A serious thread about hats with kilts in the USA

[Just Hugh]

For what it's worth I wear a ball cap and kilt all the time at games. Glens too hot in the summer

Attachment 17478

This is exactly what I've seen here in the USA, but as a "style" it's not really mentioned much on this site. It's kind of why I started this thread with the USA in the title. At parades and games in the USA, that baseball cap is much more common than the pith helmet often suggested here. I suppose it is regional. Perhaps just as the different tartans identified the wearer's origins, the modern kilt wearer's hat will inform as well.

It looks as though it's supposed to rain today, so my head covering may just be the hood of my raincoat!

[Just Hugh]

It's okay to wear a raincoat with a hood and a kilt, right?

[OC Richard]

Just to show it's not just a USA thing, here are Alberta Caledonia celebrating at the Worlds in Glasgow.

Do you see any band members wearing their Glen? (There's one, it took me a second look to spot him.)

And you also see the mix of uniform and street clothes that's so commonly seen around any competition here.

[Jock Scot]

It's okay to wear a raincoat with a hood and a kilt, right?

Right! Common sense trumps fashion and even tradition, every time where the weather is concerned. A very traditional way of thinking for a Highlander. So the trick is, in finding sympathetic alternatives if one can.

[CMcG]

Whether in the USA or anywhere else, one's choice of kilted headwear is best adjusted to social context, physical environment, and sartorial style.

[Benning Boy]

Flat caps is a general classification. They can be of many variations. here's one place that lists all the variations mentioned here as flat caps:

http://www.bencrafthats.com/list.php...name=Flat+Caps

And yet another:

http://www.christys-hats.com/Flat-Caps-Men-s/1876.htm

They call one version of their flat caps Balmoral. They also have deerstalkers on sale.

Here the types are separated into driver caps and newsboy caps, generally:

http://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/categ...ving-caps.html

http://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/categ...sboy-hats.html

Here's an example of a flat cap that has neither a one piece or eight piece top:

http://www.skhatshop.com/Mens-Light-...B0080MDVZG.htm

I've also found this style described as a pub cap. Wouldn't a pub cap go well with a a pub kilt package? Duck hats should provide the shade of a baseball cap, I think.

I used to wear the newsboy style quite a lot, but not with kilts -- not yet anyway. I always got a lot of compliments on those caps.


I guess it's each to his own. Highland dress is free dress. But for me, when I look at pictures of TCHD, especially of the late Victorian and Edwardian era, and somewhat after, I notice newsboy style caps, and not driving caps, ivy caps, duck caps or pub caps. So, to my eye the newsboy, 8/4 or apple cap is the more traditional style.


No one has mentioned railroad engineer caps.

http://www.johnhelmer.com/prod.itml/icOid/96

I like to wear them, especially when they are well broken in and soft. They lay down a lot like a flat cap. What do you think of an engineer cap with a kilt?

Oh, and just one more thing, for you proud fly boys in your Air Force tartan, you should be wearing one of these:

http://www.johnhelmer.com/prod.itml/icOid/96

[OC Richard]

Here's what actual Highlanders wear when in a hot sunny place

[Jock Scot]

Flat caps is a general classification. They can be of many variations. here's one place that lists all the variations mentioned here as flat caps:

http://www.bencrafthats.com/list.php...name=Flat+Caps

And yet another:

http://www.christys-hats.com/Flat-Caps-Men-s/1876.htm

Notice they call one version of their flat caps Balmoral. They also have deerstalkers on sale.

Here the types are separated into driver caps and newsboy caps, generally:

http://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/categ...ving-caps.html

http://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/categ...sboy-hats.html

Here's an example of a flat cap that has neither a one piece or eight piece top:

http://www.skhatshop.com/Mens-Light-...B0080MDVZG.htm

I've also found this style described as a pub cap. Wouldn't a pub cap go well with a a pub kilt package? Duck hats should provide the shade of a baseball cap, I think.

I used to wear the newsboy style quite a lot, but not with kilts -- not yet anyway. I always got a lot of compliments on those caps.


I guess it's each to his own. Highland dress is free dress. But for me, when I look at pictures of TCHD, especially of the late Victorian and Edwardian era, and somewhat after, I notice newsboy style caps, and not driving caps, ivy caps, duck caps or pub caps. So, to my eye the newsboy, 8/4 or apple cap is the more traditional style.


No one has mentioned railroad engineer caps.

http://www.johnhelmer.com/prod.itml/icOid/96

I like to wear them, especially when they are well broken in and soft. They lay down a lot like a flat cap. What do you think of an engineer cap with a kilt?

Just so you know. The pre WW1 pictures of kilts and flat caps have not been the trend since those days, so pretty near a centuary. Those wonderful pictures are not really THCD, but more historical. Yes there are exceptions and there does appear to be a flat cap with the kilt trend appearing again, particularly outwith Scotland.

If you must wear a flat cap with the kilt, please, I beg you, do not bend the peak into a curve like the peaks on those base ball things.

[Benning Boy]

A baseball cap without the peak or bill bent around in a curve just looks so wrong, like something out of the 'hood, or perhaps worn by an English carp angler. The curved bill really helps shade the eyes. There is a style of baseball cap that's become popular, usually in some faded or distressed shade, that's meant to be worn more on the back of the head, with the bill aimed high and set at a jaunty angle. Definitely not a kilt hat, in my opinion

[unixken]

If you must wear a flat cap with the kilt, please, I beg you, do not bend the peak into a curve like the peaks on those base ball things.

Agreed. I can't stand the severely bent curve look even on an actual baseball hat.