[Ryan Ross]

On the subject of the flat cap having evolved from the bonnet (be it highland bonnet, Tudor bonnet, etc...), please allow me to enter the following two pictures into evidence as exhibit Z:

This is a Scottish style bonnet, as I'm sure we can all agree:


Below is the exact same bonnet, worn a different way and with the toorie having been removed. Proto flat cap? Hmm...


There you have it.

EDIT: And while we're on the subject of how much difference the adjustment of a bonnet on one's head can make, please view the following(terribly embarrassing) photo:

[revpaulucc]

Tomorrow, when I attend the Round Hill Highland Games, my hat of choice will be a khaki Tilley hat. It is Canadian and there are Scottish people in Canada, so I figure it should be fine. If anyone wants to get picky, I guess I could put the brim up on one side, Aussie style, and pay homage to the ANZACs.

[Cygnus]

I would probably put my vote with the Tilley hat crowd for more extreme climes (like the deserts around my tiny corner of the world).

However, if you're willing to explore some less well-known or well-used headgear, you could always hide in the shade of the wide brim of a campaign hat (don't worry, this one doesn't come with the Boy Scouts pin). You can see one of Baden-Powell's kilted assistants wearing an identical hat here.

[Canuck of NI]

Originally Posted by revpaulucc

Tomorrow, when I attend the Round Hill Highland Games, my hat of choice will be a khaki Tilley hat. It is Canadian and there are Scottish people in Canada, so I figure it should be fine. If anyone wants to get picky, I guess I could put the brim up on one side, Aussie style, and pay homage to the ANZACs.

You've got me. As a Canuck I have to support a Tilley. They go with anything out of doors. Provide amusement to foreigners visiting Canada. And it follows that they are immensely practical- the yearly facial applications of liquid N2 I currently receive would probably not be necessary if I'd had one in my youth and teens. But of course Mr Tilley wasn't even in business then.

[wildrover]

Hmmm...fascinating thread, and now I understand the title "Defender of the Flat Cap"...

...I've always associated the flat cap as being Irish, and "real work"...probably as a result of growing up in America. Never associated it with the kilt, personally...more like jeans and leather jackets...and as such, over here, you can get away with a flat cap and a kilt.

I can see how it wouldn't work over there, tho...any more than shooting in a suit would be considered "normal" over here .

I'm sure Xman has a grip of hats at this point...but I've always favored the beanie, and it looks good with a kilt, t-shirt and Docs...

Outside of that, I really don't wear hats anymore. Last time I wore a hat as part of a "kilt outfit", it was a Glengarry, and I got the most ridiculous tan line...