From a traditional tartan tam to a flat cap or a cosy trapper hat, hundreds of tartans await you in our men's tartan hats and caps range. Add an extra personal touch and have a name, special date or message embroidered into the lining of your tartan hat.
"If you want to get ahead, get a hat"
A hat can bring an outfit together effortlessly, our collection of classic and modern hat styles including golf caps, flat caps, eight quarter caps and trapper hats are available in over 500 tartans and suitable for all seasons and occasions. Showcase your Scottish Heritage with a hat made in your Clan tartan or simply choose your tartan to compliment your other accessories or outerwear, either way it's sure to get heads turning.
Made in the finest 10oz wool (woven here in Scotland) as standard, you are guaranteed a high quality product - make your hat extra special with an embroidered name, initials or message added to the lining.
Here are your most frequently asked questions on our men's tartan hats & caps. If you can't find the answer to your question and it is about a specific product you might find it on the product page. If not then please use live chat, e-mail us or give us a call and we will answer your questions as quickly as we can.
The ‘Scottish Bonnet’ and has been around since the 16th century. This has since evolved into several variations including the Balmoral bonnet, Glengarry hat (worn predominantly by military and pipe bands) and Tam O’ Shanter (Tam).
Place the hat with its flat top centred on the head, then the brim of the hat can be pulled to one side. Finding the perfect fit is important so the hat fits comfortably and compliments your style.
There are no set rules for this, and choice of hat often depends on the occasion and level of formality. Tartan Tams, Flat caps or eight quarter caps could all be worn – just make sure they coordinate and compliment your kilt outfit.
The main difference between tam and balmoral is that the Tam is made with a larger top. While the Balmoral bonnet has an extremely short crown, the crown on the Tam is longer and looser. In military terms, tams were often worn by soldiers, unlike the Glengarry and Balmoral bonnets, which were worn only by officers.
Flat caps are rounded hats with a small stiff brim in front and are considered a culturally historic item of clothing, originating in Britain during the 1570's.
Flat caps are our most popular style of hat, though there are some slight variations in style. In its original form, the body of a flat cap is pulled over the visor and is either snapped to the top edge or stitched. Flat caps consist of a deeper cut towards the back, which has more purchase than it looks, useful for wild Scottish winds or out on the golf course. The brim of the cap is also slightly shorter yet is sufficient to shield the eyes from sunlight. And most useful, your cap is foldable and can be easily popped in a pocket if you are heading indoors or decide you are brave enough to take it off.
Alternative to the traditional flat cap style, the eight quarter cap has a much looser and a more volumized silhouette which is created by putting together 8 triangular panels of material from a centre point on the top of the hat, usually covered by a cloth button. You can choose to have a pompom if you prefer! The largest distinction from the standard flat cap is that this style is much puffier and baggier. The body is also brought forward over the brim of the cap, but still less than its flat alternative. Although this style is categorically still a flat cap, it is more commonly referred to as a “newsboy” cap.
The newsboy cap was first seen to be worn by newspaper sellers in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, although it was worn almost universally by the working class. It is still similar to the flat cap as both are classically made from tweed and have a low profile, a small visor/brim, and are rounded.
Flat caps are most commonly constructed from tweed but are available in a wide variety of materials such as wool, cotton, tartan and leather.
Flat caps and newsboy caps can be worn with any outfit, from jeans and a shirt to a full suit. Choosing a neutral-coloured base to your cap (e.g. black, brown, navy or grey) will allow you to expand your options when styling it with an appropriate outfit. For a more traditional, classic look, pair one of our tartan flat caps with a plain v neck sweater and boots. For added sophistication, wear it with a matching jacket.
Before wearing a cap, keep an eye out to make sure that the fabric contrasts with the colour and material of your coat/jacket. Patterns which are too alike can sometimes look odd next to each other, so consider a pattern for one and a solid colour for the other. So tartan is perfect!
Our caps are made of a beautiful quality wool fabric woven in Scotland and can easily be cleaned by hand. Brushing with a soft brush is by far the best way to remove marks and dirt. Heavier stains may require water but try not to allow the brim of the cap to get wet during the cleaning process so it retains it's stiffness and shape, and handle your hat with care. Follow the steps below for great results:
In most cases you will be able to spot clean stains or only the inner sweatband needs cleaning, and to prolong the life of your cap we would always suggest cleaning it as infrequently as possible.
The brim/visor of the cap should not get wet during this process as most brims are constructed with cardboard which will either crack or lose its shape when wet. If it is necessary to clean the brim, then do so using a small amount of water and a clean towel.
If you're wondering how to style your tartan hat so you look fabulous then look no further than Amy's tartan hat styling guide! We talk you through each of the beautiful hats in our collection from the flat cap to the tam and give you our top styling tips on the perfect tartan products to compliment your head wear.
In this episode of On the Sofa, Monja and Lorraine will be discussing all things tartan hats, by far the most stylish Scottish accessory. They will be going into a little bit more detail of how our beautiful hats are made, exploring the history as well as giving you style tips for their favourite hat options we carry at ScotlandShop. You one stop for Tartan Hat inspiration!
Flat caps embody the essence of British clothing and culture. Originally designed to withstand the British weather, the flat cap has made a comeback and has become a staple in the leading gentlemen’s wardrobe. Find out more about the history of the flat cap on the blog.