Bowler hat?

[Chef]

I own many kilts and many hats but not all of them look good together. The two styles that I just don't think work with the kilt are my fedoras and my bowler. I've tried it and the almost unanimous decision was great hat, great kilt but not together. Honestly it just looked a bit goofy. Granted the cowboy hat doesn't do much for a kilt in my opinion either (Sorry Jaime)

I think the problem with the bowler (or the fedora for that matter) is when you see the hat you picture the outfit that goes with it. A kilt isn't what you picture.

[macwilkin]

Bowlers were worn in the West, are are probably almost as traditional for that setting as the wide brimmed hats. They go great with a frock coat.

Usually with a suit. Think how they dressed in "Tombstone". Only Hollywood puts Cowboys in Bowlers.

T.

[davedove]

Usually with a suit. Think how they dressed in "Tombstone". Only Hollywood puts Cowboys in Bowlers.

T.

True, the wide brimmed cowboy hat is much more practical for the range, where the wide brim serves the purpose of shading the head and neck.

The bowler was a town-person hat.

[auld argonian]

sez who?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butch_Cassidy

Best

AA

[pdcorlis]

I guess I'd need to see the combination to know for sure - but the bowler does have a humble and useful beginning...

The bowler was invented by Thomas William Coke, 2nd Earl of Leicester of Holkham Hall in Norfolk ..and his St James hatter. He required a sturdy hat for his Head keeper and some twenty staff to wear that would be hardwearing, easily identifiable and comfortable. It was intended as a riding hat - providing hard hat protection as they rode through his protectorate looking out for poachers. It was only later that the hat found its way into the city being adopted first by street merchants and finally finding its way onto the heads of bankers in pin-striped suits.

[macwilkin]

sez who?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butch_Cassidy

Best

AA

Look where the photo was taken, though...Ft. Worth, Texas. A town. If it was out on the plains, then you might have something.

Having your photograph taken in the 19th century was a much more formal and serious thing than it is today, mostly because it was a once-in-a-lifetime affair. Photographers would have closets full of props (that's why all of those Civil War soldiers are armed with Bowie knives, pistols, etc. -- in reality that stuff would have been thrown away after the first couple of miles.) -- you would have worn your best for the photograph.

I'm not saying that no one ever wore a bowler with "field clothes" -- but in general, it is not a practical hat for being outside. The brim is far too short to provide any protection from the sun, rain, etc.

Regards,

Todd

[Chef]

True, the wide brimmed cowboy hat is much more practical for the range, where the wide brim serves the purpose of shading the head and neck.

The bowler was a town-person hat.

sez who?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butch_Cassidy

Best

AA

But in that picture he is dressed up...like a town-person.

[pdcorlis]

Talk about a popular hat - invented for use by british gamekeepers in the 1850's and by the very early 1900's no less than Butch Cassidy is wearing one in a photo taken in far off Texas.

More to the point - will it work with a kilt? Probably, but then so would a baseball cap or a fedora. More importantly, would I wear one with a kilt? I seriously doubt it.

[ccga3359]

Okay, so my girlfriend bought me a really nice bowler hat, and I've worn it panted, but I don't know if it is okay for me to wear it kilted.

Yes, I know all the stuff about "wear what you want" and all that. Putting that aside, do you guys think the two clash culturally? In a way it seems like wearing union jack underwear with a kilt, you know?

Thanks,
Matt!

To me the hat yells "English", the kilt? A little further north. As for your analogy the Union Jack does include the cross of St Andrew .

Now for the well dressed Canadian kiltie...

...Eh?

[Chef]

Umm...yeah. They should realise it isn't really a fedora Wrong construction