Flat cap feelings

**cruiser348** · 6th May 11, 10:52 AM

Okay, after seeing lots of references on here to what seems to be what I will refer to as "very strong" opinions on flat caps I feel compelled to ask a question. What is it about the wearing of a flat cap with a kilt that stirs such strong emotions?

**Spartan Tartan** · 6th May 11, 10:59 AM

Ohhhhh man, you are opening a can of worms. I'll be watching this thread to see what type of responses you get.

But, to answer your question as best I can--it appears to me that it normally boils down to whether the flat cap is "traditional" highland attire/accessory. There are pictures that show it being worn, but the debate/question comes down to "is/was that normally done, or was that a unique picture that does not properly represent the normal person at the time?"

Anyway, that's how I've come to understand it. I, for one, like the look of the flat cap. But you won't see a picture on here of me wearing it

**cruiser348** · 6th May 11, 11:13 AM

Sounds like this could get more interesting than I expected. Had a feeling it was a debate about traditional versus nontraditional but given how strong some of the feeling seemed to get thought maybe it was something more involved.

**piperdbh** · 6th May 11, 11:20 AM

I don't much care for flat caps with or without a kilt, but I don't get all worked up about it if someone wants to wear one.

**Alan H** · 6th May 11, 11:39 AM

If you really want to know, use the search function. If you want to stir up another big, stupid fight and piss people off then go waste everybodys time on some other forum.

Sorry to be so blunt, but there you go. Flat caps and white kilt hose are incendiary topics that incite nasty arguments, and we've all been down that road many more times than is necessary.

**davidlpope** · 6th May 11, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

If you really want to know, use the search function. If you want to stir up another big, stupid fight and piss people off then go waste everybodys time on some other forum.

Sorry to be so blunt, but there you go. Flat caps and white kilt hose are incendiary topics that incite nasty arguments, and we've all been down that road many more times than is necessary.

***.

**SlackerDrummer** · 6th May 11, 12:04 PM

The flat cap , more or less as it's seen today, came into being in the late 19th century as a country hat and would have been worn predominantly with a tweed suit, with either pants or breeks. It has about the same first appearance as the deerstalker and I imagine the two were interchangeable to a great extent, most likely depending on either preference or the weather.

You can find some historical pictures of the flat cap being worn with the kilt, but most of these are instances where the kilt itself is being worn as country attire (stalking/shooting or hanging out at country estates like Balmoral). I imagine most of the gentlemen you see in these photos however would not have worn the kilt as evening wear. Then they probably would have worn the white tie and tails outfits of the day. In other words, the kilt wasn't a fully integrated item of dress for them. For those for whom the kilt was an integrated form of dress, there were already analogs for the flat cap (the Balmoral bonnet and to some extent the Glengarry bonnet).

Jock Scot has told us that the Scots in the Highlands see the deerstalker as more "Scottish" and the flat cap as more "British" and therefore don't have a problem with the deerstalker being worn with the kilt, but don't like the flat cap. I don't know if that has any basis in reality (e.g. where they each originated), but I do know the flat cap was popular across Europe all the way down into Italy and it seems that a century later that's where things stand from the Highlander perspective.

All that said, when I finally get a tweed jacket and waistcoat, I plan to have a matching flat cap made.

**cruiser348** · 6th May 11, 02:23 PM

I did a search and while I do admit I didn't look through all of the 500 threads that came from the search I didn't find the information I was looking for. I also didn't see what appeared to be an argument over the topic so I didn't realize that this topic could be such a large can of worms.
Slacker Drummer thank you very much for the information. It gave me all the information I could possibly need which is what I have gotten used to seeing here and am thankful for that.
Since I have unknowingly asked such a hot button issue I ask that the moderator feel free to close this thread in order to prevent it from causing any arguments or hard feelings.

**Monkey@Arms** · 6th May 11, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by cruiser348

I did a search and while I do admit I didn't look through all of the 500 threads that came from the search I didn't find the information I was looking for. I also didn't see what appeared to be an argument over the topic so I didn't realize that this topic could be such a large can of worms.
Slacker Drummer thank you very much for the information. It gave me all the information I could possibly need which is what I have gotten used to seeing here and am thankful for that.
Since I have unknowingly asked such a hot button issue I ask that the moderator feel free to close this thread in order to prevent it from causing any arguments or hard feelings.

Your search-fu is weak, my friend. Just read the titles of some of these threads to find the answers you seek.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...query=flat+cap

Best regards,

Jake

**Spartan Tartan** · 6th May 11, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by Monkey@Arms

Your search-fu is weak, my friend. Just read the titles of some of these threads to find the answers you seek.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...query=flat+cap

Best regards,

Jake

I have terrible search fu too...but I find it interesting that ALL those threads are closed

Honestly, I believe the OP was a genuine question and not incendiary. I hope you able to satisfy your question with the info here and linked above (Thanks Monkey@arms).