Bowler hat?

**Panache** · 25th October 07, 09:06 AM

Here are two threads that have covered this particular question and may be of use:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ght=Bowler+hat

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ght=Bowler+hat

Cheers

Jamie

**Chef** · 25th October 07, 10:39 AM

I own many kilts and many hats but not all of them look good together. The two styles that I just don't think work with the kilt are my fedoras and my bowler. I've tried it and the almost unanimous decision was great hat, great kilt but not together. Honestly it just looked a bit goofy. Granted the cowboy hat doesn't do much for a kilt in my opinion either (Sorry Jaime)

I think the problem with the bowler (or the fedora for that matter) is when you see the hat you picture the outfit that goes with it. A kilt isn't what you picture.

**pdcorlis** · 25th October 07, 12:46 PM

I guess I'd need to see the combination to know for sure - but the bowler does have a humble and useful beginning...

The bowler was invented by Thomas William Coke, 2nd Earl of Leicester of Holkham Hall in Norfolk ..and his St James hatter. He required a sturdy hat for his Head keeper and some twenty staff to wear that would be hardwearing, easily identifiable and comfortable. It was intended as a riding hat - providing hard hat protection as they rode through his protectorate looking out for poachers. It was only later that the hat found its way into the city being adopted first by street merchants and finally finding its way onto the heads of bankers in pin-striped suits.

**Jock Scot** · 30th October 07, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by pdcorlis

I guess I'd need to see the combination to know for sure - but the bowler does have a humble and useful beginning...

The bowler was invented by Thomas William Coke, 2nd Earl of Leicester of Holkham Hall in Norfolk ..and his St James hatter. He required a sturdy hat for his Head keeper and some twenty staff to wear that would be hardwearing, easily identifiable and comfortable. It was intended as a riding hat - providing hard hat protection as they rode through his protectorate looking out for poachers. It was only later that the hat found its way into the city being adopted first by street merchants and finally finding its way onto the heads of bankers in pin-striped suits.

The gamekeepers at Holkham Hall still, to this day, proudly wear their bowlers.

**Paraplegic Racehorse** · 30th October 07, 04:17 PM

Depending on my mood, I wear one of the following hats with my kilt(s) and nobody says boo:

ball cap; NAPA Racing - Dale Earnhardt, filthy
"golf" cap; unknown brand, tan tweed
Greek fisherman's cap; no brand (hand-made in Greece), gray
stocking cap; Carhardt, knit, black
fedora; Indiana Jones style, gray, horribly filthy w/holes
bowler; Stacy Adams, black
coming soon - top hat; white w/black band

In short, wear what you like. If you wear it with confidence and panache, you will get nothing but compliments!

**cacunn** · 30th October 07, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by Paraplegic Racehorse

If you wear it with confidence and panache, you will get nothing but compliments!

Do you really think Panache is going to have enough time to be able to be with everyone who wears a hat?

**James MacMillan** · 30th October 07, 06:55 PM

I'm trying to get a handle on this thread. A bowler hat is something you wear while bowling?

**kiltimabar** · 31st October 07, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

The gamekeepers at Holkham Hall still, to this day, proudly wear their bowlers.

With kilts?

**pdcorlis** · 25th October 07, 02:34 PM

Talk about a popular hat - invented for use by british gamekeepers in the 1850's and by the very early 1900's no less than Butch Cassidy is wearing one in a photo taken in far off Texas.

More to the point - will it work with a kilt? Probably, but then so would a baseball cap or a fedora. More importantly, would I wear one with a kilt? I seriously doubt it.

**ccga3359** · 25th October 07, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by Daaaaang

Okay, so my girlfriend bought me a really nice bowler hat, and I've worn it panted, but I don't know if it is okay for me to wear it kilted.

Yes, I know all the stuff about "wear what you want" and all that. Putting that aside, do you guys think the two clash culturally? In a way it seems like wearing union jack underwear with a kilt, you know?

Thanks,
Matt!

To me the hat yells "English", the kilt? A little further north. As for your analogy the Union Jack does include the cross of St Andrew

.

Now for the well dressed Canadian kiltie...

...Eh?