Flat Caps. No no and thrice no! Suitable hats when wearing your kilt. Discuss

[Leprechaun 91]

That oiled cotton flat cap would likely be just fine with an inverness cape in the rain.

I do think there are some who can make the look work.

I think the nail was struck soundly when it was mentioned that the intended look is what matters.

The guidelines once known can be bent to one's ill. One must understand, expect, and accept when others view these variances from the norm as ugly, odd, or "tacky."

[Thunderbolt]

WOW...

I just muddled through all 13 pages of this...

I really can't understand some of it. But, I'm not into fine details when it comes to something as trivial as a hat.

I do NOT like flat caps. They, to my eye, look queer and dosen't fit in with overal style of the kilt. Some may pull it off, or at least be big enough to not care.

That said, I do not like flat caps...period. I wouldn't wear one with my work clothing or otherwise.

I have to agree with the OP and others. No flat caps. But I'm not going to stop anyone. But I will laugh at those who do wear them with a kilt.....

[Zardoz]

Without question, tradition informs my choice in dress, head wear included. But I don't live in the past and my fashion sense compels me to create a contemporary look for here and now.

Well put!

My new hobby is to get a new vintage or newsboy from Hanna Hats every couple months, and wear them often!

[Jack Daw]

Well put!

My new hobby is to get a new vintage or newsboy from Hanna Hats every couple months, and wear them often!

I have one of those, too!

[The Barry]

I said this in the original thread, and I'll say it again. I own some flat caps, and love them. I will wear them with a kilt. I do, however, agree with one point made by the "against" crowd: tartan flat caps with tartan kilts is just weird. That just doesn't work.

I am curious though, I have a tartan cap on its way to my doorstep. I plan on trying it out with my black shadow SWK. I think that I'll wear them together and go find some of these "against" people and get my pic taken with them as proof of their subconscious endorsement of wearing flat caps with the kilt.

[Jock Scot]

Hats I wear with a kilt: ascot, balmoral, beret, curling tam, flat cap, glengarry, ivy league and newsboy- in solid colours, tweed and tartan, diced or not. Without counting I can say I have between thirty and forty caps. (I have a roughly equivalent number of kilts and smoking pipes.) When I lost my hair I figured it was God's way of saying "Thou shalt wear a hat from now on."

Hats I do not wear with a kilt: ball cap, cowboy, or fedora. (Sadly, I have many fedoras that have collected dust since I took to full time kilt wearing.)

On occasion I have worn a top hat with a kilt but its a difficult look to pull off.

For me clothes are wearable art and I have a great enough range of kilts and accessories to create a completely unique look every time I step out of the door. The hat as well as everything else must contribute to a unified and coordinated style that gets confirmed in the hallway mirror prior to each outing. Heck, I even coordinate the pipe I'm going to be smoking with my evening's ensemble.

Without question, tradition informs my choice in dress, head wear included. But I don't live in the past and my fashion sense compels me to create a contemporary look for here and now.

I would just like to point out that the kilt and its attached attire is alive and well today and perhaps we in Scotland could be accused off "freezing" kilt fashions, but it works for us now, today. So the contempory look is already with us!

[Good Egg]

I said this in the original thread, and I'll say it again. I own some flat caps, and love them. I will wear them with a kilt. I do, however, agree with one point made by the "against" crowd: tartan flat caps with tartan kilts is just weird. That just doesn't work.

I am curious though, I have a tartan cap on its way to my doorstep. I plan on trying it out with my black shadow SWK. I think that I'll wear them together and go find some of these "against" people and get my pic taken with them as proof of their subconscious endorsement of wearing flat caps with the kilt.

A 'tartan' Glengary, ToS, bonnet or flatcap is a matter of taste. They would not be to my taste except perhaps a tartan flatcap for playing golf - maybe???

A flatcap, whatever the material and whatever the kilt is always going to look as if you have made a mistake.

The fashion argument does not really hold water. The reason that the American Scottish side think its OK is because they are used to seeing it, but you can hardly argue that the flat cap is a piece of new contemporary wear and that the Scots need to get with the times. In fact its an old fashion piece of headgear - which in some eyes seems to match the old fashioness of the kilt and therefore seems to be a perfect accessory. Unfortunately it isn't!

I've enjoyed this robust debate - I hope nobody has been mortally offended - especially those that I've been a tad rude to/about.

[Livingston]

While I have been staying out of this conversation, I have yet to see what WOULD be acceptable to wear for those of us that need to have something to either shade our heads or warm them depending on the weather. If one of our brothers across the pond could let us know, I, for one, would appreceiate it. At altitude here in Colorado we need to wear a hat to either prevent severe brain freeze in the winter or skin cancer all year long.

I understand that there are certain occasions where a hat is not to be worn so all I'm looking for would be outdoor occasions.

[Jock Scot]

While I have been staying out of this conversation, I have yet to see what WOULD be acceptable to wear for those of us that need to have something to either shade our heads or warm them depending on the weather. If one of our brothers across the pond could let us know, I, for one, would appreceiate it. At altitude here in Colorado we need to wear a hat to either prevent severe brain freeze in the winter or skin cancer all year long.

I understand that there are certain occasions where a hat is not to be worn so all I'm looking for would be outdoor occasions.

A fair question. I think that I have gone on record to say that in extremes of temperature, when frankly fashion,culture,heritage or,whatever should and must take second place. For extreme heat the Panama, Australian "slouch" hat, or, a topee would do nicely and for extreme cold well, how about one of those Russian army type things that sit on top of your head when things aren't too bad and can be folded down over you ears and around your neck thing, when things start getting chilly?

[Good Egg]

I agree with Jock - although I would add why not a cowboy hat or smokey bear especially for an American-Scot to keep the sun at bay, and a Canadian fur hat in the winter.

As for an alternative to the flatcap - a TOS or other bonnet.