Which outfit is "more Scottish?"

**ThistleDown** · 10th December 08, 07:16 PM

For sure, Phil. The world-wide similarity in day-to-day dress today is a given. Pretty difficult to describe a culture these days based on dress alone, isn't it? Perhaps a good few of us were reading between the member's lines when he asked his question, but I think he wanted to know what a Scot would wear as kilted attire (this being a forum all about kilts) and offered a couple of possibilities for us to choose from.

**Tartan Hiker** · 11th December 08, 09:07 AM

I'm still intrigued about the whole hat thing....I was in Scotland over Christmas last year and for the life of me I don't remember noticing any trend in men's hat styles. (Probably because they are identical to what I had just left in North carolina)

Let's say a gentleman in Aberdeen was attending an afternoon occasion where kilts were encouraged. Not a wedding or a formal event...something less "dressy", but to which a jacket and tie would be appropriate. It's -10C outside. What does the 51-year-old male plop onto his noggin to keep warm?

Possible options that occur to me:

1. Nothing (that's a bit of a dodge...surely there are still a goodly number of practical men who believe that "there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing"

2. Whatever he wants (where does that leave the "leave the flat cap at home" crowd?)

3. A baseball cap (come on...the guy's 51 and doesn't want to seem to be impersonating a shoddily turned out teenager at a polite, adult gathering)

4. A stocking cap (warm and practical, but see #3)

**Colin** · 11th December 08, 10:12 AM

Well, if it's -10C than the event is more then likely an indoor one and no one is likely to be outdoors for any longer than to come from their transport to the main entrance, so where is the need for a hat at all?

**Phil** · 11th December 08, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by ThistleDown

For sure, Phil. The world-wide similarity in day-to-day dress today is a given. Pretty difficult to describe a culture these days based on dress alone, isn't it? Perhaps a good few of us were reading between the member's lines when he asked his question, but I think he wanted to know what a Scot would wear as kilted attire (this being a forum all about kilts) and offered a couple of possibilities for us to choose from.

To know what a Scot would wear as kilted attire you only have to read Jock Scott's posts. The guiding principle always is - less is more. My father, who travelled the world as a sailor, had a saying about American people, and it was an affectionate one - "Why use two words when ten will do?". He was intrigued when walking there for exercise how many cars would stop and offer him a lift, as if walking somewhere was somehow unusual. This was in the days before the 1939-45 war I might add when car ownership in Britain was much lower. He was also intrigued by a policeman in Tampa at the docks there who drew his pistol and started shooting at fish swimming around the ship he was on. But I digress, a Scot wearing a kilt during the daytime would probably have a sweater, kilt, leather sporan, hose and stout shoes, probably brogues. If he was a bit older he might instead have a tweed jacket and waistcoat with shirt and tie along with the kilt, leather sporan, hose and brogues. If he was a city dweller going to a "posh" night out he would probably wear a Prince Charlie, wing collar shirt with bow tie, fur sporan and off-white hose with ghillie brogues - all probably hired. If he was an upper-class twit of the aristocratic persuasion then he would probably wear his great-great-grandfather's kilt, tartan hose, moth-eaten fur sporan, ancient doublet and jabot, all suitably altered by the family's tailor with some young lady called Penelope or Hermione on his arm.

**Bugbear** · 11th December 08, 01:22 PM

Jock Scot and I went around and around about the flat cap. It's not always easy to tell the depth of another's feelings on the forum...

However, I have moved from a flat cap and kilt wearer to a non-flat cap with kilt wearer. I also tend to reserve the kilt for more special times; though I've never been a daily kilt wearer.

Those are my ten words to one.

**Jock Scot** · 11th December 08, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by Tartan Hiker

I'm still intrigued about the whole hat thing....I was in Scotland over Christmas last year and for the life of me I don't remember noticing any trend in men's hat styles. (Probably because they are identical to what I had just left in North carolina)

Let's say a gentleman in Aberdeen was attending an afternoon occasion where kilts were encouraged. Not a wedding or a formal event...something less "dressy", but to which a jacket and tie would be appropriate. It's -10C outside. What does the 51-year-old male plop onto his noggin to keep warm?

Possible options that occur to me:

1. Nothing (that's a bit of a dodge...surely there are still a goodly number of practical men who believe that "there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing"

2. Whatever he wants (where does that leave the "leave the flat cap at home" crowd?)

3. A baseball cap (come on...the guy's 51 and doesn't want to seem to be impersonating a shoddily turned out teenager at a polite, adult gathering)

4. A stocking cap (warm and practical, but see #3)

In all probability the 51 year old kilted Scot would be bare headed, he might wear a balmoral, he might well wear a fore and aft, or, deer stalker. He almost certainly would not be wearing a tweed/tartan cap,glengarry(unless he is in a pipe band), baseball cap,or a stocking/ski type cap.

Unless this kilted Scot is me, wearing a balmoral, my money is with bare headed.

The 51 year old un kilted Scot could wear almost anything! My money would be on bare headed, followed by the fore and aft/deer stalker,or, the wollen stocking/ski type thing. A tweed cap would still not be a common sight------unless you "sail under the name of Jock Scot!!"