How To Pick The Best Flat Cap That Matches Your Style

There are five main styles of flat cap: Classic, Driving, Newsboy, Baker Boy and Ivy. Each has a slightly different brim, crown shape and intended use. Classic and Driving caps suit formal and business-casual wear. Newsboy and Baker Boy caps add casual flair with a vintage feel. The Ivy is the most versatile — it works with both.

Flat caps aren’t a passing trend. From the working class of 19th-century Britain to the upper-class country set, they’ve been worn for over 400 years. Today they’re a quiet style staple — the right one finishes an outfit; the wrong one fights it. This guide covers the five types, what each suits, and how to match a cap to your existing wardrobe.

The 5 flat cap styles at a glance

Style	Brim	Best for	Walker & Hawkes example
Classic	Short	Smart-casual, business-casual, traditional country wear	Oakmoor Flat Cap (Harris Tweed)
Driving	Short	Smart business-casual, modern minimalist style	Wool Blend Ivy Flat Cap
Newsboy	Medium	Casual with vintage flair, autumn/winter looks	Newsboy panel cap range
Baker Boy	Wide	Bolder casual styling, urban looks, festival wear	8-panel Charlie Baker Boy Cap
Ivy	Short, slim	Most versatile — formal or casual depending on fabric	Harris Tweed Ivy cap range

Classic Flat Cap

Queen Elizabeth I’s parliament mandated the small cap with a short front brim as Sunday workwear for every adult male. It quickly broadened beyond the working class — the upper class adopted it too, and it became a fixed part of British style. Today the Classic is the most versatile of the five: it suits smart-casual office wear, traditional country attire, and almost any tailored look.

Interested in getting a classic flat cap? Check out our Oakmoor Flat Cap or browse the full men’s flat cap range.

Driving Cap

Originally worn by drivers — particularly chauffeurs and motoring enthusiasts in the early 20th century — the Driving Cap is closely related to the Classic but tends to sit lower on the head and has a flatter crown. The look is modern and minimalist. Best suited to men who want a tailored, slightly formal cap that doesn’t draw attention to itself.

Newsboy Cap

The Newsboy cap is the next step up in volume from the Classic. It has a slightly fuller crown made of several panels (typically 6 or 8) joined at the centre by a small button on top. The brim is medium-length. Originally worn by newspaper sellers in early 1900s American and British cities, it’s now a versatile casual cap — works with a t-shirt and jeans as easily as with a tweed jacket.

Baker Boy Cap

Take the Newsboy and exaggerate everything — wider brim, fuller crown, more pronounced panels. The result is the Baker Boy, the boldest of the flat cap family. It works best with relaxed, slightly oversized outfits and suits anyone who wants the classic shape with a distinct edge. Popular as a women’s style too.

Want to get a baker boy cap? Check out our 8-panel Charlie Baker Boy cap.

Ivy Cap

The Ivy cap is the slimmest of the five. Slightly stiffer than a Classic, with a smaller, neater crown and short brim. The name comes from its popularity around Ivy League US campuses in the early 20th century, but the shape is British. The Ivy is the most adaptable cap on this list — in tweed it reads formal, in waxed cotton it reads outdoor. Wear it with a suit or with shorts; both work.

How to match a flat cap to your existing wardrobe

Before buying a cap, look at the colour palette of your existing wardrobe:

• Mostly tweeds and earth tones → Harris Tweed Classic or Ivy in olive, brown or grey heather
• Mostly tailored navy / charcoal → Classic in plain wool or muted herringbone
• Mostly casual or country casual → Newsboy or Baker Boy in tweed or waxed cotton
• Mixed wardrobe → Ivy in a neutral wool blend — works with everything

Frequently Asked Questions