Men’s tweed flat caps complete an outfit as well as ticking the boxes of practicality and functionality – shading the eyes, keeping off the rain and helping to maintain body temperature. If you take a glance back at pre-war and post-war photographs, even into the 1950s, everyone wore a hat. Nowadays, it is only the country set that seems to want to wear them, but then, if you are outside for several hours in British weather, you will know from experience the importance of keeping your head warm and dry. There is nothing that marks the countryman out more than a tweed flat cap. Women have shown quite a liking for borrowing this item of clothing and stylishly making it their own, so consider buying a women's tweed flat cap as well.
To be fair, tweed caps have always been classic country attire, but recently, this iconic fabric has conquered new territory and strayed into the arena of tweed baseball caps, a very modern twist on a classic country material and one which offers an alternative look to the tweed flat cap. Likewise, the flat cap is now sharing its design heritage with a moleskin version, which offers a very stylish option. Moleskin caps in country brown or a rich olive green are also perfect for days out in the field, shooting, walking or hunting - off the horse of course. If you need the whole outfit and not just a hat, have a look at our selection of tweed waistcoats for men, tweed coats or tweed jackets. If you're preparing for a day in the field, you'll also need some shooting breeks. If you're considering buying a men's tweed flat cap online, have a look at the Walker and Hawkes hat range that we stock below.
How to Wear a Tweed Flat Cap?
A tweed flat cap is the epitome of chic country style; it is a classic design that just seems to suit any age and any gender.A tweed flat cap is a universal piece of attire and can be worn on the most casual of country days, rough or clay shooting or at a formal winter shoot, in short, it is never out of place. A traditional tweed flat cap needs no embellishment and the only thing you will find yourself pondering on is the choice of colour and style of the Scottish Harris Tweed.
A tweed cap can be worn with a tweed three-piece suit, a tweed coat or tweed blazer or plus fours. It also sits pretty well with moleskin trousers and a waxed coat.
For ladies, there are a few more options in that there is the choice of hair up under the cap or hair down. Men who are a little follicly challenged can rest assured that the addition of a tweed flat cap will simply take years off them!
Tweed Flat Cap vs Tweed Baseball Cap
Country sports pride themselves on tradition, so what are the most appropriate occasions to bring out the new kid on the block, the tweed baseball cap?Because of its laidback look, a tweed baseball cap is best worn on informal country and sporting occasions. It might look the part with a tweed coat, but definitely not with a tweed blazer or plus fours – that would certainly be mixing your rural style metaphors. Best buy a flat cap and a tweed baseball cap then to cover all bases.
Materials
So what is all the fuss about Harris Tweed... and it is certainly not the only tweed on the block is it?Harris Tweed
Well, it is quintessentially British to start off with, hard wearing and waterproof and available in an almost endless range of patterns and colours, the traditional shades of brown and green being the most popular.Harris Tweed is woven by hand by the inhabitants of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland and named after one of the Hebridean Islands. The wool is all home produced so dyed and spun in the Hebrides.
The tweed was created as a warm fabric that would offer protection against the weather in this challenging part of the world. Harris Tweed is so iconic and distinctive that its protection is enshrined in the Harris Tweed Act of 1993.
In simple terms, if it can withstand the rigours of a Scottish winter, then it will certainly keep your head warm and dry.
Derby Tweed
Tweeds tend to be named after their geographical location of origin and Derby Tweed is no exception to this.Originally a more traditional fabric, this Derby Tweed has been brought bang up to date with the addition of other fibres into the mix so whilst more than half the makeup of the cloth is wool, cleverly using more modern options such as small amounts of polyester and acrylic means that you can have the best of both worlds.
A classic look and no-one would be any the wiser that is was not 100% wool. And the colours are right on trend too.
Moleskin
Moleskin is actually a heavy duty cotton which is sheared like a sheep repeatedly to produce the most amazing smooth finish. It looks like a brushed velvet but performs like tweed and will keep its good looks regardless of what the British weather throws at it.Elegantly stylish, the fabric lends itself to the rich country colours of green and brown and the clean lines of the traditional flat cap design.
Whatever headgear you choose for those rural days out – classic flat cap, tweed baseball cap or a wax hat - just remember that no outfit is complete without one and that is apart from the obvious benefits of wearing a hat in inclement weather. So what are you waiting for, go on, get ahead, get a hat!
Buying a Tweed Flat Hat Online
A good hat made from quality materials can make all the difference to your day in the country, whether you’re shooting, hunting or fishing.
A hat should be tough enough to withstand the weather in the UK, any rough terrain or conditions you encounter, not get in the way of your aim. And, of course, it should still look smart at the end of the day!
Will you choose from our selection of men’s tweed flat caps? These are the classic country hat, loved by generations. Maybe a moleskin cap is more to your liking, and no, moleskin is not made from sustainably farmed, hand reared moles.
The fabric is made from cotton which is cropped short to create a smooth surface that feels like the skin of a mole. Yes, we have felt the skin of a mole, yes, it is a good likeness.
You may like a Harris tweed cap. Harris tweed is woven in the Outer Hebrides by skilled craftspeople; there isn’t much they don’t know about tweed, and there isn’t much they don’t know about dressing for the changeable weather. Or maybe your taste runs more to baseball caps, ours are a great shape.
Whatever tweedy colour is right for you, from olive, tan and charcoal through to dark green, you’ll find a good match here. There was a time when no gentleman would have ever left home without a hat.
There was also a time when you wouldn’t wear ‘brown in town’ as it was considered a countryman’s colour, the favoured city colour being black. Well, we are pleased to tell you that now you can wear any colour you like into town but there are still a good many people who don’t like to leave home without a hat.
When you’re working down in the stable yard, you might work up quite a sweat, but a cap prevents rapid evaporation and heat loss leading to a chill. (Equestrian Co. always advises wearing a proper riding hat when riding or handling horses, hey, we care about you!)
Whatever season you need to be equipped for, spring, summer, autumn or winter, we have a hat that will do the job.
The more comfortable you are, the more you will enjoy your time in the great outdoors. We know it can be a difficult decision finding the right cap, finding the right fit is also vital.
Our hats come in a good range of sizes, be sure to click the drop-down menu for sizes to help you choose the right one. Sizes are generally printed on the inside of your hat, have a look inside one of your favourite older hats to check on the size you find comfortable.
We do of course understand that mistakes happen if you do choose the wrong sized hat we have a very easy return policy.