Even though the flat cap is a modern classic, it’s been around for centuries. The flat cap’s predecessor, known as a “bonnet”, was worn as early as the 14th century. The term “cap” came into use before the 17th century. Interestingly, in the 16th century, the British Parliament wanted to stimulate wool consumption. so they mandated that all non-noble men must wear a wool hat on Sundays and holidays, or face a fine. This essentially forced most of the men in the country to buy hats. and even though the law didn’t last for very long, the hat had become irrevocably part of the uniform of the working man. The cap continued to be popular through the 19th and 20th centuries.

The aristocracy even adopted the flat cap, in more expensive materials, as a casual hat option for wear at their country estates. It was often worn with tweed suits for hunting, stalking, and shooting. Even so, the flat cap remains associated with the working class in the UK.

In the US and the UK, the flat cap and newsboy cap peaked in popularity in the 1910s and 1920s. The era did help popularize the term “newsboy” due to the boys who wore them when selling newspapers, but the hat was worn almost universally by the working class.

Public figures, aristocrats, and royals continued to wear them for leisure activities. Recently, celebrities such as David Beckham and Brad Pitt have been seen wearing flat caps, raising their profile as an accessory for the modern man.