Flat Cap Guide - How To Pick A Newsboy Cap - Gentleman's Gazette

Learn to pull off the newspaper boy cap here:

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So first of all, what is a flat cap or a newsboy cap?
Obviously, I’m wearing one here right now and it’s made out of a woven fabric. It’s not knitted, there’s no felt, like in typical menswear hats, overall, it has a very level and trim silhouette based on the one-piece construction, meaning, the top is made out of one piece of fabric and then you have seams on the side to get the distinct shape.

Another characteristic is that the body off the top part of the hat is pulled over the brim. Generally, it’s either sewn on or snapped on, that way, you get a triangular side profile that gives the hat its characteristic shape.

Over the years, the flat cap has gotten many monikers so it’s known as newsboy cap, cabbie, gatsby, IV, Jeff, duffer, duckbill, driving, you name it. If you want to learn all about the monikers, please check out the guide on our website here.

So how do you wear a flat cap? First of all, if you get something made out of tweed just the way I’m wearing it here right now, you always will make sure you have a certain amount of contrast between the fabric on your hat and the rest of your outfit.

Definitely, avoid flat caps that are very similar in color but not the same because that just looks off; it’s like pairing a navy suit with a black pair of pants. Second of all, do shape the brim to your taste; that means you can actually move it like this and to curve it a little bit, you can tilt your hat and get the exact look you want.

Don’t wear your flat cap backwards because it just looks awkward. This is not a baseball hat, after all, it is more stylish brother.

Four, don’t worry a flat cap in the summer because it simply makes you overheat and sweat and it’s unnecessary.

Five, don’t wear a flat cap unsnapped. Sometimes, you’ll find flat caps that can be unflapped, however, that’s a style that’s usually associated with women in the 70s.

So how should you buy a flat cap? First of all, it’s important that it fits comfortably on your head.

The flat cap was originally made from tweed by the wool fabrics or sometimes even cotton and that reason you should stick with those materials. In my opinion, tweed is really the best material because it has the depth of color, it keeps you warm, it’s hard wearing, and it’s just a wonderful fabric. To learn more about tweed, please check out our in-depth tweed guide, here.

Sometimes, I’ve also seen denim caps or maybe leather caps or faux leather ones. I personally don’t think it’s a very advantageous look and I’d rather stick with the classic stuff. For that same reason, I stay away from patchwork flat hats or multi-pattern caps because they’re simply too loud. Just like a bold red or really loud blue and green hat. The good thing about tweed is usually it comes in more subdued colors that suit the fall-winter season. At the same time, the color composition of the fabric is comprised of a range of different ones so it’s very easy to combine it with other items in your wardrobe even though they don’t match and contrast. So whenever you find flat caps that are either too bold or come in small, medium, and large, I suggest you skip them unless you know that they will fit you and that you’ll like to wear them and they won’t just be a fashion item that you have to throw away after a season. if you want to learn more about flat caps and what brands you might want to buy please check out our full guide on the website here.