Sources: Lawrence & Foster

I was pleased to learn that my formerly invisible-on-the-internet capmaker, the Yorkshire firm of Lawrence & Foster, has launched a website. Summer or winter, linen or tweed, if you're in need of head covering that's between a fedora and a baseball cap on the spectrum of clothing formality, this is a good place for it.

The L&F site is limited to four men's models (£38.00 to £40.00 ex VAT, or about $80) and four styles for women (£39.00 to £45.00 ex VAT, or $80-$90) in a variety of tweed, but the firm is not. I have cloth sent there and confirm the details by email. A few weeks later, hats appear. Each time, the execution has been flawless.

The great thing about a tweed cap of course is that it sheds a lot of water before it soaks through, a useful characteristic during the rainy season.

Recommended.

Capping It Off

Walking in the sun and driving a car with the roof open call for headgear, and hopefully something other than a baseball cap. Yes, Esquire considers the baseball cap to be one of America's contributions to men's dress but author Paul Fussell would almost certainly describe that entire list as clothing for proles, including as it does such other contributions as sweat pants and the hoodie.

So what does that leave us? James Lock & Co., whose taste is as impeccable as anyone's, offers a variety of options, including the straw boater and the trilby. But I like the cap.

Caps perform all the functions of other casual headgear and offer an advantage that's unique to them. They are made from the same cloth that's used for suits and odd jackets, so you can get what you like.

English capmaker Lawrence & Foster will deliver the style that you like if you send them half a meter of any appropriate cloth, ranging from 14 ounce linen to 22 ounce tweed (they have no web site but their email is sales@lawrenceandfoster.co.uk). Delivery takes about a month and upon receipt you're ready to hit the golf course.