Chauffeur peaked cap
Black or navy wool-blend crown, patent peak, satin hatband; sizes 6 7/8 to 7 3/4
$42
Caps and gloves
Peaked caps and driving gloves, fitted properly
The two pieces a passenger notices first. Here is how we size them, what they are made of, how they hold a wheel, what they cost and how to keep them sharp.
The price board
Caps and gloves in stock
Leather driving gloves, unlined
Soft sheep nappa, snap cuff; smooth or knit-back, S to XXL
$36
Winter-lined driving gloves
Nappa outer, brushed thermal lining, longer cuff for coat sleeves
$48
The unlined glove comes in two backs at the same $36: a smooth nappa back for a formal look, and a knit back that breathes on a hot afternoon in a car that has been parked in the sun. Say which back you want in the order message; if you say nothing, we pack smooth.
Measuring a head
Getting the cap size right
A chauffeur cap is sized in eighths of an inch, and the number on the sweatband is not a measurement of anything you can see. It comes from a standard hatter's formula: take the distance around the head in inches and divide it by pi. A head that measures 22.8 inches around is therefore a size 7 1/4. We stock every eighth from 6 7/8 to 7 3/4, which covers the large middle of adult head sizes; if a driver measures outside that span, tell us and we will say plainly that we cannot fit them rather than send a cap that rides wrong.
Measure with a soft tailor's tape, not a steel rule. Place it where the hatband will sit: across the forehead roughly a finger's width above the eyebrows, just over the tops of the ears and around the fullest part of the back of the head. Keep it level and snug without pressing into the hair. Take the reading twice. Short hair or a fresh cut can change the figure, so measure on a normal day rather than straight after the barber.
| Cap size | Head, inches |
|---|---|
| Size 6 7/8 | 21.6 in around |
| Size 7 | 22.0 in around |
| Size 7 1/8 | 22.4 in around |
| Size 7 1/4 | 22.8 in around |
| Size 7 3/8 | 23.2 in around |
| Size 7 1/2 | 23.6 in around |
| Size 7 5/8 | 24.0 in around |
| Size 7 3/4 | 24.3 in around |
Crown and peak shapes
Our crown is a moderate height with a gently raised front, the shape most fleets expect: smart from the curb, low enough to clear a door frame when the driver climbs in. It comes in black or navy, and the satin hatband matches the crown so the cap reads as one piece. The peak is a short, firm patent that sits at a slight downward angle, shading the eyes in low sun without blocking the view of the mirrors. A light stiffener keeps the front panel from creasing when the cap rides on the passenger seat between jobs.
Inside, a leather-look sweatband takes the brunt of a long shift. Drivers who wear a cap for ten hours a day in a Texas summer should expect to wipe that band down every evening; the cleaning note further down this page explains how.
Leathers and grip
Choosing driving gloves
A driving glove has one job beyond looking tidy: it has to let the hand feel the wheel. That is why our unlined pair uses thin sheep nappa, soft enough to bend at the knuckle without bunching, with the seams turned so no ridge presses into the palm. The knit-back version swaps the leather on the back of the hand for a fine knit, which lets heat out while the leather palm keeps its grip on the rim.
The winter-lined pair is for early starts in a cold car and for drivers who stand outside a venue waiting to open a door. The outer is the same nappa; inside is a brushed thermal lining, and the cuff is cut longer so it slides under a coat sleeve instead of leaving a gap at the wrist. A lined glove is a little thicker on the wheel, so drivers who switch between pairs usually keep the unlined pair in the door pocket for the drive itself.
The glove should let the fingers wrap the rim this lightly, with no slack leather at the tips.
Glove sizes
Measure around the widest part of the palm, just below the knuckles, with the thumb held out of the way. Gloves fit close: if a driver is between sizes on a lined pair, go up; for an unlined pair, stay with the smaller size, because nappa gives a little with wear.
| Glove size | Palm measurement |
|---|---|
| Size S | about 7 in across the palm |
| Size M | about 8 in across the palm |
| Size L | about 9 in across the palm |
| Size XL | about 10 in across the palm |
| Size XXL | about 11 in across the palm |
Keeping both looking sharp
- Brush the cap crown with a soft clothes brush after each shift and wipe the patent peak with a dry cloth; never put it on the dashboard in direct sun.
- Wipe the sweatband with a barely damp cloth and let it dry upside down, never on a heater.
- Let damp gloves dry flat at room temperature, then work them gently between the hands to bring back the softness.
- Every few weeks, rub a small amount of leather balm from our detailing kit into the gloves and buff it off after ten minutes.
- Keep the cap in its carton or on a shelf, never crushed under a garment bag in the trunk.
Ready when your drivers are
Send cap and glove sizes for one driver or the whole roster, and the read-back e-mail will list every size before you pay.
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