BAGPIPE> Ribbons On A Balmoral Bonnet
Michael Warren Duell
I was under the impression that the ribbons on the back of a Balmoral
bonnet were to be tied in a bow, yet I see many of them hanging free.
What is the correct way to wear them?
Mike
Brad Coolidge
I will give you the answer as it appears in a book I have called: "So
You're Going to Wear the Kilt," by J. Charles "Scotty" Thompson,
F.S.T.S., who has been acknowledged as the foremost expert on tartans in
North America by the Scottish Tartans Society. Here is what his book
says:
"...the edge of the bonnet is bound with grosgrain ribbon, and there are
two matching ribbons hanging down from the back. There is a cockade of
the same ribbon over the left temple. The ribbons and cockade afford
several possibilities of going wrong in wearing the bonnet. First the
ribbons: on the Glengarry bonnet the ribbons are always left hanging
loose. With the Balmoral there is some disagreement. Some of the
experts insist that the ribbons of the Balmoral should always be tied in
a neat, small bow. Nobody says it is wrong to knot the ribbons; some
just feel that you don't need to. You will be safer to knot the
ribbons. Most people do, and nobody objects to it. I have even heard
the romantic notion that knotted ribbons mean that the wearer's
affections are engaged, while free-flowing ribbons mean that his fancy is
equally free. So if your wife or girlfriend reads this, she will
probably insist that you knot them right now! .... The ribbons of
either bonnet, whether tied or loos, should always come in the middle of
the back of the head. This brings the cockade over the left temple,
where it belongs."
Hope this helps!
Brad Coolidge
bc3...@swt.edu
Pat Farrell
Michael Warren Duell wrote:
>
> I was under the impression that the ribbons on the back of a Balmoral
> bonnet were to be tied in a bow, yet I see many of them hanging free.
>
> What is the correct way to wear them?
>
> Mike
Properly, they are tied in a neat, small bow on a Balmoral. On a
Glengarry, the ribbons are never tied. Amazing how complicated life
in the sartorial lane can be.
Regards, Pat
Doc
I hesitate to get into this but I was taught that the ribbons on the
Balmoral were tied in a Bow IF one were married and left untied if
single and that the ribbons were left untied on the Glengarry. I cannot
quote page number but I think there is something to that effect in
Thompson's book...."So you're going to wear the kilt".
"Doc"
RJWEMT
"So you're going to wear the kilt" does make referrence to tying the ribbons if
your married, loose if unmarried, etc. It also goes on to say that you can also
avoid the nonsense from the spouse and just cut the darn things off!! LOL!
Tom McVey
Brad Coolidge wrote:
> Michael Warren Duell wrote:
>
> > I was under the impression that the ribbons on the back
> of a Balmoral
> > bonnet were to be tied in a bow, yet I see many of them
> hanging free.
> >
> > What is the correct way to wear them?
> >
> > Mike
I've always been of the opinion that I spent the money, I
own the bonnet, I'll wear it any way I choose. If you want
to buy one and give it to me then you can tell me how to
wear it.Good taste, above all, should dictate your fashion
statement.
TJ
Bob Cameron
> Brad Coolidge wrote:
>
> > I will give you the answer as it appears in a book I have
> > called: "So
> > You're Going to Wear the Kilt," by J. Charles "Scotty"
> > Thompson,
snip
> > Michael Warren Duell wrote:
> >
> > > I was under the impression that the ribbons on the back
> > of a Balmoral
> > > bonnet were to be tied in a bow, yet I see many of them
> > hanging free.
> > >
> > > What is the correct way to wear them?
> > >
> > > Mike
>
> I've always been of the opinion that I spent the money, I
> own the bonnet, I'll wear it any way I choose. If you want
> to buy one and give it to me then you can tell me how to
> wear it.Good taste, above all, should dictate your fashion
> statement.
> TJ
I'm with TJ on this one.
Who gets to decide the "proper" way, and why? Today's Balmoral bonnet is
somewhat different than the old, broad, blue bonnets the pre-Clearance
highlanders wore, and the Glengarry was unknown back then as well. At what
point do you suppose they all sat down in session and voted to let the
ribbons hang, or no, or supposedly set up rules of headgear in reference
to marital status(???). A lot of the "how to wear" rules etc. are
Victorian hobbyists' creations. You may of course, accept them as holy
writ as you like, or you may choose to do what is comfortable for
yourself. Pipebands will probably insist on all members following the
same style, but other than that, de gustibus.