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

[GDub]

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

[macwilkin]

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.

Re: "Bucket hats" and uniforms, whilst not worn with Highland kit, there is such a thing as a "jungle" or "boonie" hat which has been worn by soldiers of the US and Commonwealth forces since the Second World War in various climes.

I've been trying to find a picture of a ToS that resembles a flat cap; here's a picture of a squaddie in the HLI wearing one:

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/3420...5A1E4F32AD3138

Regards,

Todd

[svc40bt]

I do agree with you about the beret, however. I don't think it looks quite right with the kilt, and it has nothing to do with the presence or absence of a toorie. The reason I don't like the look of it with a kilt is due to the fact that it somewhat resembles a Balmoral, but is not a Balmoral. So whenever I see someone wearing a beret with their kilt, the impression that I immediately get is that this person bought the wrong hat because they didn't know the difference. (This is evidenced by the fact that I frequently get people coming into the museum shop asking if we carry "Scottish berets" or "those berets you wear with the kilt.") Now, this is not true in all cases -- Jamie, for example, wears a beret with his kilt at times and he knows perfectly well the difference between a beret and a Balmoral. But that's just the overall impression that the look gives me.

Let me start by saying I own neither a beret nor a balmoral. That said, I have examined both a US Army spec black beret, and looked at balmorals being offered for sale by vendors at highland games. Other than the trim, they did not strike me as being very different. They were both soft felt with a crown larger than the band. Now I have never seen them side by side. Is there some difference in blocked shape or crown size? It seems to me a beret with a swatch of tartan and a cap badge would look very similar to a balmoral with the same.

[be da veva]

'Bonhomme de Neige' is also a name for a woolly hat, as worn by a snowman. I was being facetious like pointing out that the French have no word for 'entrepreneur'.

Well, I've never heard of that one before, In french, bonhomme de neige is snowman. And the big white thing dancing in the streets of Quebec city is called " Le Bonhomme Carnaval"

Now back to topic (some)

M.Newsome, I do believe this is the first time I have seen you in pants...
(other than kilt of course...)

[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]

M.Newsome, I do believe this is the first time I have seen you in pants...

I was thinking that too.

[ForresterModern]

M.Newsome, I do believe this is the first time I have seen you in pants...
(other than kilt of course...)

I was going to say something about that too, but you beat me to it. Must be a VERY OLD picture.

[Raphael]

I careless what people wear on their hat, be that a ball cap or a flat cap. It is no big thing if you don't like a certain look. The year is 2009 and fashion should forward beyond 1875. When most people here advocate kilt as every day wear, people should adopt to the kilt to the current fashion trend as well.

[Adam Pound]

Well, I've never heard of that one before, In french, bonhomme de neige is snowman. And the big white thing dancing in the streets of Quebec city is called " Le Bonhomme Carnaval"

Now back to topic (some)

M.Newsome, I do believe this is the first time I have seen you in pants...
(other than kilt of course...)

You know I think my grandmother in Norfolk called the hat on her snowmen a bonhomme as well.
And I was wrong about the Bonhamme Carnaval. Probably 'cause I always just call him Bonhomme.

Either way, it's a great winter event!

[svc40bt]

Re: "Bucket hats" and uniforms, whilst not worn with Highland kit, there is such a thing as a "jungle" or "boonie" hat which has been worn by soldiers of the US and Commonwealth forces since the Second World War in various climes.

I've been trying to find a picture of a ToS that resembles a flat cap; here's a picture of a squaddie in the HLI wearing one:

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/3420...5A1E4F32AD3138

Regards,

Todd

You are absolutely correct, although I was talking about the tweed creased crown hats Jamie and Matt were sporting. (Which I thought looked fine with their outfits by the way.)

Further, I would say that the military elements I was talking about would only be seen on dress uniforms, at least in the time-frame that boonie/jungle hats have been part of any military uniform.

So, I would agree with you, while holding that my theory still stands, as narrowed down by me.