What hat do you wear with a kilt?

[creagdhubh]

I am just back from a week up Stirlingshire/East Dunbartonshire and Glasgow. In Glasgow on Monday I saw a lot of Sikhs in the Cowcaddens area of Glasgow going to a Sikh wedding. I don't know if you could count the turban as a hat, but these guys were wearing matching kilts and turbans and they looked absolutely fantastic, in my opinion, as sharp as a razor. Really stylish. Their wives were wearing traditional Indian dress and I think the look of the couples together really complimented one another. The fellahs were also carrying traditional Sikh swords with their outfits. Outstanding. Their accents, of course, were pure dead Glesca, they had obviously been born and raised here.

BTW, I don't think the guy in the pic is a Sikh, he looks more like a Scotsman living in India. I have several pics of Scots in India at the height of the British Empire era who dressed similar to this, including officers from the Black Watch.

Very interesting indeed! Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,

[SeumasA]

I have never had a tan - I need at least factor 40 to be safe, but some years I get so many freckles that they join up, however there are always some small dots of white, sort of freckles in reverse.

Now my dad was and my daughter is so pale that they'd need three days in the sun just to go white.


Anne the Pleater :ootd:

I grew up on the west coast and as a kid could spend all day in the sun without burning. Now that I live at 4500 ft. elevation, I've had to learn about the benefits of sunscreen.

[James Hood]

For the Highland games next week in metro Chicago, most likely the 30-something year old Aussie fur felt bush hat. That wide brim is a good thing when outside all day. Oh, and SPF 50 sunscreen.

[Cygnus]

I am just back from a week up Stirlingshire/East Dunbartonshire and Glasgow. In Glasgow on Monday I saw a lot of Sikhs in the Cowcaddens area of Glasgow going to a Sikh wedding. I don't know if you could count the turban as a hat, but these guys were wearing matching kilts and turbans and they looked absolutely fantastic, in my opinion, as sharp as a razor. Really stylish. Their wives were wearing traditional Indian dress and I think the look of the couples together really complimented one another. The fellahs were also carrying traditional Sikh swords with their outfits. Outstanding. Their accents, of course, were pure dead Glesca, they had obviously been born and raised here.

BTW, I don't think the guy in the pic is a Sikh, he looks more like a Scotsman living in India. I have several pics of Scots in India at the height of the British Empire era who dressed similar to this, including officers from the Black Watch.

It's a shame you didn't get any pictures (or did you?) - I would have loved to see that.

Thanks also for the analysis of the photo I posted; the website from which it was taken was not at all helpful.

[Walkman]

Back to the original question, if I wear a hat it's a dark blue Balmoral with dicing. I've been thinking about getting a dark green caubeen (Canadian Irish Rifles style) lately as well.

It's interesting how controversial a little dicing can be. A lady tried to tell me that it wasn't proper to wear a Balmoral with dicing once, but I never heard the fealty assertion until today. I wonder if that's what made it "improper", LOL. I fall in the "wear what you like" camp, but appreciate the background information.

[MacSpadger]

It's a shame you didn't get any pictures (or did you?) - I would have loved to see that.

Thanks also for the analysis of the photo I posted; the website from which it was taken was not at all helpful.

Nah, it just didn't seem right to ask. I don't like it when strangers take photos of me when I'm about my own business. I kind of expect it when I'm piping as that sort of goes into public performance, but if I'm about my own business I can get crabbit. I apply that to others too.
There is a Sikh tartan and many Sikh/Scottish groups, Sikh Bravehearts, Tartan Dhollies, etc

The guy in your pic, btw, is not a Scot or a Sikh. Turns out he's an American from Wisconsin, Alexander Haughton Gardner.

[OC Richard]

We prefer flat caps

[OC Richard]

I wear a Balmoral without dicing (I do not accept England as my Queen)

????????????

Not trying to be rude or anything, but that statement is a head-scratcher.

For one, I can't wrap my mind around England being Queen of anything.

Secondly, I don't know what on earth dicing has to do with England or Queens.

Dicing is simply decorative and has no meaning whatsoever.

With civilian dress it is and always has been merely a matter of preference.

In the Army some regiments had dicing, some didn't, on their Glengarries. (The Cameron Highlanders and Black Watch wore plain ones.)

Here are Drum Majors and Pipe Majors of various regiments, India, c1900. Note that pipers wear plain Glens regardless of regiment, while the Drum Majors wear what the rest of their respective regiments wear: plain for The Black Watch and The Cameron Highlanders, diced for The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and The Seaforth Highlanders.



Here are brothers serving in the same regiment, showing the pipers' plain and the regular soldiers' diced Glens. Allegiance to England has nothing to do with it.

[creagdhubh]

Well said, Richard!

[SlackerDrummer]

The guy in your pic, btw, is not a Scot or a Sikh. Turns out he's an American....

Figures.