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Sat 31 Mar, 2007 01:21 am
Quote:Is it fashionable to wear a flat cap?
From Katie Morris
Hannah Pool
It depends on where you live. According to Asda, the notion of flat caps as "the ultimate symbol of gritty, hard working northern men" is no more. This week it announced that sales of flat caps have increased by a staggering 83% over the past two years. That's a lot of tweed.
The research also highlighted a curious geographical blip. Asda claims to sell over three times as many flat caps in the south of England as it does in the north, or as its Dominic Burch ever so slightly patronisingly puts it: "The whippet-loving, pigeonfancying working-class man drinking a pint of mild while wearing a flat cap is a thing of the past. Now, you're more likely to hear the flat cap wearer say: ?'Absolutely marvellous, darling' rather than ?'Trouble at mill'." Burch has obviously been hanging out with Guy Ritchie. Or, worse still, watched one of his films. Other hatwearing rich kids looking for the common touch include Pete Doherty, who favours a trilby, and David Beckham, who has an inexplicable love of Beanie hats. But, irritating Mockneys aside, are hats really no longer the preserve of middle-aged men trying to hide a bald spot? "It has been noticeable over the last 18 months how many more hats have been worn on the street, especially by the 16-35 age range. Both girls and guys," says Carole Denford, fashion editor of The Hat magazine.
Today's hat wearer is much harder to pin down, with everyone from Kangol (a British company established in 1938, despite being a favourite of American rap stars) to Luis Vuitton doing a booming trade. "This hat-cool fashion statement has been fired by the young group stores who are turning over an amazing number of hats," says Denford.
Just remember to take it off indoors ?- no one likes a show off.
source: Guardian, 31.03.07, page 29
Quote:Flat caps find new home in the South
By Ben Quinn
FOR generations of workingclass northern men, the flat cap was a badge of identity as well a piece of headgear.
These days, however, it would seem that the traditional cap is more likely to warm the heads of those out and about in the more affluent parts of southern England.
Sales figures released yesterday by Asda, the supermarket chain, revealed a significantly greater demand for them in the Home Counties than in the North.
An accessory of choice among so-called "mockneys", such as the film-maker Guy Ritchie, the popularity of the flat cap has also soared among a group of middle-class men who often stand accused of appropriating working-class accents and symbols.
Fashion experts also speak of the cap's importance to a look known as "retro hunting chic". The supermarket's biggest-seller - a country-style, burgundy and brown affair - now sells more than three times as many in the South of England as it does in the North.
Demand is also growing for flat caps made in other, single colour materials such as white and blue.
Dominic Burch, a spokesman for the company, said: "The flat cap has gone posh - and British political language may never be the same again.
"There's no doubt that the whippet-loving, pigeonfancying working class man drinking a pint of mild while wearing a flat cap is a thing of the past. "Now, you're more likely to hear the typical flat cap wearer say, ?'absolutely marvellous, darling,' rather than, ?'trouble at mill'."
source: Daily Telegraph, 30.03.07, page 11
Ages ago, I was wearing a 'Basque cap' - similar to the one above - for some years (though I had sworn, not to wear a hat anymore when I left the navy :wink: ).
Well, I don't care now, do I, I can like the caps whether they are fashionable or not, and I do, too.
If you have cold feet, put a hat on.
I don't mind the berets, but I prefer beanies.
Here in the states, the baseball cap has become an un-class garment.
Flat caps are very popular here.
If you can carry off a hat, do it. It's a great indicator of confidence, and confidence is very attractive
~~~~~~~~~~
then again, some hats aren't too attractive, so make sure you're wearing one that works for you - and is appropriate for the setting
Sorry, couldn't find a hat Ehbeth.
ha!
it's Builder and his giant nut.
Ive got a ton of Ballcaps. My favorite 2 are ones with the following lettering
1.No cerveca no trabajo
2and a big Massey Ferguson logo (just says MF on it)
Style. It's all about style, right Walter?
ehBeth wrote:ha!
it's Builder and his giant nut.
I believe the correct spelling is gnut.
roger wrote:
Style. It's all about style, right Walter?
now THAT works !
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today on the subway
glad I was wearing my sunglasses
I was carefully analyzing every hat wearer out there
Trannians are hat-wearers.
for Walter,
Mein Hut, er hat drei Ecke
Drei Ecke hast mein Hut
Und wenn er hat nicht drei Ecke
Denn ist er nich mein Hut.
From my ill-remembered high school German, to the tune of some well-known classical motif.
Those huts haven't any eckes--how can they be stylish?
Damn, who knew I'd be hip again. I drove Mazda's rotary engined sportscars, RX7s, thru the 80s, 90s, and early this millennium, and started wearing flat caps as some sort of ironic retro nod to the 50s, because you were supposed to wear them to keep your hair in place with the top down on your MG-TD classic minimalist British sports car, along with your tweed British hacking jacket with the little leather tab so you could button the lapels closed, and the briar pipe. But the apex seals on the last 7 died and the engine ate itself, and now I drive a Volvo and it's got four doors. But I still wear the flat caps because I live in New England and they are WARM, and I am well past the age to care because they look dorky, and here you tell me that they are no longer dorky.
Whoda thought. We will expect you to be sporting one when you show up in Boston in June.
This hat has no three corners and looks stupid!
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