Acceptable attire?

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

Of course the comment that was passed was quite ridiculous, but I have to side with Daz and Arlen (in particular). Although I wear a Balmoral in my avatar, I am most definitely NOT a 'hat person' and will wear it only when I want to present a certain image on a special occasion. Actually, I loathe hats and consider Glengarries and Balmorals to be rather too costumey or uniformy in this day and age. Generally, as Daz and Arlen have indicated, Glengarries tend to be worn here in the UK (which includes Scotland!!!) almost exclusively by members of pipe bands and solo pipers. Balmorals, in my experience, are seen on the heads of Officials at Highland Gatherings and Games, but seldom anywhere else. Pausing for a moment to think about this: I believe there is a cultural difference showing up here. Could it be that the majority of our American brethren consider themselves, maybe subconsciously, to be undressed unless they have a hat on their heads? Whilst here in Europe, we chaps mostly do not wear hats at all. Of course there will be exceptions to this and I am thinking very much in general. Take care, Ham.

I have mostly Balmorals and a Glengarry. My usual hat when I wear the kilt is a WWII Balmoral just because. Then again I used to wear a 1953 Civil Defence greatcoat as well, but it has become too "old" and I know wear an Army Greatcoat of the Same vintage with the kilt and for formal events (saving up for a crombie).

Anyway, I was in the Army, although not a Scottish Regiment. That is the origin of my feeling naked without a hat. Some people just like hats.

So, better something that fits in than something like a fedora or trilby.

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

I've only felt that way about Glengarries. That, to me, screams "piper!" But Balmorals do not... unless maybe they had dicing.

Glengarries are really military/piper to me. Balmorals not so much.

Uh, oh! I have red and white diced Balmoral and Glengarry! Never wear them though. It's that old WWII Glengarry that I like!

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

You have a problem with my hat, Pal?

[Bugbear]

Everything is fine... I'm starting to like the idea of detachable, interchangeable toories on bonnets though. I guess ribbons too... And who knows, I might want to get wild and put a giant button on the top of a tam, then put the toorie back after everyone makes fun of me... It could happen.

ALSO:
"Bring The Butterfly Net, Another One's Escaped"

Yes. Get the person's license plate number and call the local looney bin!...

YIPES!!

[ardchoille]

You have a problem with my hat, Pal?

Oh, I like that response

[Semiomniscient]

Well dicing is one of those military conventions... but most formal Highland attire is taken from military standards. So you have dicing, so what? I think people should take a chill pill with some of the Highland dress ideas. I mean, writing an article for people who want to know what's "traditional" is one thing. Going up to someone and telilng them they're wrong unless they're in the military or a piper... that's simply rude.

[Bugbear]

This is a link to a RiverKilt thread with several hat links.
Links to hats

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Could it be that the majority of our American brethren consider themselves, maybe subconsciously, to be undressed unless they have a hat on their heads? Whilst here in Europe, we chaps mostly do not wear hats at all. Of course there will be exceptions to this and I am thinking very much in general. Take care, Ham.

I think the "exception" may be greater than some think. Last year at the President's garden party in Phoenix Park about a third of the gentlemen present were wearing hats; a quick glance around the cloak room of the Kildare Street Club and it looks like between one fourth and one third of the members are hatted. Now these are "proper hats", not baseball hats, flat caps, or watch caps of the kind worn by all sorts of people everyday. Without getting into the socio-economics of hats, I'd say that probably more men go hatted everyday than don't (here in Europe). It's just that fewer wear "proper" hats as opposed to the other kinds of headgear. So, in the words of Sean Connery in THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING: "Hats, ON!"

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Ted,you have set me thinking about flat tweed caps. I would not consider wearing a flat cap with the kilt and I don't remember seeing anyone in Scotland wearing one with the kilt either,not even visitors.Now, I hasten to add that this is not a criticism,just an observation.What I was wondering is this,in the late 1800's and early 1900's there are many photographs of people wearing flat tweed caps with the kilt.

I suspect that the flat cap had it origins in the upper strata of society (shooting, bicycling, motoring, that sort of thing) and would have been considered appropriate for all sorts of outdoor pursuits prior to the Great War.

It seems that around the First World War flat caps went out of fashion,when worn with the kilt and certainly by the 1940's it was a definite "no no" to wear a flat cap with the kilt.As far as I am aware it still is, here. Does anyone know the reasons for this, or, is this just a fashion thing that has moved on?

I suspect that the adoption of the flat cap by the working classes (often seen breast feeding shovels next to enormous holes in the road) caused it to fall from social grace, at least as far as kilted wear was concerned. Lairds generally do not wish to be mistaken for laborers. Another factor (and there are probably a hundred more) would be the change from patterned tweeds (checks and "plaids"), to solids colours for jackets. This sartorial change would make the flat cap look very much "out of place" when worn with a kilt.

[Jock Scot]

I suspect that the flat cap had it origins in the upper strata of society (shooting, bicycling, motoring, that sort of thing) and would have been considered appropriate for all sorts of outdoor pursuits prior to the Great War. I suspect that the adoption of the flat cap by the working classes (often seen breast feeding shovels next to enormous holes in the road) caused it to fall from social grace, at least as far as kilted wear was concerned. Lairds generally do not wish to be mistaken for laborers. Another factor (and there are probably a hundred more) would be the change from patterned tweeds (checks and "plaids"), to solids colours for jackets. This sartorial change would make the flat cap look very much "out of place" when worn with a kilt.

I agree with what you say ,but it is interesting that the Laird and guests are still often to be seen out on the moor or by the covert side dressed in tweed and a flat cap with gun under his arm.Out of interest, whilst the Laird may be clad in the estate tweed, as will his staff, he will be wearing a flat cap/fore and aft/deer stalker of a differant tweed.Only estate staff will wear an estate tweed hat.