No show has revived the flat cap quite like Peaky Blinders. The Shelby family's caps are as much a part of their identity as their sharp suits and sharper reputations — and ever since the series took off, "Peaky Blinders hat" has become one of the most searched hat looks around. (The name of the gang even nods to the legend of razor blades sewn into the peak, though historians debate whether that was ever real.)
Here's the thing worth knowing: the caps the Shelbys wear aren't a single style. Depending on the character and the scene, you'll see two closely related classics — the newsboy (baker boy) cap and the flat cap. Here's how to tell them apart and get the look right.
The newsboy / baker boy cap (the true Shelby)
The signature Peaky Blinders cap is the newsboy, also called a baker boy — a rounded, eight-panel top that puffs out fuller than a flat cap, usually finished with a button on top and a snap at the front brim. It's the fuller, more textured shape you picture when you think of Tommy Shelby. Wool and tweed are the period-correct fabrics.
Shop the look:
-
Bailey of Hollywood Ormond Ivy Cap — a classic newsboy silhouette with the fuller panelled crown that defines the Shelby look. -
Kangol Bamboo Hawker 8-Panel Cap — a true eight-panel baker boy shape from a heritage British cap maker.
The flat cap (the everyday Birmingham look)
The flat cap is the sleeker cousin — a single-panel top that lies low and flat against the head. It's the more understated version of the look, and it's endlessly wearable off-screen. For 1920s Birmingham authenticity, wool is the way to go; tweed and plaid lean even more period-correct.
Shop the look:
-
Kangol Wool 504 Flat Cap — arguably the most iconic flat cap ever made, in pure wool. This is the definitive starting point. -
Scala Dart Nail Head Wool Ivy Cap — a subtly patterned wool cap with the tweedy, turn-of-the-century texture that dresses the look up a notch.
Newsboy or flat cap — which should you choose?
If you want the unmistakable, fuller Tommy Shelby silhouette, go newsboy. If you want something lower-profile that quietly nails the era and wears with everything from a peacoat to a three-piece suit, go flat cap. Many fans end up owning one of each — they're affordable, they layer beautifully into fall and winter outfits, and the look never really goes out of style.
Fabric matters
The Peaky look lives in wool and tweed. Those fabrics carry the weight, texture, and warmth that make the style read authentic — and they're exactly right for cooler weather. Save the lighter cotton and bamboo caps for summer; for the Birmingham look, reach for wool.
Get the fit right
A cap that's too big slouches; too small and it perches. Check our hat sizing guide to measure and choose correctly, then browse the full ivy & driver cap collection for every newsboy, baker boy, and flat cap we carry.
By order of the Peaky Blinders — start your look in the cap collection at Fedoras.com.
Fedoras.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the BBC, Peaky Blinders, or any actor. Style references are provided for inspiration only.
