What is the average hat size for men?

The average men's hat size in the UK is 59 cm, typically a size Large. Measuring your head ensures the most accurate fit.

How do I measure my head for a hat?

Use a soft tape measure and measure around your head just above the ears and across the forehead. Keep the tape level and snug to determine your size in centimetres.

A flat cap is a rounded cap with a small stiff brim at the front, traditionally associated with British heritage style.

What is the difference between a fedora and a trilby?

A fedora typically has a wider brim and softer shape, while a trilby features a shorter brim and a taller crown, offering a sleeker silhouette.

Can a felt hat get wet?

Felt hats are naturally water-resistant but should not be exposed to heavy rain for extended periods. Allow them to dry naturally at room temperature.

Do you offer in-store collection?

Yes, orders can be collected from our London, Cambridge, or Oxford stores within 3-5 working days.

3 Ways to Recognise a Brooklyn Cap from Its Crown and Panel Construction

August 30, 2026

Do some caps resemble a bakerboy cap yet sit differently, leaving you uncertain what to call them? Subtle variations in crown shape and seam placement reveal differences in construction, and with them, distinct identities.

This guide sets out three practical checks: crown silhouette, panel layout, and internal finishing. By examining silhouette lines, seam counts, and lining details, you can discern the features that mark a cap as Brooklyn rather than a bakerboy cap or a flat cap.

The image shows a man wearing a light beige Denim 'Brooklyn' Newsboy Cap. The cap features visible panel stitching and a button at the crown, with a curved peak in front. The man is dressed in a dark navy blue button-up shirt with white buttons and chest pockets, standing against a green background. He is posed with his head slightly bowed and arms crossed. The photo is taken from a slightly elevated eye-level camera angle, capturing the upper torso and head in a centered composition.

1. Assess the crown silhouette for a Brooklyn-style profile

Hold the cap at eye level and study its side profile. A forward-rising silhouette, where the crown lifts over the temples then slopes towards the nape, creates a gentle forward curve in contrast to a flatter cap. Press the crown gently from above and around the dome; a moderate spring-back indicates structured paneling rather than a single flat panel. Inspect the panel seams and where they meet: multiple panels converging at a centre point or a shallow crown seam produces a rounded, barrel-like shape, while continuous fabric or fewer panels gives a flatter profile. Note where the highest point sits—an anterior peak produces the bakerboy cap's forward bill, whereas a central peak yields a more uniform dome when worn.

Assess material and internal shaping by feeling the fabric, examining the lining, and inspecting visible stitching. Softer tweeds and wool will settle into a gentler crown, while internal linings, sweatbands, and blocked crowns preserve a crisper, upright shape. Try the cap on to see how the peak shapes the line and how panel convergence alters the silhouette in motion. Use these visible, hands-on cues to identify a bakerboy cap: its forward curve, springy rebound, and multi-panel construction.

The image shows a man in a tan or light brown jacket and a light-colored baseball cap, viewed from the side. He is indoors, likely in a workshop or storage area, with industrial-looking orange metal shelves in the background holding various items, including other hats mounted on stands. The man appears to be handling or inspecting a dark-colored cap. Steam or smoke rises near the man, suggesting some processing or manufacturing activity happening. The setting is softly lit with warm tones, and the camera angle is at eye level capturing a medium shot of the man and surrounding environment.

2. Inspect panel layout and seam workmanship

Count the panels and note how they meet. Multiple wedge-shaped panels that radiate to a central button typically identify a bakerboy cap, while a one-piece or two-piece crown denotes a traditional flat cap. Turn the cap inside out to check internal seam lines and confirm the external layout. Inspect stitch type and length along each seam: machine topstitching appears regular and even, whereas short, irregular pick stitches, knotted thread ends, or visible hand-tacking signal hand finishing. Assess pattern matching and symmetry by lining up plaids, herringbone, or stripes across panels, and hold the cap to the light to reveal any misaligned or offset joins.

After noting panel count and seam convergence, feel the crown and check the lining to judge the cap's internal structure. Steam-shaped, canvas-backed panels retain a rounded crown; unlined, soft panels will collapse under gentle pressure. Inspect seam finishing at each join: bound or piped allowances, taped joins, and neatly trimmed, overlocked edges all indicate careful finishing, whereas loose raw edges or fraying fabric suggest minimal attention. Gently press the crown and move the lining to locate any stiffening canvas or interlining, and examine the back of seams for tidy stitching or knotted threads. Pair these tactile checks with a visual assessment of panel curvature and seam symmetry to determine how precisely the cap was cut and assembled.

The image shows a single person working indoors in a workspace or studio. The person appears to be an adult with their hair tied back, wearing a light-colored long-sleeve shirt and a dark apron. They are interacting with a large flat surface, likely a table or printing press, and are using a hand tool or brush on a flat material, possibly paper or fabric, indicating a manual or craft activity. The setting is industrial or studio-like, with a visible ceiling grid and windows allowing natural light to illumin

Image by cottonbro studio on Pexels

3. Inspect internal construction, stitching, lining, and finishing details

To inspect internal construction more closely, turn the cap inside out and count the panels, tracing the seam pattern as you go. Bakerboy and newsboy caps reveal multiple radiating panels that meet at the crown beneath a covered button. By contrast, a flat cap will often have a single-piece, low-seam crown or only minimal panel seams, so panel count and seam convergence provide an immediate clue to construction. Press the brim from the inside to judge the interlining and stiffening: a crisp resistance suggests canvas, buckram, or horsehair secured with neat tacking, while a floppy bend indicates little or no internal support.

Having checked panel count and brim support, examine seam finishing and stitch quality. Even stitch length, matched pattern lines, felled seams, and bound seam allowances indicate considered construction, whereas loose threads and uneven stitching suggest mass production. Inspect the sweatband and internal tapes for leather or tightly woven cotton. Lift the lining hem to see whether the lining is slip-stitched or machine-tacked, and note bartacks where the crown meets the peak, which reinforce stress points. Pickstitching along the brim and a hand-stitched button provide clear evidence of handwork, rather than continuous machine tacking.

Three hands-on checks will reveal whether a cap is a Brooklyn cap: crown silhouette, panel layout, and internal finishing. Examine the crown for a forward sweep; a pronounced forward curve is typical of the style. Count the panel seams to confirm a multi-panel construction. Inspect the lining and sweatband for canvas stiffening or hand-tacking, internal finishes that indicate a considered build.

Treat the section headings as a concise workflow: view the crown in profile, examine internal seams and stitch work, and feel the interlining and brim reinforcement. These hands-on checks reveal measurable signs of construction, allowing you to compare and describe headwear with confidence based on craft rather than labels.

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