Classic kilt style - as seen at large this summer in Scotland

[OC Richard]

I am afraid I must differ, to my rather conservative mind, the patterned hose and fancy day sporrans are overdoing things a tad. Fine for some day events, but for me they are rather unnecessary, particularly for general day attire, these days.

Jock here's the more down-dressed style of some of us West Coast USAians at one of our rather warmer Highland Games, where protecting your head from the sun isn't optional (unless you desire skin cancer) and jackets just ain't happening.

[Jock Scot]

Jock here's the more down-dressed style of some of us West Coast USAians at one of our rather warmer Highland Games, where protecting your head from the sun isn't optional (unless you desire skin cancer) and jackets just ain't happening.

If the devil could cast his net, he would have a vintage catch, with that bunch of mischief makers!

I fully understand the need for protection from the sun, but perhaps a more Scottish and traditional option would be a deer stalker , or a fore and aft, or even a panama
would be a more appropriate option, in the circumstances?

[OC Richard]

I fully understand the need for protection from the sun, but perhaps a more Scottish and traditional option would be a deerstalker, or a fore and aft, or even a Panama would be a more appropriate option...

As long as it has a brim all around. Scottish tweed options would be things along these lines:





(Because your ears are as susceptible to sunburn as your face or the back of your neck.)

Here it's not just the sun, but sometimes the heat. That's why hats were developed with mesh around the brim, which allows air to circulate and even breezes to blow through. Ditto with straw hats if the straw has an open weave that allows air through.

Interesting that a Panama would be considered "a more Scottish and traditional option" with Highland Dress.

[Jock Scot]

Of the top four tweed hats on show, I would only call the top right (fore and aft) a truly Scottish Highland hat, although they are truly universal throughout the UK these days amongst the shooting and fishing country set brigade. I have no idea of the pedigree of the other tweed hats on show and I will be interested to hear other's thoughts on the matter, but I cannot remember anyone wearing them here when wearing the kilt.

As to the panama? In my experience, the panama has been worn with the kilt, in the right conditions, for all of my long life by some and without question. I would recommend them to all in the right conditions.

Just for clarification, ........... although unhelpfully, some Scottish shops reverse this!.............The "fore and aft" is as shown in OCR's post and the "deer stalker"(Sherlock Holmes style) and not shown,has the ear flaps. Both, as far as I am aware , have a Scottish pedigree.

[Mael Coluim]

. . . clip . . .

As to the panama? In my experience, the panama has been worn with the kilt, in the right conditions, for all of my long life by some and without question. I would recommend them to all in the right conditions.
. . . clip . . .

Meanwhile, on the Eastcoast USA in the Old Dominion, my southern expression of adopted Highland Dress does include the Panama style wide-brim straw hat and seersucker jacket tailored to kilt wearing.

20240831_093347.jpg

[User]

Meanwhile, on the Eastcoast USA in the Old Dominion, my southern expression of adopted Highland Dress does include the Panama style wide-brim straw hat and seersucker jacket tailored to kilt wearing.

20240831_093347.jpg

This is exciting information! I NEED an airy, wide brim, light colored hat, because it's so hot, and I burn so quickly. If that style panama hat is considered appropriate, I'll start looking for one. The fore and aft looks nice, but the brim is narrow, and the material is too thick. Maybe it would work in the winter, when the sun isn't so severe, and the temperatures aren't so high. Even then, I'm not convinced, but I'd like to give it a try. I assume they don't come with wider brims?

[Jock Scot]

This is exciting information! I NEED an airy, wide brim, light colored hat, because it's so hot, and I burn so quickly. If that style panama hat is considered appropriate, I'll start looking for one. The fore and aft looks nice, but the brim is narrow, and the material is too thick. Maybe it would work in the winter, when the sun isn't so severe, and the temperatures aren't so high. Even then, I'm not convinced, but I'd like to give it a try. I assume they don't come with wider brims?

Whilst we don’t have the extreme heat that you have in parts of the USA and other parts of the world, the sun can and does cause problems here in Scotland and is not to be under-estimated.How? I hear you ask.

Well it’s all to do with the lack of air pollution in Scotland and whilst the temperatures are nowhere near as high as you chaps endure, the sun can and does burn often to serious effect in Scotland and its worth repeating, it is not to be underestimated. So we do have some knowledge about the sun’ s dangerous effects.

As a country man I spend much of my time out of doors and can say with some authority that the fore and aft hat rim does give ample protection to the ears , although for smarter summer occasions I do choose to wear a panama , should it not be raining!

Sadly I can’t post pictures these days, but there are posts on this website with pictures of the kilted “ Jock” wearing a panama or a fore and aft. Perhaps they still exist?

[OC Richard]

Meanwhile, on the Eastcoast USA in the Old Dominion, my southern expression of adopted Highland Dress does include the Panama style wide-brim straw hat and seersucker jacket tailored to kilt wearing.

20240831_093347.jpg

Yes that combines practicality and style quite nicely!

As it happens I do own a Panama hat, actually made in Panama, but I've only worn it with a shirt likewise made in Panama.

[Father Bill]

Yes that combines practicality and style quite nicely!

As it happens I do own a Panama hat, actually made in Panama, but I've only worn it with a shirt likewise made in Panama.

Unusual. Strange as it may seem, most Panama hats are actually made in Ecuador. https://ultrafino.com/blogs/articles...ma-hat-history

[spr0k3t]

Yes that combines practicality and style quite nicely!

As it happens I do own a Panama hat, actually made in Panama, but I've only worn it with a shirt likewise made in Panama.

I thought Panama hats were traditionally made in Ecuador?