rests under the flat top of the cap that is close fitting to the head. They are usually made from cloth materials, though sometimes leather is used. The patterns range far and wide, but the most well known include tartan and twill. Heavier wool flat caps are more prevalent in colder months. These attractive caps used to be primarily associated with the older generation, but we are seeing a resurgence of them on younger men, and the effect is an air of independence and confidence.
Depending on where you are from, you could call a flat cap by many different names. Windsor cap, sixpence, UNION cap, scally cap, Ivy cap, salmon hat, Irish cap, Jeff cap, Dai cap, touring cap, driving cap, newspaper cap, paperboy cap, or even taxi cap are some of the terms used to refer to this form of headgear. Mostly these are indications of the populations associated with wearing them. Often seen on the heads of young paperboys in New York in earlier generations, in America they are sometimes called newspaper caps. In movies, cab drivers are stereotypically wearing them, garnering the names cab cap, taxi cap, touring cap, and driving cap. In the United Kingdom, flat caps have long been a staple of country dwellers and certainly linked to the working class.
However, now in Europe and America, flat caps are an essential part of a fashionable man's wardrobe. Stylish urban fashions are enhanced by a flat cap. They can be added to just about any unique style. Preppy, grunge, trendy, hip hop, classic gentleman, country, and more get a boost from the addition of a scally cap. Celebrities are sporting them at all occasions; even royalty has long embraced their practicality. You can't wear a crown everywhere, right? They are flattering on just about every face shape, and women attest to their sex appeal.
Flat caps are made especially comfortable and warm by the insertion of a lining, usually made of silk. Traditional materials for a flat cap include twill, wool, cord, and summer cotton. Some summer caps have air vents to increase cooling air flow. These are typically seen as driving caps. All around, the touring cap is a stylish addition to any wardrobe.
