What standard kilt item to you just hate?

[Good Egg]

For me, wearing a kilt is about comfort and the fact that I like the look, plus I wear a family tartan so it's about the heritage. It feels normal, like just another outfit to wear. However, I feel and the wife agrees, that the headgear makes me feel like a reeinactor. [SEINFELD] Not that there's anything wrong with that [/SEINFELD], but I don't need to walk though the streets looking like I missed the highland games.

Sorry, but the hats just feel like costume to me

And maybe, just maybe...... I do fear the pom pom.

I don't agree but I think I understand what you mean. I bought a cowboy hat in Texas and wore it whilst tootling around that great state. I liked the look. Makes me look taller and thinner and in every way more attractive, it goes well with my cowboy boots etc. Having got home I've realised that I'm not a cowboy - just a sad old middle aged git and it would be too much like 'dressing up' to wear in the UK. Its now being kept for special occasions like July 4th (notice I've put the date around the wrong way) parties and visits to US themed drinking and eating establishments when its raining. I wear the Oz leather one but some how and sadly that seems to more acceptable - maybe because a lot of people wear them...

Mind you bonnets don't have to be archaic in style: You should look around the web. BTB Toories do not need to be pom poms. The toorie that comes on the issue ToS is thistle shaped. Most soldiers cut the bands of them and release them to be a more fuller half pom. They also tend to pin them to the hat using a safty pin as this stops any wobbling and reduces the pom pom effect.

I've tried to find a picture of as thistle shaped toorie but failed. I've got one in the house If I find it and can operate the technology I'll post later.

[JSFMACLJR]

For me, wearing a kilt is about comfort and the fact that I like the look, plus I wear a family tartan so it's about the heritage. It feels normal, like just another outfit to wear. However, I feel and the wife agrees, that the headgear makes me feel like a reeinactor. [SEINFELD] Not that there's anything wrong with that [/SEINFELD], but I don't need to walk though the streets looking like I missed the highland games.

Sorry, but the hats just feel like costume to me

And maybe, just maybe...... I do fear the pom pom.

Do you wear a ball cap? Are you playing baseball when you are wearing it? Cowboy hat? Roping cattle in Whitehall? Deerstalker? I guess you are on your belly stalking that elusive stag as we speak. A balmoral bonnet just happens to be a current form of headdress, not a historic, reenactment fancy. People actually wear them as everyday dress, much like the kilt. Do you consider the kilt a costume and garb for the reenactor only? Of course not!

I guess I'm an odd sort of character. I've never considered a balmoral odd, just what one wears with the kilt.

Sandford

[pastorsteve]

I only wear a hat - when I need a hat. If I'm wearing a kilt and need/want a hat I wear my glengarry. If I'm in jeans it's a ball cap, cowboy hat, skull cap, fedora... whatever goes with the outfit I'm wearing.

I think I feel what you're saying though. If you don't need a hat, you don't need a hat.

[Dan R Porter]

For me not so much the sporran as the sporran strap, which does its best to try to cut the front of my kilt apron in half just below my massive gut (which I call my "next of kin"). I am a full time convert to sporran hangers, although this adds the weight of my sporran to the front of my belt which sometimes also tends to drift south under the strain.

I too tend to use at least a small belt pouch for the comomon use things---change, folding money, credit cards, etc... to try to lighten the load on the sporran itself.

I always thought it was just me. I am not even that large in the gut, but the chain seems to put a little crease going down towards the sporran and it is not flattering. I never paid much mind to it but I may give hangers a shot. Thanks for the comment, I nolonger feel alone with this.

[Dan R Porter]

THis is the best picture I had available, but you can see where the chain almost frames my "Beer Reserve." somewhat unflatering. If you got a flat tummy and it works for you, I pay homage. I will be trying the hangers.

[siva011]

Do you wear a ball cap? Are you playing baseball when you are wearing it? Cowboy hat? Roping cattle in Whitehall? Deerstalker? I guess you are on your belly stalking that elusive stag as we speak. A balmoral bonnet just happens to be a current form of headdress, not a historic, reenactment fancy. People actually wear them as everyday dress, much like the kilt. Do you consider the kilt a costume and garb for the reenactor only? Of course not!

I guess I'm an odd sort of character. I've never considered a balmoral odd, just what one wears with the kilt.

Sandford

While I've never worn a Cowboy hat or a Deerstalker (never seen one of those before this site really), I do wear a ball cap while not playing baseball, in the same vein of wearing jeans but not working a farm. They have come to the point of normal headwear, at least where I come from. While the balmoral may be a modern form of headwear, the only people I see wear them are highland games and ren faires. So, I guess in my experience I associate those with festivals. I'm certainly not saying everyone who wears them is a reinactor, I'm just saying that's how I feel when I wear one. Courtmount nailed it on the head with his comparison with the cowboy hat.

I mentioned on the buckle brogue thread and the same applies here. While it may be part of traditional wear, I lived most of my life in the inner city where tradition (especially northern European tradition) was non existant. Only modern trends were represented, and I learned nothing of tradition until I reached my 20s. Tradition or not, from my experience, the balmoral looks costume to me. I do love my kilt, and love the look, but I assume this appreciation of tradition will come in baby steps. Balmorals and buckle brogues... I'm just not there yet.

I'm certainly not criticizing what others wear, I'm just saying what works for me. Maybe it's just all perspective...

[JSFMACLJR]

I do love my kilt, and love the look, but I assume this appreciation of tradition will come in baby steps. Balmorals and buckle brogues... I'm just not there yet.

I'm certainly not criticizing what others wear, I'm just saying what works for me. Maybe it's just all perspective...

It will come! One morning you will wake up and realize the balmoral makes perfectly good sense.

Sandford

[Tattoo Bradley]

"Jacobite" Shirts
Fly Plaids
3"+ kilt belts
kilt pins

[Riverkilt]

But, but, but.....a Jacobite shirt lets the chest tattoos peek through for the ladies to admire....want more...wanna rip that shirt off like in them novels they read....



If they're attracted to olde fat guys that is....

[Jock Scot]

SIVA 011

I understand full well what you are saying. Rest assured that a lot of the kilt attire that you,and others too, consider as costume, the bamoral bonnet for example, is in daily use here in Scotland(not by everyone)and no one bats an eye over it. I for one wear a balmoral nearly every day kilted or not.