Quote Originally Posted by ThistleDown View Post
I am afraid, Brooke, that I can't provide you with box-to-knife pleat transition dates and refer you to our own Matt Newsome's writings on the subject. In looking backwards, however, we should all be careful that we don't give too much credance to a perception of clothing pride that most likely was not there in the eras before our own.

Certainly there were "dandies" in urban society and a few among the leisure class, but Highland dress is a rural form of attire and the vast majority of country folk in Scotland did not have the gilt to even think about what they wore, except that it protect them from the cold and the wet. The paintings we have of individuals dressed to the teeth in tartan finery may well represent the posers of the day for all we know.

I doubt there is a pure answer to your question on evolution. As Jock has so well described, the existence of the flat cap as an item worn with Highland dress faded into and faded out of use and is now seen to be what it perhaps was -- a fashion or fad. The cap is still around, of course, but is perhaps similar to the American baseball cap and that's certainly not worn with Highland dress, either.

I wonder if we may actually draw a parallel with the ubiquitous baseball cap? As an item of head gear to keep the harsh sun from one's eyes it is good although to keep the rain off it is not so good. That's the utility of the thing. Has it now become a traditional item of clothing in America? Is wearing it backwards just a fashion within that tradition? And is wearing it indoors some sort of personal statement? If it continues to be worn backwards and indoors does that become the evolved tradition?
Oh dear, and how long do we have to put up with the fashion and style before we know for sure?



Rex
If it continues to be worn backwards and indoors does that become the evolved tradition?

If it does, I sure hope public beheadings return to fashion soon after!

I was sorry to hear about the flat cap, as I actually like that look. And of course, we are all free to wear whatever we are comfortable with, but as I am learning, we just need to be careful what we call it.

Over here we don't have the "tradition" of the kilt, so I don't think to wear it with the flat cap here would be understood to be a major style crisis. (similar to your crow feather head dress in Bavaria example earlier)

From Jock Scot's post, I am assuming that there are some mixed feelings about the beginning and/or the demise, of the flat cap "fashion". Was it a much debated issue in the Highlands? And if so, what were the issues?

I'm not sure if the baseball cap would be considered traditional yet, but it is certainly accepted as casual head wear. However, I am not sure of the parallels between the flat cap and the baseball cap. The baseball cap has always been a very informal, utilitarian item that has had an increase in use among the "Rap" faction in the last decade or so. And as a result, has gained greater appeal with younger wannabies of that group. It has never been worn by the general adult population with anything other than the most casual of clothing ie. jeans. My impression of the flat cap was that it was somewhat more in use with (avoiding mislableing) a tweed jacket and traditional kilt attire. Whereas, a ball cap here has never been acceptable wear, (with what I would assume our somewhat parallel style) with a sport coat and casual slacks for instance.

Can you and/or Jock shed some light on the flat cap issue over there? Is there a new traditional, or even fashionable, head wear in vogue these days or is bareheaded the commonest look ?

Brooke