Covering my head

**Kilted Rogue** · 2nd October 10, 06:06 PM

If i am in a trad kilt than its my balmoral or my Ryan Ross bonnet. Out and out in my UK i will still wear a Balmoral or Ryan's Bonnets( bought one that tones well with a black kilt,) but i will also wear a sort or Indiana Jones hat with my other UK's

**ForresterModern** · 2nd October 10, 06:41 PM

Balmorals, tams, an occasional beret or caubeen, or the ever present (sorry Jock) flat cap with the kilt. Almost never without a cover outdoors these days---too much sun or cold for my thinning pate. Fedoras and ball caps otherwise when not kilted. Bike helmet when on two wheels, crani-saver when on my sled (snowboard). Heck I even wear an OR scrub hat at least part of the time when I am doing procedures at work.

j

**artificer** · 2nd October 10, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by Tiny

I just have to say this pic is IMHO one of the best representations of a Scottish bonnet. so often they are shown on a generic manikin head. That and its just a cool pic anyway.

I can't take credit for the pose, I did in as an homage to Ryan

**Kilted Rogue** · 2nd October 10, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

I can't take credit for the pose, I did in as an homage to Ryan

this may be come the "RR Bonnet pose" as the "Hamish" is to kilt posing!!!

**pauljsharp** · 2nd October 10, 09:06 PM

I will wear a dreaded flat cap when kilted... at least that was until I picked up my balmoral. Now I will not wear anything but the balmoral when kilted on my bean if I need to have it covered. The balmoral tends to be a bit hot in the desert summers of Utah but in the cold winters it is very nice.

**Whidbey78** · 2nd October 10, 11:36 PM

Since my neck of the woods has weather ranging from "melt the pavement" hot to "are my fingers supposed to be the same color as Cookie Monster's" cold, and I'm nearly as bald as Homer Simpson(and am not as traditional as some folks) I wear a flat-cap

, ball cap

, do-rag

, or a boonie hat

in warm weather. When the mercury plummets it's about the same, except the boonie hat stays at home, and I will bust out a military style beret(substantially reworked into a Jamie Hyneman type thing)

, or in really cold weather I just go for a watchcap(stocking cap to most). In semi-formal settings I might throw on the beret, but usually will go without unless it's mostly outdoors in the daytime, and that's just for protection from sunburn. For anything more formal I go hatless and slather on the sunscreen. In non-formal settings(at least 97% of the time for me) I'll be wearing a hat because I pretty much feel naked without it.

I like the look of tams, balmorals, etc. but they just don't fit my personality. Though the one in the pics with the rather stern looking fellow caught my eye...simple and a bit different. A pith helmet? Probably not, but I have a viking helmet and a sombrero that might see a little use at some point.

**PEEDYC** · 3rd October 10, 03:03 AM

When casual I wear a green beret with a stags head brooch with deer skin and feathers. I think it looks okay.

**Pleater** · 3rd October 10, 07:35 AM

I favour a similar set of headgear to those already mentioned - a broad brimmed natural white Tilley hat, a similar hat made in Australia in brown leather, bought green and maroon berets from the military surplus shop and a range of home made discoidal hats in various colours made from leftover yarns, crocheted and then fulled or felted.

The crocheted berets are larger than the military ones, and now that the Autumn has changed the weather to very unpredictable they are useful as they really do make a difference to heat loss. If it starts to rain I can twist my hair up and pull the beret over it.

Possibly the only unusual thing I wear is the shemagh - a military khakhi and black head cloth. I know that in the US you are sensitive about headcloths due to their perceived associations, but around here there is a large military population and they could have worn such things as standard issue. They are useful in hailstorms.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**Arlen** · 3rd October 10, 09:31 AM

The argument against flatcaps is really just one of strong personal taste.
The Balmoral cap comes from a more versatile kind of traditional Scottish bonnet which could be pulled to the front, back or either side depending on how you felt and what particular weather you were dealing with.

Most people got used to the standard military Balmorals being worn only to the side and started to feel that was the only way to go.
Likewise, flat caps evolved into a style of cap with a set brim only going to the front.

Personally, I kinda like the old style because it's much more versatile.
I know that my wife sells them and I believe at least one other person on here makes something very similar so you have some choice.
Look around and find something YOU like and don't let the anti-flat cap crowd get to you too much.

Here I am wearing one of these styles of bonnets. (My wife makes them in the traditional fashion and sells them individually sized.)

Here you can see it pulled to the front as with a flat cap:

And here to the front as with a Balmoral:

**denmcdough** · 3rd October 10, 09:54 AM

Good call Arlen! Too many on this site have too much to say about flat caps, and how negative they are. Where is it written?????? One should do what one wants. If you do not prefer the flat cap, that's perfectly fine, as that's your call. On the other hand, if you want to wear a flat cap with your kilt, go for it. No one will throw you in the slammer for doing so! It's all about personal taste.