Flat Caps. No no and thrice no! Suitable hats when wearing your kilt. Discuss

[Jock Scot]

Rocky, when all said and done whether we wear a flat cap with the kilt, or not, as the case may be, is hardly an earth shatteringly important matter. Perhaps the traditionalists you come across are too polite to comment,not bothered,or, don't want a black eye! Sorry ,only joking. Outside this website most of us would never dream of openly laughing, or, commenting on any one's style of dress. However that does not mean that I and others do not have a point of view.

This great website encourages friendly discussion and allows for honestly held opinions to be aired, robustly put sometimes maybe, these points of view may also not be voiced out load in public for reasons of tact and diplomacy. Providing these firmly held views are voiced courteously, we all get an opportunity to learn of other points of view. I suppose it can be a surprise to learn that what I/we thought was a non issue suddenly becomes one.

[Good Egg]

Rocky, when all said and done whether we wear a flat cap with the kilt, or not, as the case may be, is hardly an earth shatteringly important matter. Perhaps the traditionalists you come across are too polite to comment,not bothered,or, don't want a black eye! Sorry ,only joking. Outside this website most of us would never dream of openly laughing, or, commenting on any one's style of dress. However that does not mean that I and others do not have a point of view.

This great website encourages friendly discussion and allows for honestly held opinions to be aired, robustly put sometimes maybe, these points of view may also not be voiced out load in public for reasons of tact and diplomacy. Providing these firmly held views are voiced courteously, we all get an opportunity to learn of other points of view. I suppose it can be a surprise to learn that what I/we thought was a non issue suddenly becomes one.

Quite: What do you do when a friend from, say TN, accompanies you to the Cowal Games and is planning to wear a flat cap with his otherwise well turned out gear? A little embarrassing to mention it, but worse to leave the mentioning to some drunk Glaswegian Ned who might mistake your friends southern manners as an invitation to a rumble.

[HeathBar]

Quite: What do you do when a friend from, say TN, accompanies you to the Cowal Games and is planning to wear a flat cap with his otherwise well turned out gear? A little embarrassing to mention it, but worse to leave the mentioning to some drunk Glaswegian Ned who might mistake your friends southern manners as an invitation to a rumble.

As a resident of the state of Tennessee I would wear my black balmoral (no dicing) if attending games in Scotland. I would wear it if attending games in the USA or Canada for that matter. But I do own a made in Scotland, Harris Tweed, flat cap, that I do wear with the kilt in a casual manner. Usually when I'm attending the meetings of our Scottish Society. When at a Scottish Games, I am usually manning a tent for my clan society or the Scottish Society. So I dress with more of a "uniform" style. That's means my s/s officer shirt with the embroidered clan badge, the balmoral, and usually tan hose. I would not wear the flat cap in this situation. I have worn a wide brimmed straw hat due to sun and heat. But since I now have the balmoral, I wear that instead.

If I were to attend a games as a guest and not in any official capacity, I would wear the best daywear outfit that the weather permitted and it would include the balmoral.

But just for mucking about, I'd go with the flat cap. It's what I wear nearly every day anyways. So as not to cause an international controversy, when I do get the opportunity to visit Scotland, I will not wear the flat cap with the kilt. I'd probably just go without.

[Jock Scot]

As a resident of the state of Tennessee I would wear my black balmoral (no dicing) if attending games in Scotland. I would wear it if attending games in the USA or Canada for that matter. But I do own a made in Scotland, Harris Tweed, flat cap, that I do wear with the kilt in a casual manner. Usually when I'm attending the meetings of our Scottish Society. When at a Scottish Games, I am usually manning a tent for my clan society or the Scottish Society. So I dress with more of a "uniform" style. That's means my s/s officer shirt with the embroidered clan badge, the balmoral, and usually tan hose. I would not wear the flat cap in this situation. I have worn a wide brimmed straw hat due to sun and heat. But since I now have the balmoral, I wear that instead.

If I were to attend a games as a guest and not in any official capacity, I would wear the best daywear outfit that the weather permitted and it would include the balmoral.

But just for mucking about, I'd go with the flat cap. It's what I wear nearly every day anyways. So as not to cause an international controversy, when I do get the opportunity to visit Scotland, I will not wear the flat cap with the kilt. I'd probably just go without.

I wear my balmoral,not my better one I grant you, for mucking about. Ploughing,harvesting,fishing,BBQ's,walking the hills,calving cows to name a few. I can well see the wisdom of wearing a suitable hat in your hot climbs where neither the balmoral, or, flat cap would be of much use.

[davedove]

Quite: What do you do when a friend from, say TN, accompanies you to the Cowal Games and is planning to wear a flat cap with his otherwise well turned out gear?

Now don't you know that we Americans will wear what we want and we will know that we are right in wearing it?

If anyone doesn't understand that, we will speak more slowly and loudly until they do.

[RockyR]

Rocky, when all said and done whether we wear a flat cap with the kilt, or not, as the case may be, is hardly an earth shatteringly important matter. Perhaps the traditionalists you come across are too polite to comment,not bothered,or, don't want a black eye! Sorry ,only joking. Outside this website most of us would never dream of openly laughing, or, commenting on any one's style of dress. However that does not mean that I and others do not have a point of view.

This great website encourages friendly discussion and allows for honestly held opinions to be aired, robustly put sometimes maybe, these points of view may also not be voiced out load in public for reasons of tact and diplomacy. Providing these firmly held views are voiced courteously, we all get an opportunity to learn of other points of view. I suppose it can be a surprise to learn that what I/we thought was a non issue suddenly becomes one.

Understood and agreed... I wasn't 'offended' or 'hurt' by anyone else's opinion, just a little surprised as I hadn't heard it before.

The main point of my post was to show the other side of the coin. There was no malice or argument in my mind when typing it... I hope it came across the same way. That's the 1 problem when typing things... you can't show inflection on your voice to convey certain things the way you can when speaking.

The following is meant as an observation and NOT a criticism:

Many times on Forums, once a thread starts to go 1 direction (either 'traditional thought' or 'contemporary - casual thought'), people tend to only voice the same opinion and then the thread becomes a 1 sided discussion. People with a dissenting voice might not want to be the 'lone voice of opposition', so they don't speak up. I'm guilty of this as well on occasion. For this thread, I thought I'd present the 'firm' other side of the discussion (not 'argument') on which I fall.

Friendly discourse is appreciated by all. At the end of the day, if we can agree to disagree without being disagreeable, then this is a better place for the discussion.

BTW... I never hit anyone for giving me a criticism of my outfit. (...yet )

(TONGUE FIRMLY IN CHEEK FOR THAT LAST BIT)

[Jock Scot]

Rocky, thank you for you reply and be assured that no offence was taken and none was intended. These threads do give us all an opportunity to see another point of view ,as in this case and with a wee bit of luck we all can be a tad wiser.Let's hope so.

[Jock Scot]

Quite right Jamie,I did say that Highland attire need not look too "planned and contrived", but there are limits you know! I think that this thread demonstrates,in general terms, perfectly, how people are unaware of how others think.Generally speaking people, your side of the Atlantic seem to stretch the kilt wearing boundaries without being aware that some people this side of the Atlantic are tearing their hair out! What are we to do about it? Just sit there and nod sagely? Well, we could, but we (well alright me at the moment))try to gently point out and inform and I hope, those that want to listen will be better informed, even if people choose to ignore it later, which is of course their right. Only trying to help,you know!

[Panache]

Quite right Jamie,I did say that Highland attire need not look too "planned and contrived", but there are limits you know! I think that this thread demonstrates,in general terms, perfectly, how people are unaware of how others think.Generally speaking people, your side of the Atlantic seem to stretch the kilt wearing boundaries without being aware that some people this side of the Atlantic are tearing their hair out! What are we to do about it? Just sit there and nod sagely? Well, we could, but we (well alright me at the moment))try to gently point out and inform and I hope, those that want to listen will be better informed, even if people choose to ignore it later, which is of course their right. Only trying to help,you know!

Jock,

Something that strikes me about this discussion is how that head gear is something that is really tied in with one's climate.

From you I have understood that the Highlands of Scotland are rather damp, cool, and very windy.

Therefore the proper hat for a highlander should

(1) Keep one's head warm

(2) Not fly off

I think that as the kilt has been worn in other climes other kit has been adopted to make it work.

I can't imagine a highlander in a pith helmet in Scotland, why on earth would he want to block what little sun comes down?

ith: Cheers

Jamie

[RockyR]

Rocky, thank you for you reply and be assured that no offence was taken and none was intended. These threads do give us all an opportunity to see another point of view ,as in this case and with a wee bit of luck we all can be a tad wiser.Let's hope so.

Let me know when your opinion changes and you become a 'tad wiser'. I'm pretty dull, so I don't think I'll wise up any time soon.

Good exchange guys...