How to Clean & Care for your Boston Scally Cap and Flat Cap August 03 2023

Not Just Any Flat Cap: The 'Distillery' Scally Cap April 12 2022

Nostalgia is a Powerful Thing May 25 2021

The Art of Garbology October 06 2019

I used to be embarrassed to talk about this as a kid. It was only recently that I have shared the stories of what my father refers to as ‘Garbology.’

My dad was a school teacher for 34 years. He was also a professor…a professor of ‘Garbology.’ 

“What the hell is ‘Garbology’ you ask?” Simple. Trash picking. 

As a kid we didn’t make many trips to Toys R’ Us. When it was time for a new bike or the potential for new toys, we often headed to the Commonwealth of Newton where all the rich folks lived. 

They threw away the best shit. 

Monday was trash day, which meant on Sunday night at dusk we would cruise the neighborhood as if we were living out our own ‘Mission Impossible.’ My brothers and I would dress in all black (my father, of course, wearing his scally cap), jump in the back of my father’s Chevy Scottsdale and strategize an elaborate plan for the night ahead. 

Another man’s trash was in fact our treasure. It was our first bike, a set of golf clubs and an air hockey table less 5 or 6 players—and no puck. My father had a keen eye for these “treasures” and a true talent for seeing passed the dings, dents and scratches. Bike missing a wheel? No problem. Golf club too long? Cut it down. Table with scratches? Nothing a little sand paper and stain can’t repair.

During that time, my two older brothers and I never told our friends how we got our “new” bike or where that antique coffee table came from. We didn’t really think much of it. We looked forward to those Sunday nights after dinner, sneaking around and rummaging through people’s trash before they turned their lights on. My father was an excellent ‘getaway’ driver and the rush of adrenaline we felt during these adventures money couldn’t buy. It was literally priceless.

It humbles me today to think back on those times. 

My father recently bought my oldest son his first bike. It was shiny, new and still had the tag on it…but it wasn’t the same. It has both tires the same color, handle bars with grips and a padded seat. I realized while looking at this new bike that life is all about perspective. We didn’t see the flaws in our bikes—we thought we had it all—it might as well have been new. 

We try to promote our business in a way so that our fans and customers can see that. It is too often that brands promote themselves as flawless. That is bullshit.  

It’s the dings, dents and scratches that make our brand what we’re all about. 

P.S. If you need any tips on ‘Garbology’ feel free to send us a note…or if you have an old bike you’re not using—put a “FREE” sign on it. You’ll make a 6-year old kid happy as a pig in shit. Trust me.

Scally Cap Styles: Single Panel, Five Panel, Six Panel, and Eight Panel Caps August 08 2019

When we started Boston Scally Company, there was a problem that needed to be solved. Flat caps needed to be updated. We always loved the old-school look, but in today’s world, people want to keep with the times—so we updated the coveted scally cap and gave it a signature form fit.

We currently offer four different styles of scally caps:

Single Panel Scally Cap

Often referred to as a traditional flat cap or ivy cap, this cap consists of one panel that runs from front to back. Though the single panel refers to the top half of the scally cap, it is important to notice a signature Boston Scally cap will have a slight narrower side panels; less floppy that is. The goal in designing this cap was to give more depth to the traditional flat cap look—something that looked less like a costume hat. The increased depth give this a lower profile look that is more form fitted. It will shape the face nicely and hug the top of your dome just right.

We can always pick our scally cap in a crowd just by the proprietary look we knew people were looking for.

Our ‘Original’ scally cap is our best seller to date. If you are a beginner or veteran to the scally cap world, we suggest starting with that.

5 Panel Scally

When old school meets new school. How a scally cap looks is extremely important to us. We always liked the concept of 5 panel caps, but felt like the sides could have a narrower look (like our single panel) and that the back could have a more rounded form fit (like our 8 panel). They needed our signature look. But it didn't end there-we needed to extend the brim ever so slightly and increase the hat depth a little so that this cap kept its traditional feel with a modern look. We've revolutionized the five panel scally cap.

6 Panel scally cap

The six panel scally cap has been around for quite some time, but we encountered the same issue with many other brands out there—something was missing on the fit. It needed to be improved. When we wear a scally cap we like to know that it is going to stay on our head, like a baseball cap. This was the “ah-ha” moment that helped design our signature 6 panel scally cap. We needed to give it more depth, just like we did with the single panel, slim down the sides and make the brim more substantial. Contrary to the single panel, the 6 panel scally cap has a rounder look. It will appear completely smooth and clean on the edges.

We are obviously very passionate about our scally caps, and what our customers and fans to feel the same way. Being able to make the cap your own is important. By adjusting the brim and making it more substantial, it gives the ability to give the cap a completely different look depending on who is wearing it. Do you like a more curved look? A flatter brim? The option is yours.

8 Panel Scally [Peaky Blinders Cap]

The eight panel scally cap has recently gained popularity because of the hit series ‘Peaky Blinders” and rightfully so. Not only are those dudes badass, but they look badass in their 8 panel scally caps. The question that arose was “Will we look like they do?”

As much as one would like to be able to pull off the old school, floppy 8 panel cap, it conveys more of a custom look. Very cool-yes---but for everyday wear it needed adjustments.

For years, we worked on developing an eight panel scally cap that looked just right. We had dozens and dozens of prototypes over the years, but they were never quite right. They were either too floppy, too small, too big—you name it.

Finally, we got it right. We were able to “Boston Scally-ize” the Peaky Blinders-style 8-panel cap. We gave it our signature form fit with a narrower look. It has a similar look and feel as the 6 panel, but with a slightly larger profile to give it an old-school look with a modern feel.

The Best Fit for You

Fitting a cap can be a very personal thing, but we always recommend getting the proper sizing first. If you are in between sizes we always recommend going a size up.

Once you get the size down we typically guide customers toward our Original scally cap if they feel the single panel scally suits them best. If you feel the six panel is more of a preference, then we would guide you toward our ‘Scrapper’ scally cap collection. If you are going for the 8 Panel, our ‘Peaky’ scally cap [when it’s not sold out] is one of our best sellers and a fan favorite.

No matter what style, color or fit you like—Boston Scally Company is here to guide you in the right direction. Our selection is as wide as it is high and we are always adding new styles!

How to Size the Original "Scally Cap" for Kids September 27 2014

With the launch the original "scally cap" for kids, we have been getting an influx of inquiries on how to size for your little guys and girls--so we have provided a size chart and an explanation that should help.

Kids' head sizes can fluctuate from age to age as some kids grow faster than others...

With that said here are two simple steps to follow to ensure you get it right:

1.] Use the size chart below as a reference.

2.] Grab a tape measure if you can as back up. These sizes listed on the chart are based on "average" but sometimes you may have a 5-6 year old that can fit into an XL.

3.] If they are in between sizes, always go up so that they can grow into it. These caps will stretch and mold over time for a true & proper fit.

***

We designed our scally caps for kids to be different than anything else out there. Our goal was to have a cap that is true to our brand--it is not often that the little guys and girls can get a legitimate fitted cap.

It was important for us to launch a scally cap just like our adult caps, so that the youth of Boston have a brand that they can count on for years to come!

Summer in Boston May 25 2014

It’s about that time—NHL playoffs are coming to an end, you’ve got over a month until the MLB All-Star break and the weather is breaking just enough where it’s completely acceptable to crush thirty-seven Sam Summers before dusk.
That’s when you know summertime is just about here.

I often think about summer when I was a kid. We didn’t vacation to the islands, take flights to Disney—or even get to many games at Fenway [it ain’t cheap now and it wasn’t cheap then].

Go back 23 years or so…

Summer in my household was all about Little League baseball, riding bikes and fist fighting with my brothers on the front lawn.

I never really understood the concept of a “summer vacation,” but what I did understand…running through a sprinkler was just as good as having a fancy in-ground pool—or at least that’s what my old man led me and my brothers to believe.
We did always look forward to our annual trip down the Cape—holy shit was that an intense process!

Once every summer, the old man and my mother would stuff my two older brothers and I in the back of the 79’ Impala, fly down 93 South, hit the Sagamore Bridge and then pop off exit 9A to West Dennis Port where my father’s good buddy owned a tuna-can sized cottage that we’d make home for the week.

It smelled like stale air, pine needles and moth balls—it smelled like shit. I mean summer--it smelled like summer.

But it was all worth it…

Ah yes, the West Dennis [Public] Beach. This place was packed with 40,000 kids, 10,000 screaming parents…and one friggin’ ice cream man…ONE. We would fry in the sun and freeze in the water—just as long as we got a ‘Pink Panther’ Popsicle with the gumball eyes. Genius.

The point of all this—it was a typical summer for people around Boston.

The Cape wasn’t Aruba or some fancy resort, but it was half a tank of unleaded gas from Boston, inexpensive and it had Kreme N’ Kone. (Tell me you have had better onion rings anywhere else and I will call you a liar.)

That is what the Boston Scally Company is all about. We share a lot of the same traditions like sports, family…and even our summer “vacation.” It is really pretty simple when you think about.

You tough it out all winter and spring, just to catch that 12-inch striped bass off the jetties in June—only to throw it back in hopes you’ve got enough squid in the bucket to catch one you can actually bring home.

For many of us, it was the only beaches we ever had a chance to experience—beside Castle Island of course.

How do YOU remember your summers as a kid?

We want to know about it! Share this post and let us know in the COMMENTS below!!

How to Size a Boston Scally Cap October 10 2013

So I have been receiving quite a bit of feedback and questions on how to size your Boston Scally Cap and I am glad this question is being asked and I will tell you why…

Two reasons.

Proper Size [if there really is one]

Scally caps are typically made with a wool tweed blend.

What does this mean? That it will stretch and mold to your head pretty easily.  This is great because if your "in between sizes" your cap will basically adapt in a short period of time and give you the custom fit you look for in a quality piece of head wear.

Personally I like to buy my cap a little bit on the smaller end and work it for a day until it stretches just enough—that's my preference. Give the brim a good bend and it's ready to go.

What I also find that is very common is for people to buy them "true to size" or even a little big. This favors those that like extreme comfort or like to adjust their cap pretty frequently. It allows for a bit more freedom in how you rock your cap.

*With that said, if you are on the smaller size of a medium—go with a small. If you are on the larger end—go with the medium/large.

**If you just want to be an epic badass—go with The Brawler cap

Scally Cap Virgin

There are many people out there that have never owned a scally cap [or any cap like it] and don't know how to wear it.

Look—there is no formula for how to wear a scally cap, just like there isn't one for how to wear your favorite fitted baseball hat.

What I typically tell those who have never donned an official scally cap is to follow the size chart FAQ page of the site. When designing these caps, it was important that they fit as "true to size" as possible. That way it would be easy for you to transition your head size from a standard fitted hat to an official Boston Scally cap.

***

In the end how your scally cap fits is truly your preference.

Regardless of how you wear your cap it'll look good… REAL GOOD. We went through tireless efforts to design and find the right style and profile to look good on every dome across the globe…

Now people can finally find a scally [newsie, flat cap, ivy cap…etc] that will look good on everyone.

Boston Scally Company: Just a Bunch of Blue Collar Wiseguys September 30 2013

Boston is known for being a blue-collar city where hard work is a given, the bond of brotherhood is unbreakable and the pursuit, no matter what it’s toward, is always relentless.

There is a certain vibe in Boston that starts with its’ people, their sarcasm, their underlying rugged persona…and the one-of-a-kind culture they all embrace.

That’s where Boston Scally Company was inspired.

My father grew up on the corner of Cushing St and Mt. Auburn in Cambridge, MA in the 1950’s during one-of-the-most nostalgic times in America—specifically Boston. Times were tough, but they were simple. The community he grew up in consisted of second generation to those that immigrated from all over Europe to find a better life for their families, provide for their children…to scrap for an opportunity at the ‘American Dream.’

You’d often see these working class men leading up until this time and throughout, wearing ‘flat caps,’ or as we refer to them in Boston—‘scally caps.’ The design of this cap was most likely for functional purposes such as shade, but quickly redefined itself. As European immigrants began settling in the United States, the "scally cap" became a staple in American fashion—especially in Boston.

I grew up wearing these caps because my father wore them and his father wore them. This was most likely the case for anyone within a ten-mile radius of Southie, East Boston and Quincy.

Wearing this cap wasn’t just a fashion statement anymore.

Donning a ‘scally cap’ signified that you were willing to hustle for a buck and, if need be, bloody a few lips in pursuit of a dream.

In years since, it has become evident that the unique and genuine personality of someone from Boston is the make up of something pretty unique and envied by many—I felt that this should shared in the form of Boston’s most culture-defining piece of headwear—the scally cap.

Boston Scally Company will to give those, not only from Boston, the opportunity to own a quality cap or shirt that represents not only style, but the culture behind it. Those who understand the tough, humble and loveable nature of Bostonians will understand Boston Scally Company. The best way I can describe this brand is: ’Hard nose. Soft fit.’

And for those that don’t understand, well, they can wear their matching sweaters with pleated pants.

So when you get your first piece of Boston Scally apparel, whether it’s a cap or shirt, I encourage you to get some blood, sweat, tears…or even spill some beer on it.

It’ll only add to its character.