Balmoral with saxon clothes

[Jock Scot]

Since posting this thread i have been several hours on the forum checking the 1st 30 pages of both the General Kilt Talk and Kilt Advise pages, and discovered much information and many varied opinions regarding almost every type of hat that can (and should not) be worn with a kilt. It seems i am not the only one with an unnatural interest in hats. Although, i have certain reservations when it comes to wearing hats from one culture with the clothing of another (individuality and my desire to wear a balmoral with saxon clothes aside). Well...maybe the flat hat. But, very loosely summating past posts of one forum member; no hat is better than the wrong hat.

With particular reference to your last sentence, above. That sounds like something that I might have written.

Anyway generally speaking, I agree. However, I have also said in the past that with the knowledge that we have today about skin cancer risks there are reasonable and acceptable wide brimmed alternatives to the balmoral such as the Scottish traditional fore and aft, panama------yes with the kilt, or not so traditional Tilly hat or the Aussie "slouch hat". I suppose that opens the door to the North American Style "ten gallon" hat too. I also recall saying that common sense should prevail when the elements conspire against you and sartorial elegance must take second place.

[Jacques]

i agree one's health and safety should be placed first and foremost before tradition and fashion. Although when choosing a hat to wear with THCD, or any other manner of dress, discretion and good taste must also be considered. My present wardrobe including hats is pretty conservative. My choice to wear a kilt will certainly be a step away from my conservativeness as it applies to my geographic location. At present most of my hats are for cold weather wear. But with all the new information acquired, i may be shopping for a Tilley or similar hat next summer.

Upon submitting this post it appears to me that it is very close in substance to the post submitted by Jock. Apologies to all for the needless repetition.

[Singlemalt]

I am now in my mid-sixties but since my early twenties my go to cool/cold weather hat is a Balmoral. I find them a warm and practical hat. It is neat, comfortable, reasonably warm when worn the traditional way and in severe conditions it can be pulled down over your ears. They can also be easily rolled up and put in a pocket when you step indoors. I have several of them. All pretty simple and plain without badges or ribbons. In my youth they were popular headwear here for curling and are often referred to locally as Curling Tams. I never get any comment about them one way or the other.

An odd note is that though I regularly wear one with pants, I almost never do with a kilt. Too my eye they kind of turn the kilt into a costume rather than respectable gentleman's dress. When kilted I go hatless.

[KnittedReenactor]

I tend to go hatted most times, usually some form of ball cap, or wide brimmed if I will be in the sun for a long time. This year, most of the time I have been kilted I took my Tilley.
I actually am wearing my newly made Tam today with jeans. Needed to beat some use into it. I really haven't worn a beret-type cover except for my old red Boy Scout beret that was passed down to me, and that was only with a scouting uniform.
From a practical standpoint, I have to disagree and state the modern balmoral or tam is not a good cold weather cap. In areas that experience below freezing or snowy winters it just doesn't work. It is very important to protect the ears from the cold. A large portion of the body's heat is lost through the head, specifically the ears. Additionally it is uncomfortable and risks the ears to frostbite. A good knit stocking cap or, better yet, a fur lined trapper will do you very well with t******s or kilt. Those living outside the outside the real winter areas can get away with not covering their ears, I can't.
A balmoral will work well in saxon wear. If someone could wear a beret with it, you can do better with a balmoral. A nicely assembled suit would look smashing with a properly jocked balmoral!