The iconic hat from Peaky Blinders is the Bakerboy cap, also widely known as the Newsboy cap, Shelby cap, or flat cap, characterized by its rounded, multi-panel construction, often with a button top, made popular by the show's gangster aesthetic and used historically by the working class.
Throughout the series the main cast are shown wearing predominantly two types of headwear that were popular at the time: the flat cap and the baker boy, or newsboy, cap. People often call baker boy or newsboy caps a flat cap, but they are in fact a derivative of the flat cap.
Thanks to the hit series Peaky Blinders, the iconic Bakerboy cap—also known as the Newsboy or Shelby cap—is firmly back on Britain's fashion radar. But beyond emulating Thomas Shelby's sharp style, how do you master this timeless piece of British headwear without looking like you've stepped out of a costume drama?
A timeless style, these caps have been worn for a century and are only gaining in popularity. This sleek 6 panel duckbill shape is constructed from warm and breathable wool, complete with a cotton liner and sweatband.
Etymology. Birmingham historian Carl Chinn believes the name is a reference to the gang's sartorial elegance. He says the popular usage of "peaky" at the time referred to any flat cap with a peak. "Blinder" was a familiar Birmingham slang term, still used today, to describe something or someone of dapper appearance.
Who has the BEST hat in Peaky Blinders? Obsessed With... Peaky Blinders | BBC Sounds
What is a scully cap?
The Boston Scally cap is a short brim flat cap typically with a unique duckbill shape that gives it a unique look. It's a hat that has history, however, and it has come to represent an entire culture of hard-nosed, no-nonsense living in a blue-collar world.
The classic "gangster hat" is usually a Fedora, a felt hat with an indented crown and soft brim, often associated with 1920s and 30s figures like Al Capone; other similar styles include the Trilby (shorter brim) and sometimes a Homburg, with gangster-themed versions often featuring pinstripes or bold bands for a distinctive look.
Alfie is undoubtedly one of the most interesting men in the show and brilliantly played by Tom Hardy. The Jewish gang leader and Thomas Shelby's greatest frenemy is rarely ever seen without his black pork pie hat.
Aggressive outbursts, panic attacks, depression and night terrors were all symptoms of what was then know as shellshock, a condition more recently understood to be Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Why do the Peaky Blinders put razors in their hats?
As the story goes, these caps were used to smuggle weapons into places where they could be used to slice and blind the Blinders' enemies. However, it seems unlikely that such hat/weapon would have been possible during the crew's reign of terror.
The Gatsby Cap is a modified form of the newsboy cap. It acquired its name from the world-famous movie The Great Gatsby - a film where everything appears lavish and elegant, and in the midst of it, Robert Redford is seen wearing a newsboy cap.
Cloches, are bell-shaped hats for women. They were first designed in 1908 but became popular around the 1920s. The name is derived from 'cloche', the French word for 'bell'. Initially, milliners made women's cloche hats from felt, designed to be worn low on the forehead.
This hat is stylish yet practical, the downward slopping brim protects the face from the elements whether that be rain, sun, or snow. The additional benefit of a bucket hat, is the fact that it can be folded up, popped in your coat pocket or bag, and it'll be ready to wear when you want to wear it.
A gangster's girlfriend is often called a "moll" or "gun moll," slang from the early 20th century, exemplified by figures like Bonnie Parker who dated Clyde Barrow; other famous real-life female gangsters and partners include Ma Barker, Griselda Blanco (The Godmother), Stephanie St. Clair (Queenie), Virginia Hill, Sister Ping, and Linda Calvey, while fictional examples include Simran from the movie Gangster.
The bowler hat, also known as a Coke hat, billycock, bob hat, or derby (United States), is a hard felt hat with a rounded crown, originally created by the London hat-makers Thomas and William Bowler in 1849 and commissioned by Lock & Co.
Throughout the series the main cast are shown wearing predominantly two types of headwear that were popular at the time: the flat cap and the baker boy, or newsboy, cap. People often call baker boy or newsboy caps a flat cap, but they are in fact a derivative of the flat cap.
A Capeline or Flare are hat bodies used to make hats with medium to large brims. The difference between a Capeline and a Flare is that a Capeline has a definitive Crown and Brim compared to a Flare which has a crown which merges out into a brim (like the flared jeans from the 60's and 70's!)
The reason Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) rubs a cigarette on his lips when he smokes is to keep it from sticking to his lips. Michael Gray (Finn Cole) and John Shelby (Joe Cole) are brothers in real life.
