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

**Lime** · 18th April 12, 11:59 AM

In my experience, they're worn a bit more in Ireland than here. But you've still got the average age right. I don't think Ive ever seen someone under the age of 60 wearing one.

Dear oh dear I didn't think I was that bad! I'm a long way from 60 and I've probably worn one everyday since I was about 17. I've never really thought about it before but not very many of my friends wear one!

**Jock Scot** · 18th April 12, 12:09 PM

I know of a few who wear tweed caps that are------ er---- well, nowhere near the three score years mark! Some on the other hand------------------------

**Blackrose87** · 18th April 12, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by Lime

Dear oh dear I didn't think I was that bad! I'm a long way from 60 and I've probably worn one everyday since I was about 17. I've never really thought about it before but not very many of my friends wear one!

Maybe it's because I grew up in the city, but I really can't remember ever seeing a young or even middle aged guy wearing one.
I'll have to keep an eye out next time I'm home and driving through some culchie areas.

**creagdhubh** · 18th April 12, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Just so you know, many in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands would not consider a flat cap, or button down collars as kilt attire. What you decide to do, is entirely down to you.

Agreed.

**Bugbear** · 18th April 12, 02:36 PM

Just as long as you don't take up wearing canvas kilts, Jock.

**Lime** · 19th April 12, 03:23 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I know of a few who wear tweed caps that are------ er---- well, nowhere near the three score years mark! Some on the other hand------------------------

Replace the breeks with cords or moleskins, the wellies with brogues or blutchers, ditch the Purdeys and you pretty much have me at the weekend.

**Lime** · 19th April 12, 03:30 AM

Originally Posted by Blackrose87

Maybe it's because I grew up in the city, but I really can't remember ever seeing a young or even middle aged guy wearing one.
I'll have to keep an eye out next time I'm home and driving through some culchie areas.

I asked my wife about this last night and she rolled her eyes and gave me to understand that "yes... I really am that bad"!

I think it is a combination of being "follically challenged", a spectacles wearer (I really don't have that much going for me do i?) and living somewhere where there is plenty of rain and wind so the old flat cap has become a trusty friend. Oddly enough I've never thought about wearing it with the kilt; I have a sort of fore and aft foldable tweed hat (I don't know what the technical term is) and a balmoral... which is warm and comfortable but not very good at keeping rain of the specs.

**LitTrog** · 19th April 12, 03:55 AM

Originally Posted by Lime

I think it is a combination of being "follically challenged", a spectacles wearer (I really don't have that much going for me do i?)

Hey, I think your description sounds quite fetching, if only because I'm close to that as well. My hairline seems quite frightened of my eyebrows--it's been backing away slowly for years, and I finally realized that a Clint Eastwood-style squint only looks good on Clint Eastwood. Makes me look constipated.

Daily flatcap wearer here, too. Great for driving to work.

**David Thorpe** · 19th April 12, 04:07 AM

My dad has worn one almost every day since he was a kid. He'll be 90 next month.

**CMcG** · 19th April 12, 04:13 AM

Flat caps of various varieties seem to have different signifiers attached to them, depending on what country one finds themselves in.

In the UK, they seem to be considered as rural attire or perhaps working class urban.

My Chilean ex-step-grandmother once gave me a black cotton flat cap because I'm a musician. She said that if I ever hoped to make it as an artist, I need to start wearing that hat because that's the example set by Pablo Neruda.

In Canada, plenty of people, both young and old wear them. Some as a nod to Irish or English ancestry, others because flatcaps have been adopted as a hipster alternative to the sportiness of baseball hats.

Flatcaps are not traditionally worn with the kilt. There were apparently some members of the British Royal family who favoured them during the Edwardian era (perhaps even into the reign of George VI?). I've also dug up a couple of drawings from that time period and have come to the conclusion that an exception may be made for people to wear flat caps and kilts together on two conditions: they must have epic moustaches and they must be able to present themselves in black and white