Differences between Tam O'Shanter vs Balmoral

**macwilkin** · 23rd March 09, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

And practical for that enviroment, the African sun is a killer.

Oh yes indeed. By the end of the Boer War, many British soldiers had adopted the headgear of their Boer opponents for that very reason.

T.

**Panache** · 23rd March 09, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

One of the things I often notice as I look at photos of more 'traditionally' kilted guys here on the forum is the lack of bonnets, or any headgear at all for that matter, when outside...

Originally Posted by DWFII

I think hat wearing has fallen off all over the world...or at least in western societies.

I was about to reply to Zardoz that highland games are one of the few events where I see gentlemen actually wearing hats and then saw that saw DWFII's post and think that he has summed it up pretty well.

Ignoring the whole kilt aspect of the conversation, excluding baseball caps, "do rags", and those knit skiing caps, how many men do you see wearing hats nowadays?

Not many.

I was astounded the other week when at Costco and I bumped into fellow wearing a fedora! We both looked at each other and smiled as we passed. Both of us were obviously thinking "WOW another guy wearing a fedora!"

However, I have noticed in the last year or two that big chain department stores like Target actually carry a pretty big selection of inexpensive flat caps and fedoras along with their baseball caps.

Maybe we will see a resurgence of hats!

One can but hope.

Cheers

Jamie

**Rob Wright** · 23rd March 09, 03:45 PM

I do enjoying wearing my charcoal fedora from Target. I can't wear ball caps anymore, they feel weird.

Rob

**Bugbear** · 23rd March 09, 04:25 PM

I have worn fedoras and used to have several. Personally, I think they would work just fine with a kilt, but as I said before, I do not have the Scottish eye.

I guess I did threaten to get a fifty gallon sombrero, to wear with the kilt, the other day...

**Rob Wright** · 23rd March 09, 04:26 PM

You know ted, we could do an "alternate' headgear pictorial for Jock Scot

Rob

**Bugbear** · 23rd March 09, 04:30 PM

post deleted.

**ForresterModern** · 23rd March 09, 05:43 PM

I have been wearing hats since I was kid. Still have some of them as remembrances of the good old days. I was wearing a knit wool Dress Gordon tam winters in the early 80's before I even knew I had scottish ancestry---just liked the look and warmth better than the typical watch cap of the day. Still have it, but don't wear it anymore as my head has grown some in 25 years.

Now that I am balding, about the only time I don't have a hat on is when I am indoors----keeps the sun off in the summer and the heat in in winter, and the rest of the year it is probably just habit. I have fedoras, tams, flat caps. fishing hats, ball and golf caps, bike helmets, do-rags, cycling caps, balmorals and glengarry, and my first Caubeen a couple months ago. Sorry Jamie but I will leave the pith helmet monopoly to you, although I did used to wear an aussie side snap hat for a couple summers.

I think hats are a style sort of thing---either you like them for the little bit of flair they add to your look or you don't. Seems like most folks tolerate them for specific situations or events but otherwise ignore them as a daily fashion accessory.

**puffer** · 23rd March 09, 05:48 PM

Here is a pic of 2 types of TOSs being worn Note the way they are worn also.

Puffer

**RadioKen** · 23rd March 09, 06:04 PM

I never go out without a hat, and when I say "hat" I do not include baseball caps or "do-rags". I wear berets (or the one forest green balmoral) or brimmed hats exclusively. I am of the belief that a gentleman never goes out without his hat. Otherwise someone might think that he was just going to walk across the street or something! (I am also of the apparently-old-fashioned belief that a gentleman always removes his hat when going indoors and always when sitting down to eat, indoors or out. In that respect I'm something of an oddity here in Texas, I'm sad to say.)

~Ken

**DWFII** · 23rd March 09, 06:08 PM

Puffer,

I wonder what the significance of the two different types of TOS is?

I get curiouser and curiouser when I look at photos like this...they seem to have a story to tell--but what is it?

Going by US military insignia (I know nothing of UK insignia) they are all non-coms except the fellow middle left front. It is obviously winter and one of the sergeants...extreme left back row...has his gloves tucked up under his epaulets. And the only one wearing gloves that we can see--a corporal (third from the left back row)--has his right hand resting on the shoulder of the officer (?) in front of him. ??