Traditional British Hats to Wear in the UK
British hat-making has a longer and stranger history than most people realise. A 1571 Act of Parliament once fined any man over the age of six who failed to wear a wool cap on Sundays. That law was repealed within three decades, but the hats it promoted never went away. Flat caps, bowler hats, trilbies, and top hats have each held a specific place in British culture for generations, and most of them are still worn today. This guide covers the traditional British hats that shaped UK fashion, how each style started, and what makes them worth wearing now.
The Bowler Hat
The bowler hat, also known as the derby hat, is perhaps the most iconic of all traditional British hats. It was commissioned in 1849 when Edward Coke, younger brother of the 2nd Earl of Leicester, asked Lock & Co. Hatters to create a low-crowned, hard-wearing hat to protect his gamekeepers from low-hanging branches at Holkham Hall in Norfolk. The prototype was built by hatmakers Thomas and William Bowler, and the name stuck. The rounded felt crown was strong enough that Coke reportedly stamped on it twice before purchasing it for 12 shillings.
By the early 1900s the bowler had moved from country estates to the City of London, where it became the signature hat of bankers and businessmen. That association lasted well into the 1970s. Today the bowler works at formal events, themed occasions, and as a statement piece with modern tailoring. Novella Hats carries bowler hats for men and bowler hats for women in wool felt across multiple colours, from the classic black English Derby at $39.99 to premium oversized styles.
The Flat Cap
The flat cap can be traced to Northern England as early as the 14th century, though its documented history picks up in the 16th century when it was known as a bonnet. The 1571 Statute of Apparel required all non-noble males over the age of six to wear wool caps on Sundays and holidays to support the domestic wool trade. The law was repealed in 1597, but by then the flat cap was firmly established as working-class headwear.
By the 1920s, flat caps had crossed class lines entirely. Wealthier men wore versions made from finer materials for country pursuits like shooting and golf. Today, the flat cap remains one of the most recognisable British hat styles, equally at home on a country walk or a city commute. The Novella Hats collection of men's flat caps includes waxed cotton and Harris Tweed options for different seasons and settings.
The Trilby
The trilby takes its name from the 1894 stage adaptation of George du Maurier's novel "Trilby," where the heroine wore a soft felt hat with a narrow brim and pinched crown. The style caught on quickly in Britain's theatres and racecourses and became associated with sharp, slightly rakish dressing throughout the 20th century.
The key difference between a trilby and a fedora is the brim width: trilbies have a shorter, upturned brim while fedoras run wider and can be shaped more freely. For anyone choosing between the two, the Novella Hats guide on trilby vs fedora vs panama hats breaks down the differences in detail. The men's trilby hats range at Novella Hats includes handmade wool felt options at $42.
The Newsboy Cap
The newsboy cap (also called the baker boy cap) is a close relative of the flat cap but with a fuller, panelled crown and a button at the top. It became hugely popular in Britain from the late 19th century onwards, worn by newspaper sellers, tradesmen, and schoolboys. The TV series Peaky Blinders brought the style back into mainstream fashion, and it remains one of the strongest-performing hat categories at Novella Hats.
Newsboy caps suit rounder face shapes particularly well and work with everything from casual weekend outfits to smarter layered looks. The Novella Hats men's newsboy caps and women's newsboy caps collections cover both wool and tweed options.
The Fedora
The fedora arrived in the 1880s and quickly became one of the defining hat styles of the 20th century. Named after the title character in Victorien Sardou's 1882 play, the fedora is defined by its wide brim and creased crown, which can be pinched at the front, centre-dented, or left open depending on the wearer's preference.
In Britain the fedora found its place as a slightly less formal alternative to the homburg, worn to race days, business lunches, and weekend outings. It remains one of the most versatile hat types for both men and women. The Novella Hats men's fedora hats and women's fedora hats collections include wide-brim and crushable wool felt options. For care advice, the wool felt fedora care guide covers cleaning, storage, and reshaping.
The Top Hat
The top hat became the defining formal hat of the British upper class from the late 18th century onwards. Its tall, cylindrical crown in black silk or wool felt was a staple at state occasions, weddings, and horse racing throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Royal Ascot still enforces a dress code that requires a top hat in certain enclosures.
While full-height toppers remain reserved for the most formal occasions, miniature and junior top hats have become popular at themed events, parties, and theatrical performances. Novella Hats offers men's top hats and women's top hats including handmade Victorian junior top hats in wool felt from $29.99.
The Cloche Hat
The cloche hat emerged in the 1920s and became the signature hat of the flapper era. Its name comes from the French word for "bell," which describes the close-fitting, bell-shaped crown that sits low on the forehead. The style was originally designed by French milliner Caroline Reboux and spread rapidly across Britain, where it became the go-to hat for fashionable women throughout the decade.
The cloche works best with shorter hairstyles or hair worn up, and pairs well with tailored coats and structured outfits. The Novella Hats women's cloche hats collection includes wool felt options that carry that 1920s silhouette at accessible prices.
The Docker Hat
The docker hat (also called the fisherman beanie) has roots in the working harbours of Britain, where dock workers and sailors wore brimless, rolled-cuff caps for practical warmth without a peak to get in the way of manual work. The style has experienced a significant revival in streetwear and casual fashion over the past decade.
Docker hats suit most face shapes and work year-round depending on the material. The Novella Hats men's docker hats range includes washed cotton, wool blend, and corduroy options starting from $18. For a comparison with traditional beanies, see the beanies vs docker hats guide.
Conclusion
British hats have survived centuries of changing fashion because they were never purely decorative. Every style on this list started as a practical solution, whether it was protecting gamekeepers' heads, boosting the wool trade, or keeping dock workers warm. That functional origin is what gives traditional British hats their staying power and their credibility as everyday wardrobe pieces rather than costume items.
The full range of traditional British hats, from bowler hats and flat caps to newsboy caps and fedoras, is available at Novella Hats with free shipping on qualifying orders.
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