Fedora with the kilt?

[cavscout]

Todd, please do not take my comments as directed at you as well. Your advice and counsel here have always been offered with a sense of courtesy and mutual respect. No sarcasm or intent to belittle another's view. Your insights and knowledge are always worth reading. I doff my cap (of any kind) to you

Again, I could really care less if someone wants to wear a fedora, penny loafers or what not with their kilt. Everyone so far has posted that you should wear the kilt in the way it suits you, which most of us who are traditionalists do -- we were ours traditionally. If someone asks us, of course we are going to give the traditionalist viewpoint -- yet it seems to me that the traditionalist viewpoint really isn't welcome here. If I'm wrong and assumed that, then my sincere apologies, but that's what I can't help but feel.

Perhaps it's time to shake the dust from the sandals...

T.

[macwilkin]

Todd, please do not take my comments as directed at you as well. Your advice and counsel here have always been offered with a sense of courtesy and mutual respect. No sarcasm or intent to belittle another's view. Your insights and knowledge are always worth reading. I doff my cap (of any kind) to you

No worries; I found your comments to be very fair and and you raised some good points. I certainly did not take them as directed at me.

T.

[macwilkin]

Your post is a good example of what I meant. You chose to take my message as a general attack on you, and you responded in anger.

You are correct on two points. I am not a traditionalist, and my comments most certainly do apply to both traditionalists and non-traditionalists. In fact my comments should apply to anyone who posts on this forum. We should all be capable of giving opinions with out being dismissive of the opinions of others, and none of us should assume that we have the correct opinion and have no need to respect other posters.

Well, how could I not, when it was a reply to my post. All I did was defend myself, sir, because it sure sounded like you were saying that I was being "holier than thou", when in fact, I haven't commented one way or the other about fedoras and kilts. All I was saying was that traditionalists sometimes take it on the chin around here when they offer their viewpoints, and can be guilty of the same at times as well.

T.

[Lyle1]

All I was saying was that traditionalists sometimes take it on the chin around here when they offer their viewpoints, and can be guilty of the same at times as well.

T.

So we do agree on something! That's a start.

[JSFMACLJR]

So, those of us who chose to give terse answers are made to feel very tiny indeed. Thanks Wizard of BC for the patronising post. I mean no disrespect to you, believe me, and if you were wearing your "Owner Hat" when you posted that, I wouldn't be so flippant! But really, the OP asked a straightforward question, and he received from me a straightforward plea in return: "please don't wear a fedora with the kilt." I gave my answer in this form because it seems obvious--to me--that when one wears the kilt a fedora looks not just out-of-place, but even silly. Why? Well, the fedora's origins and customary useage over the years have pretty much set the precedent that it is a hat worn with a suit. Certain hats are associated with certain forms of dress and/or occupations and pass-times. Nothing odd, elitist, or troubling about that, I would think. The fedora's origins as a woman's hat, and then its adoption by middle-class men, its association with labourers and the unsavoury gangster portrayed on film, have given this hat a cult status that really excludes the kilt. The two just haven't over-lapped. Now, of course, some people somewhere have worn odd hats with the kilt ( Caithness? ), but that doesn't establish a tradition or rule. The kilt, being firstly a Highland garment, is defined by those who have worn it, continue to wear it, and know how to wear it. That would be the "Traditionalist" position held by many in this Forum. "Here endeth the Lesson." If there are others who choose to wear the kilt in a fashion not found in the Highlands, then fine, go ahead and wear a fedora if you like. Just remember, though, the "look" is incongruous and will cause some to arch their eyebrows and think to themselves just how odd it looks and how ignorant of fashion the wearer is.

But you all don't really care what I have to say.

[mbhandy]

Ok ok ok ok, wear the bloody hat, I'm sorry for my less than positive attitude. I second, third and fourth that too.
You may want to wear a leather jacket as well .......and carry a whip?


Kidding!

And why should he not carry a whip? His father was Sir Sean.....LOL


I have been known to wear a fedora while playing my Harps... in a Kilt... With DARK GLASSES.

MrBill

[Dale Seago]

. . .there is nothing in the above picture that is traditional.
My kilt has pockets.
I'm wearing penny loafers.
No flashes, no Sgain.
My kilt pin is NW Native design.
My shirt was what I pulled out of the closet this morning.
The jacket is my old flight jacket. It was chilly today in Victoria.
It is also raining and my Akubra Fedora makes a great umbrella.

You're right, nothing "traditional" there at all. And esthetically, in my opinion, it all totally "works" together.

I love looking, in some cases, traditional; and in other cases "historical" (circa The Forty-Five). But even more often, from day to day, I like more of a "it's just clothes" kilted look. This is a superb example of that last.

[Brian K]

But you all don't really care what I have to say.

Sandy, my friend, I care very much what you say. Your initial post in this thread made me chuckle and the chuckle evolved into a real laugh. You were not judgmental, nor were you condemnatory. Was your answer "terse," as you put it? Yes, but it was in the form of a request - simple, direct and gentle - you even said please. What made it funny was the "really" at the end. Had I written the OP myself I still would have laughed. Perhaps, technically, you were included in The Wizard's post, but you certainly were not as strident as some in answering the question posed in the OP.

I happen to share the concern that Steve expressed when he stepped from behind the curtain to share his personal views. I have seen more and more prescription in the forum and I would appreciate more description and explanation. I do not hesitate to give my opinion when I think I can add to a discussion, but I do hope that when expressing an opinion pro- or con- something or other that I give an adequate explanation as to why I do or do not like something. If the opinion is directly kilt related I try to remember to mention that I am yet one of the unfortunate un-kilted so my opinion can be taken for what it's worth.

Despite my liberal leanings I tend to have traditionalist sentiments about the kilt and highland dress but there are some non-traditional things I like or admire - I remember a picture of you, for example, in (I think) a polo shirt and Italian loafers with your kilt. You looked splendid. I would hardly say the outfit was traditional, but it worked quite well, I thought. I also happen to think that His Wizardship looked quite dashing in a fedora and a leather jacket that he wore honorably and with distinction in service as a U.S. Marine. I think very few could pull off that look but I think it worked for him and if the author of the OP feels he could pull it off (I don't think he'd have asked the question if he hadn't at least had a fleeting idea that he might be able to) he should try it and see if it works. I don't think I could make it work, but if he tries it and likes I'll be happy for him.

When I finally am able to afford a kilt and the minimum kit to go with it I will rely on the advice of my friends here to help me do it to my satisfaction, not the satisfaction of others. If I hew strictly to the traditional (unlikely) I will not appreciate brickbats aimed at me from the non-traditional crowd who presume that anyone who does anything traditionally is just an auld crabbit deserving of their scorn. If I do something in a non-traditional manner that I think works for me I will be equally unappreciative of those who act as though I am assaulting the natural order of things.

A man's dress is his own business for the most part and it is fine to offer your opinion when asked but doing it in a respectful manner is one of the hallmarks of a gentleman. Offering judgmental pontifications (from either side, mind you) is not.

Sorry to run on so long,

Brian

[Cowher]

I don't agree with your opinion of why a fedora doesn't look good with a kilt. However I can respect it because you explained it. Your first post in this thread didn't explain anything. So if I wore a fedora with my kilt (I don't) I would be slightly offended that you spoke like those who think fedoras and kilts go together are a fool. You may not mean that but that's how I would have taken it. BUT after explaining your reason I can understand you. This is all about educating the new ones. Not just telling them. Information needs to be given for one to learn.

Maybe this is why people are no longer explaining their reasons for their beliefs. Because they don't think others care what they think or say.

So, those of us who chose to give terse answers are made to feel very tiny indeed. Thanks Wizard of BC for the patronising post. I mean no disrespect to you, believe me, and if you were wearing your "Owner Hat" when you posted that, I wouldn't be so flippant! But really, the OP asked a straightforward question, and he received from me a straightforward plea in return: "please don't wear a fedora with the kilt." I gave my answer in this form because it seems obvious--to me--that when one wears the kilt a fedora looks not just out-of-place, but even silly. Why? Well, the fedora's origins and customary useage over the years have pretty much set the precedent that it is a hat worn with a suit. Certain hats are associated with certain forms of dress and/or occupations and pass-times. Nothing odd, elitist, or troubling about that, I would think. The fedora's origins as a woman's hat, and then its adoption by middle-class men, its association with labourers and the unsavoury gangster portrayed on film, have given this hat a cult status that really excludes the kilt. The two just haven't over-lapped. Now, of course, some people somewhere have worn odd hats with the kilt ( Caithness? ), but that doesn't establish a tradition or rule. The kilt, being firstly a Highland garment, is defined by those who have worn it, continue to wear it, and know how to wear it. That would be the "Traditionalist" position held by many in this Forum. "Here endeth the Lesson." If there are others who choose to wear the kilt in a fashion not found in the Highlands, then fine, go ahead and wear a fedora if you like. Just remember, though, the "look" is incongruous and will cause some to arch their eyebrows and think to themselves just how odd it looks and how ignorant of fashion the wearer is.

But you all don't really care what I have to say.

[Redhawk]

I personally think some people look good wearing one thing and others something else. If we all looked the same in a hat then we would only need one kind of hat in the world. So if a certain style hat fits your style and personality why not wear it?

Just sayin