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

[Good Egg]

As I said before, this topic seems to come up frequently here, and to bring out strong opinions, especially by those against. So I was thinking about it while doing other things. I came back to check on it, looked at the various pics posted, and thought that the one Ron posted with the tweed argyle looked good, but would look better with a crail.

So I was wondering to myself why I thought that. Started with the English vs. Scottish theory. The argyle looking more 'Scottish', but no that wasn't it. Then it occured to me that the argyle looked military, while the crail looked civilian. As far as I know, my comment about wearing TOS to resemble a flat cap notwithstanding, no military has ever used a flat cap as uniform headgear. This would apply to the bucket hat as well.

All the 'traditional' highland gear is derived from military uniforms; the jackets with gauntlet cuffs or whatever the extra material on the sleeve of a PC is called, the numerous buttons, the scalloped pocket flaps, are all derived from 19th century military uniform jackets. The balmoral is very military looking, even if it is not 'ironed and starched'. The flat cap, or bucket hat could not be made to look 'sharp' for a military review.

Not so: Some English regiments in the Great War (14-19) wore what was called a Gor Blimey which can be veiwed at http://www.kaisersbunker.com/ceftp/caps.htm was a flat cap. I can't find any pictures but locally produced Gor Blimeys where even more so:

[macwilkin]

Not so: Some English regiments in the Great War (14-19) wore what was called a Gor Blimey which can be veiwed at http://www.kaisersbunker.com/ceftp/caps.htm was a flat cap. I can't find any pictures but locally produced Gor Blimeys where even more so:

A "gor blimey" was a modification of the traditional Service Dress (SD) cap, though, not a military version of a flat clap:

http://www.kaisersbunker.com/ceftp/caps.htm

Regards,

Todd

[Colin]

Early one I wore one of my flat caps with my kilts. Looking back on it now I do think it looks a bit off. Wear what you like, but I am not a fan of the look for myself.

Having said that my flat cap is the only hat I wear besides a touque (no, not a wool cap....a touque!) after sports and training.

[puffer]

I have worn "flat caps" for years, Loooong before I "KILTED UP". When I "switched out from "p*^ts" to the the KILT, my "head gear" choices remained the SAME.
1. BALL CAPS = Extreme casual (Jeans, Sweats & Ball Games etc.
With the kilt, then "uni kilt" types. ( I DO NOT own any of these. so I DO NOT wear a Ball cap with a KILT.
2. FLAT CAPS = "casual" ("cargo", "docker" type pants,sweaters, casual jackets etc.) to casual Business ( slacks, "sports" Jackets, (with or with out tie, vest etc.)
With the Kilt = the same.
Here are 2 pics of the "casual look"


3. BERETS = NEVER (except Vets occasions)
4. Balmoral, TOS etc = Not worn prior to "KILTING UP"
With KILT = Same as "Flat Caps" except that I do have a "dressier" Tam,(one more being made for me by DIANE) that I wear (when the weather requires it) for "Dressier occasions (not "formal")


5. Glengarry = DRESS only (with Kilt) & only plain with out "dicing"

IMHO, the headgear you wear is YOUR choice. If you wear the kilt to "portray" a SCOTS, then the Scots headgear.
. But if you wear the KILT, because you LOVE it, then .....

Puffer

[gilmore]

To me, form follows function.

I see no point in wearing a wool hat to highland games in the middle of the day in the middle of the hot, humid summer in the southern US. Instead, I wear a pamana hat for the coolness, and, having had one skin cancer and not wanting another, for the shade. I haven't so far worn a cowboy hat, but I might. They are quite suitable for that purpose.

If it was important to be able to see long distances clearly while moving about rapidly by shading the eyes, I would wear a ball cap. (It almost never is.)

If it's a very cold day, it makes more sense to wear a sock cap pulled down over my shaved head than to wear a balmoral.

In other words, on the continuum between affectation and utilitarianism , I am on the utilitarian side of things.

It is interesting that in Scotland the flat cap has become such a marker of being English.

[Panache]

To me, form follows function.

I see no point in wearing a wool hat to highland games in the middle of the day in the middle of the hot, humid summer in the southern US. Instead, I wear a pamana hat for the coolness, and, having had one skin cancer and not wanting another, for the shade. I haven't so far worn a cowboy hat, but I might. They are quite suitable for that purpose...

For similar reasons (though Summer in California is hot and dry) I adopted a pith helmet to wear to our highland games. After a couple of years of my face being badly sun burnt and my hair all sweaty wearing balmorals and glengarries it made perfect sense.

With it I wore lighter khaki military hose and "safari" style shirts with brown simple accessories.

The look does have a bit of nod to the highland regiments stationed in tropical climes but far more importantly has made me far more comfortable and the games more enjoyable.

Cheers

Jamie

[GDub]

I personally prefer the Samuel Jackson approach to the flat cap, especially when the sporran is displaced by a guitar:

[ForresterModern]

You can mock me all you want for wearing flat caps with kilts (in Scotland, by the way) but I will take on anybody who says my little boy doesn't look good in his flat cap and kilt in the last picture.

[svc40bt]

You can mock me all you want for wearing flat caps with kilts (in Scotland, by the way) but I will take on anybody who says my little boy doesn't look good in his flat cap and kilt in the last picture.

I think your outfits look good, but I note that you chose a balmoral with your black argyle rather than a flat cap.

As for the last, anyone who said the lad was anything but adorable deserves to be knocked about.

[Good Egg]

You can mock me all you want for wearing flat caps with kilts (in Scotland, by the way) but I will take on anybody who says my little boy doesn't look good in his flat cap and kilt in the last picture.

I'm not mocking, but why on earth did you ruin what are very smart outfits with those dreadful confections - especially when you had a perfectly good bonnet to hand? Did you not notice people cringing when they saw you? (And I don't mean oriental tourist but local people)

I'm sorry, and I'm being harsh but it looks as if you have stood under comedy hats.

I'm guilty of the reverse. On my recent holiday in TX I bought a black cowboy hat and put gold cav officers hat band. Several people, rightly, questioned my right to wear a cav officers hat. Most were satisfied that as a Brit officer formerly in a Cav Regt I was just about OK but...