What I never cover the barnet with is a bobble hat or its relative the ‘beanie’ both of which I regard as ugly, even if they do keep the ears warm. Better cold than undignified.
I know what you mean but as you say, the beanie do keep the ears warm, so I do wear one in the depths of winter. I can’t abide feeling cold.
The two bobble hats I own are for football teams. They are only worn inside the grounds.
I have two flat caps. One is a fairly recent purchase. The other was bought years ago in Donegal, made by the Hanna Hats company.
Several people have approached me over the years to say how much they like the hat. One genial Rastafarian fellow I encountered on the Charing Cross Road was most taken with it and insisted on “high fiving” me!
Unfortunately in recent years, several people have assumed I must have bought it because of “Peaky Blinders”. When in fact I bought it several years before that programme ever saw the light of day. I have never watched it and don’t want to either!