quikrick
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Nice! Good color choice, and it looks right at home on you!
Back in Paris for two nights as of today. Travelling, a Sussex Tweed cotton / linen blend eight panel. Leaving London:
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...and on the Metro, en route to the hotel on the Paris side:
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And in the hotel, after arrival: the first Cathcart Cap of the trip. This is one from a transition period; the brand originally known as "Simon James Cathcart" or SJC has recently rebranded as 'Cathcart London" and "Cathcart Heritage" (I believe the intent is that the latter will be a more strictly "repro" type of thing, while the former will have some tweaks to sell to a more contemporary fashion audience.)
This particular cap is a style very traditional to Britain and Ireland (and I think much of Europe too). This is what most over here will imagine when you refer to a traditional 'flat cap' design. The fabric here is the same as used in the plaid style 33 jacket in wool in the Cathcart range. It makes for a very substantial cap, one that will be good in the dead of Winter. I'm mostly a 57 in most hats, though in some caps, like this one, a neat 58. This is snug on me, though I expect there may, as always with wool, be a degree of loosening up with wear.
Being worn:
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And the obligatory Eiffel Tower shot - not one of my best, it's been a long travel day, it seems!
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Eiffel Park was much busier today than it was last month; you can see I'm not the only person taking a selfie there today. I have another SJC cap in a lighter wool I'll be wearing tomorrow, hopefully get a better shot of that one.
This Cathcart is a really nice cap. Definitely one for a casual outfit imo, but really nice to wear. I don't know where these ones are made. Simon has changed his suppliers a couple of times. The very first SJC caps were by Simmonds, I think, but those were of necessity very small runs. This one is labelled "Made in the EU" (so outside the UK), would be interesting to pin it down further. A lot of the Cathcart tailoring is now done in England (unfortunately this rather raises the prices); not sure if the plan is to pull it all back locally across the range. Budget allowing, however, it all remains to a very high standard in my experience.
The tweed, cotton and linen blend make for a comfortable looking cap. Your last pics shoes the thickness of the material. It apears hardier than any of the clothes blends standing alone. I like the paneled caps appearance.
BTW: My commute to work or other work travels are never as swanky as "traveling to Paris." Way to go Edward.
I is fun to see your cap adventures.
I recall reading that Simmonds (US) made these caps. Thanks for bringing to light the Cathcart business maturation. Good to see it seeking business on the retro and trad side. I have only picked up a couple items on clearance. No caps unfortunately.
Enjoy your soirre in France Edward. Cheers, Eric -
Cheers, Eric -
Wonderful looking caps.Sussex Tweed certainly make a very fine cap. In Sussex, right in the SE corner of England - though it turns out the boss man grew up five miles down the road from where I did in County Antrim, and went to school with my cousin.
It's a definite plus side of academia, and this course in particular. Almost makes up for the academic salary. Almost.
Here we are - the second Cathcart cap for this trip. This time a lighter, tweed cap. Plenty warm, though a less thick cloth, lending itself better to a step up from the very casual.
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Again, cap constructed in the EU. The cap is "Donegal" style, though the cloth itself is woven in England (going forward, "Donegal Tweed" is to become a protected geographical mark like Champagne, though this was not the case when these were brought on the market). Lovely cloth - about the same weight and hand as the sort of wool a Pendleton 49er is made from.
Under artificial light in the hotel room this morning:
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And a couple of shots down at the tower on a beautiful, grey and wet evening dans la Paris:
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The Cathcart caps ain't cheap at full retail, but they are very competitively priced against the like of Simmonds, Cordova, Sussex Tweed, and such. Based on my experience of a range of these brands they are as good as any of them. Further into the Winter I may weaken and buy one of the hefty herringbone in this style. All of Simon's caps currently are this specific pattern. I'd quite like to see him bring out some others as well - the original eight point shape of the first SJC caps would be nice to see. Much as I love an eight panel, though, I think it's nice he's branched away from those as there are a lot of great options for them on the market already; these there seem fewer of. If you're thinking of trying one, though, I would highly recommend them.
Wonderful looking caps.
Here in New England, I haven't experienced any difference in warmth between Donegal or Harris tweed. My preferences lie in 8 panel newsboys. Flat caps and me aren't compatible for personal reasons.
One of my made in England Gamble and Gunn caps is Moon woven too. But its Shetland wool.Cut really is a matter of personal aesthetics, all done and said. Harris and Donegal differ chiefly in look; I've encountered both in varying weights over the years. The biggest difference is that Harris Tweed is a protected mark, and only cloth woven in the correct geographical location and recognised by the Harris Tweed Authority is recognised as such by law - https://www.martelnyc.com/vintage-style/harris-tweed-history-of-a-trademark.html To the best of my understanding, Donegal Tweed doesn't have such a protection - yet - though there's a move towards that in the EU. This wouldn't prevent anyone from making a very similar cloth, but they just wouldn't be allowed to call it Donegal Tweed in the EU, in much the same was as Cava can't be marketed as Champagne.
Sussex Tweed certainly make a very fine cap. In Sussex, right in the SE corner of England - though it turns out the boss man grew up five miles down the road from where I did in County Antrim, and went to school with my cousin.
It's a definite plus side of academia, and this course in particular. Almost makes up for the academic salary. Almost.
Here we are - the second Cathcart cap for this trip. This time a lighter, tweed cap. Plenty warm, though a less thick cloth, lending itself better to a step up from the very casual.
View attachment 458073
Again, cap constructed in the EU. The cap is "Donegal" style, though the cloth itself is woven in England (going forward, "Donegal Tweed" is to become a protected geographical mark like Champagne, though this was not the case when these were brought on the market). Lovely cloth - about the same weight and hand as the sort of wool a Pendleton 49er is made from.
Under artificial light in the hotel room this morning:
View attachment 458074
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And a couple of shots down at the tower on a beautiful, grey and wet evening dans la Paris:
View attachment 458076
View attachment 458077
The Cathcart caps ain't cheap at full retail, but they are very competitively priced against the like of Simmonds, Cordova, Sussex Tweed, and such. Based on my experience of a range of these brands they are as good as any of them. Further into the Winter I may weaken and buy one of the hefty herringbone in this style. All of Simon's caps currently are this specific pattern. I'd quite like to see him bring out some others as well - the original eight point shape of the first SJC caps would be nice to see. Much as I love an eight panel, though, I think it's nice he's branched away from those as there are a lot of great options for them on the market already; these there seem fewer of. If you're thinking of trying one, though, I would highly recommend them.
Wonderful looking caps.
Here in New England, I haven't experienced any difference in warmth between Donegal or Harris tweed. My preferences lie in 8 panel newsboys. Flat caps and me aren't compatible for personal reasons.
Love this tweed with maroon and tans. Can’t make out what’s left of the brand imprint on the liner.
we cruised up to Highlands,NC to see, Jackson Hole (not Wyoming) Bust Your Butt Falls… (which I could see why one might in fact bust their butt trying to cross) Dry Falls… (which are absolutely in no way dry) and Bridal Vail Falls… (which was in fact almost dry)
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Thank you again Eric. I am quite happy with my choice to grab a handful of caps to throw in my bag prior to leaving home. They have come in quite handy considering different environments and weather conditions We have encountered.Enjoy your vacation adventure Blare. Seeing your posts is enjoyable. Today's cap just pairs with your attire and the backdrop. Selecting caps for the environment is sweet! I love the hues and pattern in that wool.
I wore my only cap on this slightly chilly fall morning, it is Mucros that I purchased on a trip to Ireland 5 years or so ago. This cap is so easy to wear and I love the style.
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