A serious thread about hats with kilts in the USA

[MizzouScotsman]

When you guys are talking about flat caps do you have something like this in mind:

http://www.sdworkwear.co.uk/products...RTING-CAP.html

Or, are you thinking this:

http://www.bencrafthats.com/product....subcname=Capas

I've seen the first kind referred to as flat caps or driving caps. When I was young we called them sports car caps.

The second style, newsboy caps, are sometimes 8/4 caps. There are many old pictures of gentlemen in kilts wearing this type of cap, including Prince Edward, Victoria's son. To my eye these are more traditional than the driving cap.

Both styles could be called flat caps. Maybe I missed, but are we talking one kind, or the other?

When I talk of flat caps, this is what I'm talking about.

[Benning Boy]

Been digging into caps. Found one on ebay that looks Scottish, is sort of like a balmoral or tam, has a bill like a baseball cap and probably has room for a clan badge and maybe some feathers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261218885508...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Jock Scot]

Been digging into caps. Found one on ebay that looks Scottish, is sort of like a balmoral or tam, has a bill like a baseball cap and probably has room for a clan badge and maybe some feathers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261218885508...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

This is a tad tricky and far be it from me to tell you how to spend your money and what to wear, but I think you might be well advised to reconsider what headwear you are going to put on your head when wearing the kilt. Just saying.

[MizzouScotsman]

Been digging into caps. Found one on ebay that looks Scottish, is sort of like a balmoral or tam, has a bill like a baseball cap and probably has room for a clan badge and maybe some feathers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261218885508...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Oh my. That reminds me of the hats that Dan Aykroyd and Steve Martin wore as two "wild and crazy guys".

[Alan H]

I'll wear a ballcap with a non-traditional kilt (like when I'm hiking in my Utilikilt). But when I'm wearing a traditional tartan kilt, I just don't like the look of a ballcap. Even when in ultra-casual mode. I'll wear a Tilley hat or even a trilby if I'm not wearing a Balmoral.

But with that said, the kilt isn't a uniform. You don't have to wear the same style hat as a Scotsman would wear, just because you're wearing a kilt. There's no need to follow any "rules" unless you're trying to be traditional with it. If you're just out for a day with your family, nothing special, then wear what you want. And stop fussing so much about it!

This. SO, SO totally this.

[BoldHighlander]

While I probably would never wear a baseball cap with a kilt myself, I'd agree with many here and say do what makes you the most comfortable.

I like to wear a tweed 8-panel "Newsboy" with mine (or sometimes a more traditional balmoral bonnet), though in the future I may start wearing a more fully brimmed hat on sunny days as I had a recent near-scare with skin cancer near my eye last year (turned out that I dodged a bullet this time).
If others don't like it, oh well, my health is more important than "being correct."

Whatever you choose to do just remember the first rule of thumb: have fun doing it!


Yours truly and my laser eyed smooth collie in 2011:

[ForresterModern]

When you guys are talking about flat caps do you have something like this in mind:

http://www.sdworkwear.co.uk/products...RTING-CAP.html

Or, are you thinking this:

http://www.bencrafthats.com/product....subcname=Capas

I've seen the first kind referred to as flat caps or driving caps. When I was young we called them sports car caps.

The second style, newsboy caps, are sometimes 8/4 caps. There are many old pictures of gentlemen in kilts wearing this type of cap, including Prince Edward, Victoria's son. To my eye these are more traditional than the driving cap.

Both styles could be called flat caps. Maybe I missed, but are we talking one kind, or the other?

Either of those would fit the bill as a flat cap, but most would probably be thinking of the first type when they use the term, and the latter I have heard more often called a "newsboy" cap---a bit less structured, a bit more sizable crown which is able to tolerate a bit of lateral movement for a more "jaunty" appearance. Personally I prefer the former type, in particular those that are felted wool and shape-formed into a nice tight domed crown.

[unixken]

Generally speaking, a "flat cap" has a single panel of fabric coming over the top, like in the first link. I've never seen anything described as a flat cap, that has several different panels joined to converge at the top center, like the newsboy example (or a like a tam, or a baseball cap, and so on.) Your first link, of the "sporting cap", is much closer to a flat cap than the news boy.

Good examples can be seen here: http://www.berkeleyhat.com/dontweedcap.html

[ForresterModern]

Been digging into caps. Found one on ebay that looks Scottish, is sort of like a balmoral or tam, has a bill like a baseball cap and probably has room for a clan badge and maybe some feathers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261218885508...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I do not often tread on another's dreams, but in this case I will more plainly state what Jock and Mizzou have so gently tried to imply with regard this particular cap. Yes it does have a Scottish tartan look about it, it is floppy kind of like a Balmoral or Tam, and has a bit more of a bill like a ball cap or flat cap........ BUT.......

No to the cap badge, no to the feathers, and IMHO most definitely NO to wearing with the kilt. Looks like something I saw Keira Knightley wear in the movie "Love Actually".

There is a reason it is so inexpensive and being sold on ebay---Run, run away, and do not look back. There are far better options. Sorry to be blunt.

[OC Richard]

the teenaged pipers swap out their uniform hats for baseball caps and thinking, "these are just regular American teenagers, who don't care a lick about wearing a kilt..."

Baseball caps are very common in the Pipe Band scene here in the USA, and not only here! because at the Worlds in Glasgow you'll see bands from Canada, Australia, and even (say it ain't so!) some bands from the UK wearing them. Bands often have baseball caps with the band logo; in other words these caps are part of the official band uniform. Glengarries aren't put on till as the band is doing its final tuneup, the common call of the Pipe Major is "hats! hats!" meaning take off your baseball caps and put on your Glens.

About "not giving a lick about wearing a kilt" yes band members tend to dislike wearing the uniform and many will walk around at a Games in street clothes, or a mix of street clothes and uniform, until the last possible minute. This has prompted many bands to require members to wear full kit all day, for sake of 'band image'.

Anyhow it's just common sense for people with fair Northern European skin to protect themselves from the brutal sun. The Highlanders themselves altered their headdress when going to Egypt and India, at first adding a visor to the bonnet (the thing that evolved into the feather bonnet) then switching to sun helmets.

The Drum Major here gives you all permission to wear a brimmed hat with your kilt.