Acceptable attire?

**Hamish** · 9th April 08, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Ted,you have set me thinking about flat tweed caps. I would not consider wearing a flat cap with the kilt and I don't remember seeing anyone in Scotland wearing one with the kilt either,not even visitors.Now, I hasten to add that this is not a criticism,just an observation.What I was wondering is this,in the late 1800's and early 1900's there are many photographs of people wearing flat tweed caps with the kilt.

It seems that around the First World War flat caps went out of fashion,when worn with the kilt and certainly by the 1940's it was a definite "no no" to wear a flat cap with the kilt.As far as I am aware it still is, here. Does anyone know the reasons for this, or, is this just a fashion thing that has moved on?

Jock, I would venture to suggest that the reason was quite simply that hat-wearing by British males in general took a serious dive after WWII. Pre-war, until the late 1930s, men's hats were seen everywhere: Bowlers in the City, Homburgs on businessmen, and flat caps in the country and on the heads of practically every 'working' man. After the war, maybe as a result of clothes-rationing (which I remember well), men's hats had all but disappeared here in the UK, and we still really are a nation of non-hat wearers.

An exception might be the (fashion) trend among teenage males who sport those shapeless, woolly 'tea-cosy' Beenie hats which, to my eye, would look fine on the ski slopes, but which look ridiculous on the streets of our towns and cities - just an opinion!

Take care,
Ham.

**Bugbear** · 9th April 08, 05:55 PM

That's good to know, Hamish. Thanks for pointing that out.

**Jock Scot** · 10th April 08, 12:07 AM

Hello Hamish,I too remember those years well,amongst those grim post war years I still have fond memories of some happy times.I am also fortunate to see the occasional youngster sporting a tweed bonnet up here rather than the tea cosey look,I have a nasty feeling, though, that the baseball cap and the tea cosey will prevail ere long.

Yes I agree about the British not being a nation of hat wearers,but what I was wondering was why the wearing of a tweed cap with the kilt was not seen,here,after about 1914. There are lots of photographs of people wearing them with the kilt before that time.Caps with the kilt by the 1940's to my certain knowledge was a most definite "no no".A fashion trend?

**Jack Daw** · 10th April 08, 04:20 AM

Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR

I agree wholeheartedly. Sorry I didn't think more before responding. Of course no gentleman would wear a hat indoors.

Cheers,
Sandford MacLean

Actually, in Texas, it's proper to wear your cowboy hat indoors. I personally do not like the rule as I prefer the orginal etiquette and always take my hat off when inside.

**Thistle Stop** · 12th April 08, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by Ryan Ross

Hahaha

Thanks... I really am attached to that hat.

That reminds me of Vlad the Impaler... when a guest refused to remove his hat in Vlad's presence, Vlad had it nailed to his head. You don't want to be THAT attached.

Originally Posted by Ryan Ross

For the record, though, the guy in leather isn't "Ryan"... he's "Bad Ryan". The guy in the toga is "Ryanocrates". "Ryan" always wears a cap...

Thanks for the clarification! I wouldn't want to get those guys mixed up!

Slainte,

Cyndi

**dowofbuchanan** · 12th April 08, 10:00 PM

well personally i dont really like the glengarry the look of it is not me ... the balmory is nice but i still go with the flat cap ... i am a mad hatter i wear a hat everday i usually fall asleep with a bandanna and a lions cap on i was raised in the midwest and am part of the youth culture so i feel naked without a hat i have hair long at that but wouldnt go to the bathroom let alone the store without a hat on my favorite is my fedora union made harris tweed stetson dont make em like that anymore im guilty of indoor hat wearing but let someone say something to me ... anyone know if they make a kilt police badge ... i know that was a photoshop but it would be a fun item to carry

**Bugbear** · 12th April 08, 10:17 PM

I used to have leather flat caps and even a straw flat cap. They come in all kinds of materials. Never heard of the tweed stetson though... Sounds nice.

**Mr. MacDougall** · 12th April 08, 11:35 PM

I wear an Australian drover's hat on occasion with my kilt. It's just too practical, here in the land of the ever-present sun, to carry some portable shade on your noggin.

**Bugbear** · 12th April 08, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. MacDougall

I wear an Australian drover's hat on occasion with my kilt. It's just too practical, here in the land of the ever-present sun, to carry some portable shade on your noggin.

Ya, you ain't kidding. It's aughful to get a sun burn right through your hair. I do have a fairly large rimmed canvas hat that I wear sometimes out in the garden, but I haven't tried it with a kilt yet... It's kind of a saffari hat type thing... Guess I also have a straw hat too for the same thing, but not with a kilt.

**Mr. MacDougall** · 13th April 08, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by Ted Crocker

Guess I also have a straw hat too for the same thing, but not with a kilt.

Our Scottish ancestors were practical people, and adapted to and overcame all sorts of challenges. I don't think any of them would look down on us for wearing shade-giving hats in a place where the sun can give you cancer inside of a couple of years.