A serious thread about hats with kilts in the USA

[Just Hugh]

I'm a Scottish American and I usually wear a hat to compensate for follicular insufficiency on my pate.

I often, meaning almost always, wear a baseball cap. When I was in college I even wore a baseball cap with a tweed jacket. (It made sense at the time and, no, I wouldn't do that now.)

I remember being at Scottish Games before we had children of our own and seeing the teenaged pipers swap out their uniform hats for baseball caps and hang out sipping on sneaked cups of beer and thinking, "these are just regular American teenagers, who don't care a lick about wearing a kilt, and I'd like my son to be as comfortable." Now, I was probably still wearing my baseball cap with my tweed at the time, so there's that.

Fast forward to me now, I'm in my forties and I'm getting comfortable with kilting myself, and so is my son, who is now ten. We're going to the NYC Tartan day and I'll be in a kilt with a sweater - not too matchy, matchy, but put together enough.

I know I'll want to wear a hat. I just don't think I'm interested in a "Scottish" hat. Glengarry and balmoral are a step over the line I'm walking. If I went in jeans and a sweater I'd wear a baseball cap as a reflex.

I have a tweed flat cap. I know the discourse on that. I have come to mildly agree that it's not the best hat with a kilt, but I almost feel that an American in a kilt can pull off a baseball cap with a rampant lion/Scotland insignia. Almost.

Anyone from the USA got an opinion about our little continent and the nuances of hats and caps (not bonnets)?

I may just wear a knit cap due to the cold and I think that's probably the answer, but thought it'd be worth another go around, particularly because of the casual nature of dress in the USA - including various hats and baseball caps with casual kilt wearing.

Have at it!

[Father Bill]

Tell you what, you wear what you like, but count me off of your continent. American norms don't always sit well in Canada.

[Mikilt]

Despite being non-traditional, I think a tweed flatcap would look fine with a sweater and kilt. I don't care for the baseball hat with a kilt look.

Just my $0.02

[TheOfficialBren]

Fore and aft hat or a deerstalker, maybe?

I still don't see the problem with flat caps and the kilt. If a certain former Scottish monarch wore one regularly with his kilt then that's good enough for me. Others will disagree. We know, we know. Sacrilege, an affront, blah.

Be comfortable, enjoy the time with your wee boy, sir, and take pride in sharing his heritage with him. Good on ya!

[Just Hugh]

Fore and aft hat or a deerstalker, maybe?

!

That first post was a response to our fine Canadian poster, Father Bill. I DO have a deer stalker, that I have only worn once on Halloween when I dressed as Sherlock Holmes. I may need to convince my entire family and country (not continent) that it has other uses.

I also have a Russian black fur hat that has the fold down ear covers, but I don't imagine that would work with a kilt, but maybe I'm being too traditional? (kidding.)

[Just Hugh]

I wore a flat cap with the kilt at a St. Patrick's Day parade I attended as a spectator because I feel like it's an Irish hat. But, I have to say, I was wondering the whole time if there were XMTS judgers hidden in the crowd frowning at my choice.

So far the only negative effect of my reading this site, and worth all of the good advice and information.

[Richrail]

I wear flat caps all the time, kilted or in jeans. I also wear a fedora style hat. Wear what your comfortable wearing.

[TheOfficialBren]

That first post was a response to our fine Canadian poster, Father Bill. I DO have a deer stalker, that I have only worn once on Halloween when I dressed as Sherlock Holmes. I may need to convince my entire family and country (not continent) that it has other uses.

I also have a Russian black fur hat that has the fold down ear covers, but I don't imagine that would work with a kilt, but maybe I'm being too traditional? (kidding.)

I may be misinterpreting your post but it sounded a bit cheeky, my friend. If I am then I sincerely apologise for any misunderstanding. I honestly did think that you were belittling my own choice of head wear, though.

[KenB]

After spending several trips to a dermatologist getting the tops of my ears sprayed with nitrogen, as well as a few spots on my bald head, I always take care to coverup and wear a wide brim hat. But that's me. Basically, wear what you like. But please, if you opt for a ball cap, wear it with the bill forward rather than abaft.

[Just Hugh]

I may be misinterpreting your post but it sounded a bit cheeky, my friend. If I am then I sincerely apologise for any misunderstanding. I honestly did think that you were belittling my own choice of head wear, though.

I see how you would read it that way. It wasn't my intention. I'm a recent convert at bucking convention by wearing the kilt, but I suppose my sensitivity to society's expectations persists. I was more posting what I would imagine others to think than what I think. Frankly, I'm not sure what I think. I may wear my deerstalker and love it!

A sincere thanks for the suggestion, TheOfficialBren.