The traditional Irish cap has recently seen a resurgence in popularity with many celebrities and fashion icons wearing one to add a touch of style to their outfits. Getting the right look with your Irish cap is all a question of styling, and there are many ways to wear it well. Classic wool and tweed caps blend Irish heritage with modern style and we’ll take a look at how the Irish cap can be adapted for each season so that you can make the most of the look all year round.

At Weavers of Ireland, we have a wide range of Irish caps, including flat caps, driving caps, Newsboy caps and panel caps, and you’ll find the perfect choice to complement every outfit. Irish caps look great on men and women and are fast becoming a must have item in every modern wardrobe. We’ll show you how to create a range of versatile looks and share some of our favourite designs.

 

Irish Caps: A History

The Irish cap has been a popular choice for people all over the world for many years, but it originally became a staple in Irish wardrobes when a 1571 law mandated the wearing of hats by all males over the age of 7 in Ireland on Sundays and holidays. Although this law was short lived, it firmly established the flat cap as an essential for working class men and boys.

For many years, flat caps and the caps that derived from them were worn by the working classes, and in the 1900s, they were adopted by the upper classes. Here, they became valued for their practicality, especially for outdoor activities, and became the hats of choice for pursuits such as shooting and walking. Around the same time, the Irish cap arrived on the shores of America with Irish immigrants and was also introduced to Spain and Italy by the armed forces.

Today, the Irish cap and its many derivatives are worn all over the world by men and women, and the recent increase in popularity follows such iconic TV shows as Peaky Blinders, in which Tommy Shelby and his brothers don their caps to rule the streets of 1930s Birmingham in gangster style. Some of the most famous celebrities on the planet have been seen sporting the popular style and the Irish cap has again become a wardrobe staple for anyone who is interested in fashion.

 

Irish Caps for Every Season

The beauty of the Irish cap is that it is as practical as it is stylish, and it can be worn in different ways to create a variety of looks. Here are some of our top tips for styling your Irish cap through the seasons:

Spring Style

The Spring is a very special time of year and there are many ways to style your Irish cap to make an impact this season. You can embrace the flexibility of the cap and dress it up or down to suit your outfit and occasion, and it's the perfect accessory to keep you warm and dry in the unpredictable spring weather. An Irish cap is ideal paired with a t-shirt and jacket with your favourite jeans, or you can wear it with tailored trousers and a shirt, adding a jacket or a gorgeous Aran sweater on cooler days.

You can choose from a wide range of colour and textures when you’re selecting a cap for your Spring wardrobe, whether you opt for the classic Herringbone Tweed flat cap or go bold with a pop of seasonal colour in a Newsboy hat design. The Trinity Tweed Flat Cap in grey Herringbone Tweed with coloured flecks is a great choice for the Spring, made with 100% wool and suitable for men and women. Your flat cap should rest at the back of your neck, on your hairline, so that you can pull it forward and down to shade your eyes a little.

You can embrace the pastel colours that nature gently reveals in the Spring with a gorgeous Wool Peaky Blinders Hat in Donegal Loden, a beautiful colour combination that shows off the pale pinks, greens and greys that we see in the Irish countryside at this time of the year. This is based on a classic Newsboy style with a modern twist, and includes 30% alpaca wool for a soft, fine texture. It’s handwoven by Branigan Weavers, so you can be sure of the quality and durability of this design, which will soon become a favourite in your wardrobe.

Summer Sophistication

 

You are likely to need a hat less often in the summertime, as the weather will probably be consistently warmer. However, this cannot be relied upon in many areas, and in Ireland, the climate can be unpredictable at any time of the year. An Irish cap is the perfect accessory to cope with cold mornings, chilly evenings and any unexpected showers, and it’s also a great way to change up the look of your outfit with ease. You can add a cap to a fun, casual outfit, such as a playsuit or shorts and a sweater, or you can dress up your outfit for a more formal occasion by choosing an option that complements your wedding guest suit, for instance, and adds a touch of personality to your look.

The Irish Linen Flat Cap is a great choice for a formal event such as a wedding, bringing a stylish twist to your suit and even drawing the bridal party together as an accessory for the groom and groomsmen to wear. Just imagine your wedding photos, with a hint of gangster chic, as the men all don their flat caps and pose for the camera! There are many different flat cap and driving cap designs that work well for bridal parties and we can help you to find the best options to fit into your theme.

We love the Ladies Tweed Newsboy Hat in Summer Plaid, with its bright, beautiful colour blend to make the most of the season. It’s made from 100% Wool Tweed, with a decorative leather rosette, and inspired by the landscape of Killarney National Park, where the Mucros Weavers Studio is located. We also have a section of waxed caps for men and women, which are a good choice for inclement weather as they are lightweight and will protect you against summer showers.

Colourful Options for Autumn

 

If you love nature, the colours of the fall season are not to be missed, with rich golds, browns and reds falling from the trees and carpeting the ground with their gorgeous shades. These colours are reflected in the clothing, hats and caps our artisan producers have created, and there are so many beautiful options for this time of the year. In times gone by, our ancestors would have worked out of doors and would have needed to wear hats or caps for protection from the weather, and these are still an excellent choice whenever you have to brave the elements.

In the Autumn, an Irish cap is the perfect accompaniment to your outfit, neatly finishing off your look, whether you are wearing jeans and a fitted top with an Aran sweater to keep you warm or you have chosen a long, elegant coat to keep you cosy as the weather turns. An Irish cap works well with long hair, which can be worn loose or tucked up inside your cap to vary your style and protect your hair from the rain, or looks great worn with a neat or choppy short cut that is full of personality.

We love the Wool Country Hat in Multi Mulberry, which pairs with the complementary scarf for a warm and cosy style, and of course, the Ladies Tweed Newsboy Hat in Autumn Plaid is a great choice for the season, reflecting the beautiful natural colours seen in the Killarney National Park at this time. These wool hats are an excellent choice for this time of year since the natural fibres are strong and water repellent, protecting against the changeable weather we often see as the days get shorter and the nights draw in.

Wool Winter Hats

 

A wool hat is the ideal companion for all your winter walks and will enable you to spend longer outside, enjoying your hobbies and the beautiful environment. A hat and scarf is a great combination, making the most of natural wool to help you stay warm, and the stunning coats and wraps in our collection are sure to keep you cosy all day long. All of our products are available in a wide range of colours so that you can choose the very best options for your wardrobe, whatever the weather.

If you're looking for a subtle, warm addition to any outfit, you’ll love the cool grey of the Wool County Hat in Tara Grey. This hat is made in traditional flapper style with an Irish twist, using sheep and alpaca wool and handwoven for a unique finish. Alpaca wool is a soft, durable choice that many people find easier to wear than sheep wool as it does not contain lanolin, which can irritate the skin. It is ideal for outerwear, including coats and hats, due to the strong fibres that will keep you cosy this winter.

The handmade Ladies Yoko Tweed Hat in Oatmeal is a sumptuous choice for the winter months, in a flattering colour combination that will perfectly complement your cosy Aran sweater when you’re walking out across the cliffs or popping into town for some last minute festive gifts. You’ll be warm and snug even if the weather turns when you wear this Tweed hat, made from 100% pure new wool and handwoven in County Donegal. It’s a classic eight piece design, with more slouch than the Gatsby Cap, making it a great looking choice for women who love fashion. A woollen hat is the accessory you need to complete your look and ensure you’ll look great all season, and the colours our artisan producers use are evocative of the gorgeous Irish countryside to really give you a taste of Irish heritage.

Flat caps and hats are excellent winter accessories for men, and this is the perfect time for wool and tweed options. You can pair your hat with a heavy overcoat and Herringbone scarf for a formal look, or wear your flat cap with jeans and a sweater for a more casual style.

You’ll find the perfect hat for every season in our catalogue and our range of colours and styles includes options to suit every taste and budget. 

 

Weavers of Ireland: The Home of Irish Wool

Here at Weavers of Ireland, our catalogue is packed with gorgeous garments and homewares that showcase the very best of Irish heritage and support the craftspeople who have been creating these unique designs for centuries. Our sweaters, cardigans, wraps and hats are made from the finest quality wool and wool tweed, including traditional Aran sweaters that were originally made on the stunning Aran Islands, located off the coast of Galway. These sweaters, and our classic Irish caps, are synonymous with Irish style and have become popular across the world with men and women, as well as some celebrity icons!

We also have a beautiful selection of homewares, toys and clothes for children, and a very special range of Celtic jewellery that can finish off your outfits in style. Our friendly team can help you to find the perfect gift options for your friends and relatives, and you’ll get the same great customer service on our website as you do in store. If you are planning a trip to Ireland, you will receive a warm welcome when you visit us in one of our stores, located in Killarney, Kenmare, Dublin, Galway, Glengarriff and Kinsale, or you can find our full selection online at Weavers of Ireland.