Whilst my favourite posts have been about music, Web 2.0™ and pie, strangely one of this blog’s most frequently read articles is one that I wrote earlier this year about flat caps. It has put me in touch with several fantastic flat cap fanatics who I never even would have known existed had I not accidentally appointed myself as their unlikely poster child.
As unintentional as my flat cap fame is, I still must bear the fashion responsibility that it bestows upon me, and when serious issues strike the flat cap community, I need to respond. Recently I have noticed that some flat cap owners seem to not understand how to properly wear them. Granted, it can be rather confusing, as they easily fit on the head in up to as many as two possible positions. My beloved grey Kangol didn’t even come with instructions!
With this in mind, I have prepared the following diagram to illustrate how to properly don your flat apparel without looking like a twat*:
* Please note that Samuel L. Jackson is the only human being in existence allowed to wear his flat cap however he chooses without being guilty of twattiness. This is because no one who values their life should ever consider calling Samuel L. Jackson a twat.
Well put Gary. I feel as strongly as you do about the style and I understand the bond of family ties in regards to respect after they are gone. Im most certain your Grandfather is proud of you as mine is as he was a flatcapman himself
The best thing to do about cleaning your cap is not to get it dry cleaned as it would have cardboard that could shrink and ruin the shape of the cap. My way with tweed is a damp sponge and then air the cap out streaching it every so often to retain its shape it works with cotton and velvet caps so tweed should work as well
I am a proud cap wearer from the british isles. FORWARD!! Simple as that.
I completly agree Grodgers. Im proud of my beloved style and always will wear it forwards. Im Australian but I dont judge the style by the guys wearing it e.g age as its a cap for any age and NOT just the elderly nor disrespect the design by wearing it backwards. They dont wear their underwear outside their pants so why they slander a style that has lasted for 100′s of years is beyond me
Hello again,
I’m now thinking of getting a cool looking pork pie hat. The flat cap issue I have gotten over and now wear it sideways. My blues band is now on the up and apparently people like that I make a little effort to dress up and at least look like I know what I’m doing while performing. Any thoughts here regarding the acceptable levels of hats named after a tasty and calorie-tastic snack, Mr Duff et all?? Melton Mowbrays Rock! Pasties BOO!!
I vaguely remember the humble pork pie when I dabbled in headwear before settling to a flatcap but I havent worn one since 1991. But recently the fedora/Trilby/porkpie has come back into fashion via MTV and thou its good to see the Doctor Jones look back again. Im a flatcapman and alway will be.
I dont think you can go much wrong Porkpie wise as I dont remember anyone ever wearing them backwards but a late comedian called Red Skeleton wore them inside out for a gag but it never caught on as a fashion
I actually sell flat caps, and after reading your article can’t agree with you more. In fact i’m even thinking about demanding anyone who wears one of my hats the wrong way round has the cap taken off them, and not refunded. Unless of course it’s Samuel L Jackson.
I did once see somebody wearing a flat cap sideways, now is that only half a twat or twice a twat? Discuss…
I agree Ed. Those idiots who wear them backwards should have the cap removed and slapped silly with the cap around the face and head. You def wouldnt have that problem with me wearing one backwards like a smug moran. As for sideways people who do that are just as much a Twat as those who wear them backwards. I often walk away poed with these people who wear backwards as I often want to take their cap and punch the smug look off their face.
There are many subtleties to the wearing of a flatcap. Under normal circumstances, wearing it forward is a given, but at what angle?
Here in Wales, farmers wear them pulled down over one eye. This is absolutely compulsory and is followed unerringly.
Pushed slightly back can look jaunty, and pushed further back usually means you are exasperated by some particularly tricky mechanical problem.
Pulling right down over both eyes is tantamount to starting a fight.
There is one circumstance where wearing it backwards is accpetable.
Back in the days when normal people didn’t have cars, my grandparents, father and auntie would go out on a mtorbike and sidecar. The ladies would go on the sidecar, my dad and grandad on the bike. Before setting off, grandad would turn his flat cap back to front to prevent it blowing off, as well as turning his pipe upside down to prevent getting sparks in his eyes.
Now that’s stylish.
This is the greatest comment ever. Cheers!
You made very good point Dave Smith and I belive its based down to region of where the cap is worn but to be fair it could be worn like that anywhere as well. A flatcap can also be worn forwards with the lips slightly parted for the old style look and still look stylish. I wear mine like that when they have shrunk a bit on the inside and it prevents chalfing of the scalp.
As for your grandparents I do humbly admit thats a case where backwards wearing was acceptable as much as the English vets when they deliver a cow they turn their caps backwards so the cap doesnt accidently go over the eyes and cause a calf death. But your grandparents and the vets have a logical purpose for wearing the cap like that they dont do it to show off or think acting all nasty and cranky looking like some ape is accpetable behaviour. Its the smug behaviour that has tainted the backwards style. Im not saying ALL people are like that but it takes one bad apple to tar the others with the same brush
I must say I have only recently starting wearing a flat cap, after my previous bucket hat bit the dust. My grandfather was kind enough to donate me his old one, and they are a great hat to wear.
Awesome Adam. Your Grandfather sounds like a gentleman with great taste and very kind to donate you the cap. I agree its a great style and a very sexy look. Welcome to our way of life fellow flatcapman.
Sorry to pop your cherry man but Lenin, Che, and Fidel have been wearing flats backward and they’ve been pulling it off quite nicely.
Sorry to burst your bubble Jack but I dont care how great you think they look flatcaps were made for forwards wearing and I hate people who wear them backwards.
Jack, I think you’d be bursting my bubble, as Lloyd said, rather than popping my cherry, as you’re a bit late for that.
Che wore a beret, not a flat cap. Well, he may have also at times worn a flat cap, but in the iconic Che image, he’s wearing a beret. I believe the same can be said for Castro and Lenin.
Whilst I am rather firm in my conviction about how a flat cap should be properly worn, I can make exceptions for revolutionary leaders of the people.
You made solid points there Dave as not many would say anything to these leaders but personaly I find a backwards flatcap look not only disrespects us flat cap wearers but the elderly as well. It’s sad when we live in a era where a cartoon like the Simpsons teaches people to disrespect the elderly and even make fun of them. I think its worse when a man in his 50′s wears a flatcap backwards and gives me a dirty look for doing the right thing. It’s a disgrace and I was outside slowing counting to 20 to control my anger and discust at this person.