Just a thought regarding headwear

[Cambeul]

It drives my uncle crazy, but I always wear a baseball cap when I compete. It's the Southwest and I need to protect my face and eyes. And show my UA pride. Anything else would be far too warm. When I wear my kilt at night however, I do not wear any headgear.

[CMcG]

Tilley hat. Here in Texas, our weather tends to run on the hot-n-sunny side too, and wearing a wool felt hat like a Balmoral (with no brim) is just retarded in the hot months. We've had this discussion many times before, and I'll bet if you use the search feature for words like "Tilley", "fedora", "Panama hat", etc., you'll find loads of discussions and photos of what folks wear in the sun. Some of 'em look quite dashing and stylish with a kilt.

I wouldn't call this dashing at all, but my Tilley is very functional.

That whole outfit is properly practical for your local climate. Good one!

[Liam]

This is my other warm weather hat - a Kangol tropical weight beret.

[Downunder Kilt]

In relation to the corks dangling from hat brims in Australia, the only time you will see them worn is by tourists or those out partying, playing the Aussie larikin. I have never seen it worn in the outback, supposedly where it came from. It is said to be one of those things that becomes a myth, after one or two did it in the past. As or headwear in the heat and sun, I wear a short brimmed akubra or tilley style hat.

[James Hood]

Ha!

Chicago's weather over a decade (and can in the same year) goes from -40 to +40 C. Everything from swamp-tropic swelter to Arctic / Antarctic cold and snow with a wind chill which does folks in of exposure.

With northern-ish Euro gene pool, protection from Sol is an earnest concern.

Favourite summer lids wth kilts are a light tan full-brim Tilley and 70-lines of stitching canvas 1985 Banana Republic French Foreign Legion Hat, much like the USMC campaign hat, but less formal.

As weather cools or has not yet become hot, 'have Australian-made pressed fur felt Payerfield Bush Hat (about 1975), yes, with clip on the left and chin strap.

After the sun goes down if it's a hair nippy, a traditional or ex-Canadian Army, Buffalo Cap (Winnipeg) Balmoral.

[Aussie_Don]

Speaking of headwear, A.D., can you explain about the hats with corks dangling from the brims? Do people actually do this, or is it just something from Monty Python? Is it to keep bugs away from your face? Does it work?

AFAIK, they really do keep flies away.

OTOH, I've not spent that much time on outback
stations, etc, so I'll bow to Downunder's superior
knowledge -- just seemed like they might help, and
I know that blowies are a pain in some places.

In some parts of Oz flies can be a big enough problem
in the Summer that the waving of one's hand across the
face to scare them away is humourously referred to as
"the Aussie salute". The "blowies" (AKA blowflies can
be a real PITB)

-Don



AFAIK = as far as I know
OTOH = on the other hand
PITB = pain in the bum(or butt for the Seppos in the audience)
Seppos = "Septic Tank" = Yank (Cockney rhyming slang
as translated to Oz.) Note that I originated in the USA
and have been called a Seppo on occasion.

[Tobus]

And of course, there's always the option for a pith helmet, which is bona-fide kilt-appropriate headgear for hot climates!



Or for a cheaper alternative with more ventilation (but a similar look), a straw sun helmet.

[Hawk]

After so many years - I might be someone else when wearing a different hat....

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

No Anne, you'll be the same wonderful talented person that you are.......

So, pack it up ( taken photos of it first ) and ship it off to get a new lid. And, don't forget those extra "Tilley Owners Manual" and "Brag Tags". One Tilley owner, as they say, knows another...

Hawk

[Jock Scot]

When I used to be an active farmer(UK) the kilt was never worn for serious farm work and that still rings true----OK, no doubt some one will contradict me!However, I can remember in the 1940/50's some few kilts being worn on the farm, but whirling cogs, belts, shafts and ever increasing horse power has put paid to that.

As to headwear for farmers, the flat tweed cap probably was/is first choice, although in the highlands, the "fore and aft" and the "deer stalker" are very popular. There is these days, a noticable trend amonst the younger generation of farmer and staff towards the "John Deere" style of bonnet.

With the kilt in Scotland the usual, civilian, choice for head wear is bare headed, but the balmoral is seen as is the the glengarry(un-common) and for informal events the"Fore and aft" and "deer stalker"are worn with no fear of raising an eye. Whilst the sun is nowhere near as powerful as in some parts of the world, the Scottish sun with no air pollution can and does burn and the panama is often the first choice of many.

I was presented with a brand spanking new Akubra Australian Army "slouch" hat not so long ago to replace my very old one and once I have removed the Australian Army badge and stored it away safely, I will have no hesitation in wearing it with the kilt on the ranges as the broad brim keeps out all weathers whilst providing just the right amount of light and shade required for optimum sighting.

[TheOfficialBren]

Just to riff off of Jock's advice (if I may presume to do so without stepping on your toes, sir) I purchased (and am very happy with) my fore and aft hat on Jock's advice. I liked the hat, wondered about its appropriateness with the kilt. He assured me thatbthey are worn without a second thought.

I only find that tweed is too warm here in the summer. No big deal there. I just wear something more practical in the blazing sun and my fore and aft on cooler days.

Good on ya, Jock. Excellent advice (as always).