Wool Flat Cap... a no-no with a kilt?

[Joshua]

When casually wearing the kilt, such as for an ambiguously "Celtic" celebration or concert, etc... I may wear my flat cap. It is a very compact cap and in my opinion, is much less obtrusive than a newsboy cap. I do not wear wool caps often in Florida, so if I am to dress traditionally, I will forgo any hat (despite owning a very nice Mackie bonnet that might get worn 3 evenings a year).

Here is the cap in question, and as I've said... this is more my "casual", and slightly rebellious dress and by no means would I consider this to be "traditional" (I'm in the green shirt):

[revanslacey]

I'm almost always wearing my flat cap when I'm out in a Skilt

[georgeetta]

hello
Granda often wore a flat cap way back when he was young 20's 30's 40's ..if I were remembering Granda/my relatives I'd wear a flat cap no bother ..evertyhing between Glasga' and Stirling was Coal Mines ..sort of like Texas oil rigs sprung up . Scottish coal miners in all pics are wearing flat claps they had hard lives and I think it's very fitting way to rememeber them . see Old Monkland Alloa Coal Company or Cowie village ..he'd watch that "The Citadel" and remember every stitch that used to happen how they lived ..must like be being West Virginian .
beyond that I think a nice tight shooting cap is alwasy cool ..see Barbour accesories shooting and fishing .
d

[georgeetta]

yep, we wuz just talking about Coehorns wuz that cowhorns ..you must be on good terms with your Dr's .
I alwasy see kids toosin candy wrappers in them things . watch you don't get cold in your kid knees . OH !!!!!!!!!!!

d

[English Bloke]

...Make no mistake we have button down collars, but would probably be in a minority for general wear and probably quite unusual with the kilt...

Depends where you buy your shirts Jock. I'm not keen on button down collars meeself, but a lot of the supermarkets now stock them as standard, off the peg, and that's where most folk seem to buy stuff now...

I see a lot more button down collars around UK (Scotland included) in both smart and casual dress, than ever there was and I even have one or two meeself (he confessed, guiltily). To be honest, I don't think many but the keenest eye would notice.

Maybe it's 'cause ASDA is owned by Walmart and the fashions are creeping across the pond. Who knows.

[MacGumerait]

Wear what you are comfortable in, and as long as you are giving the kilt it's due respect in your attire (tartan, traditional style, appropriate hose and footwear, sporran, etc...) you will likely cause little distress in the natives or receive scorn from them, at least until you post your trip pics back here on the forum after your return. Enjoy your kilted trip.

Haaa ! So true Forrester ! Good advice .

[Oddern]

I'm almost always wearing my flat cap when I'm out in a Skilt

I like your "Lusekofte". have you ever been to Norway?
Skål!

[CMcG]

Depends where you buy your shirts Jock. I'm not keen on button down collars meeself, but a lot of the supermarkets now stock them as standard, off the peg, and that's where most folk seem to buy stuff now...

I see a lot more button down collars around UK (Scotland included) in both smart and casual dress, than ever there was and I even have one or two meeself (he confessed, guiltily). To be honest, I don't think many but the keenest eye would notice.

Maybe it's 'cause ASDA is owned by Walmart and the fashions are creeping across the pond. Who knows.

I've noticed a progressive increase in the number of guys who wear button down collars with a tie and it kind of bothers me because my understanding is that this style of collar was designed for keeping things neat when one doesn't wear a tie. Sort of like wearing a belt and suspenders/braces. This combination seems to be gaining social and sartorial currency through (mis)use.

This phenomenon sheds some light for me on the flat cap with kilt debate. Traditionally, the flat cap is not worn with the kilt but enough people do it now that many people probably see nothing wrong with it, or even think it looks great. For anyone who still associates flat caps with other styles of un-kilted attire, it must look, for lack of a better word, wrong.

[SlackerDrummer]

I've noticed a progressive increase in the number of guys who wear button down collars with a tie and it kind of bothers me because my understanding is that this style of collar was designed for keeping things neat when one doesn't wear a tie. Sort of like wearing a belt and suspenders/braces. This combination seems to be gaining social and sartorial currency through (mis)use.

This phenomenon sheds some light for me on the flat cap with kilt debate. Traditionally, the flat cap is not worn with the kilt but enough people do it now that many people probably see nothing wrong with it, or even think it looks great. For anyone who still associates flat caps with other styles of un-kilted attire, it must look, for lack of a better word, wrong.

The idea that the button-down collar is for when one is not wearing a tie is complete and utter nonsense. The button-down collar was designed and made popular in the United States in the late 1800s to hold the collar in place during active pursuits (riding, shooting, fishing, etc.), but this was a time when gentlemen wore ties while doing those things. A shirt with this style of collar is to shirts what a tweed suit is to suits -- country attire -- no more and no less. What has changed over the last hundred years is that button-down collars are being worn more and more with regular suits and I can see one's argument that that isn't traditional, but ties have always been worn with button-down collars. This isn't a new thing and it certainly isn't a shift from proper to improper. I don't know where the idea came from, but it seems to have taken hold on this forum and it is ridiculous. It is true, however, that button-down collars never caught on as much in Europe so it should come as no surprise that they are not considered traditional with highland attire (to bring it all back to kilts).

[CMcG]

The idea that the button-down collar is for when one is not wearing a tie is complete and utter nonsense. The button-down collar was designed and made popular in the United States in the late 1800s to hold the collar in place during active pursuits (riding, shooting, fishing, etc.), but this was a time when gentlemen wore ties while doing those things. A shirt with this style of collar is to shirts what a tweed suit is to suits -- country attire -- no more and no less. What has changed over the last hundred years is that button-down collars are being worn more and more with regular suits and I can see one's argument that that isn't traditional, but ties have always been worn with button-down collars. This isn't a new thing and it certainly isn't a shift from proper to improper. I don't know where the idea came from, but it seems to have taken hold on this forum and it is ridiculous. It is true, however, that button-down collars never caught on as much in Europe so it should come as no surprise that they are not considered traditional with highland attire (to bring it all back to kilts).

Apparently I was misinformed about the origins of the button down, so thank you for setting me straight.

I just did a bit of searching and several sources (including Brooks Bros.) say the button down shirt came from Ivy League polo players, which gives it a sporting origin. The faux pas that people are making, then, is treating it as other than a casual shirt i.e. wearing one with a suit. My original analogy still works (with a small tweak) because it isn't traditional to wear a flat cap with a kilt, just as it isn't traditional to wear a button down collar shirt with a suit, but lots of people do it. Those who know, and hold to, the tradition will see it as wrong, while others will say it looks fine and is popular, so go for it.