balmoral

[mcvarmit]

what is the significance of the long tails on balmorals and glengarry hats? can find lots of info on the hats but none on the tails.

thanks for your help

Slick

[Monkey@Arms]

Not authoritative, but I seem to recall that they were vestigial tokens from when the hats were made by a different technique and had actual ties in the back to tighten/secure them. Sought of like the way flashes represent the ribbons used to hold up early hose. I may stand corrected by one more knowledgeable however.

Best regards,

Jake

[cacunn]

J. C. Thompson in "So you're going to wear the Kilt" implies that the ribbon is left over from they were used to adjust hat sizes.

[MacWage]

A slight rephrasing of what has been said already . . .

The original "blue bonnet" was made with a sleeve along what is now the "headband" portion. The hat was "ballparked" in size and the ribbon was used as an "adjuster" for the hat size, so it wouldn't blow off in the highland winds. This ribbon was tied in the back (how else would it work as a sizer without tying it somehow).
While on the topic, the old ribbon was not quite like the ribbed polyester ribbon today. It was most likely a woven wool or linen ribbon.

When the hats became more precisely made to size, the ribbons were reduced to redundant decoration on the back. Whether they should be left loose or tied is largely a matter of opinion. Some like the "flowing"/"blowing" look of the loose ribbons. Others insist that they should be tied, like the integrated ribbons of auld.
There are also "rules" cited as to what either loose or tied are supposed to mean. However, they really could/would NOT be worn loose before they became redundant, so the rules could not be that old. Personally, some of mine have functional ribbons, some have tied sewn on ribbons (making bows), and some loose ones too. I am not sure which I like most.

[beloitpiper]

MacWage has got it pretty good, but I was always told to keep your ribbons loose if you're single and tied in a bow if you're married.

[MacWage]

MacWage has got it pretty good, but I was always told to keep your ribbons loose if you're single and tied in a bow if you're married.

Also:
Loose: Highlander
Tied: Lowlander
Or reverse of those 2-> about same times both ways

Tied: Civilian
Loose: Military

Tied: Jacobite
Loose: Hanovarian
And also heard the reverse

Tied: Underwear
Loose: Regimental
(That is NOT made up by me!!! I was ACTAULLY told that VERY explicitly at a games before!)

In end, I think it is a matter of personal feeling,and I've heard nothing consistant on any real "meaning" one way or the other.
The most logical-> tied=old-style/auld school

[McClef]

I think that sums up the tied/untied confusion very well MacWage!

I have mine loose and I can't offhand think of seeing them tied.

I have heard other versions based on positioning such as if you wear them so they go around the neck and fall at the front. If they go to the left you are a Catholic and if to the right you are a Protestant.

Or maybe that was the other way round too!

[Monkey@Arms]

Also:
Loose: Highlander
Tied: Lowlander
Or reverse of those 2-> about same times both ways

Tied: Civilian
Loose: Military

Tied: Jacobite
Loose: Hanovarian
And also heard the reverse

Tied: Underwear
Loose: Regimental
(That is NOT made up by me!!! I was ACTAULLY told that VERY explicitly at a games before!)

In end, I think it is a matter of personal feeling,and I've heard nothing consistant on any real "meaning" one way or the other.
The most logical-> tied=old-style/auld school

So lets see a tied ribbon means you're a married lowland civilian confused underwear wearing kilter. Ach, these "experts" and "tartan police" with their made-up rules will be the death of us yet.

Best regards,

Jake

[Panache]

So lets see a tied ribbon means you're a married lowland civilian confused underwear wearing kilter. Ach, these "experts" and "tartan police" with their made-up rules will be the death of us yet.

Best regards,

Jake

So Jake,

What does it mean if you wear one of the ribbons tied in a bow and leave the other loose?

Cheers

[A Hay]

I just received a dark green balmoral from Ian@glengarryhats.com. It is a nice color and fits well.
Also have the Canadian Khaki, which is more of a brown, from him. On this one I cut off the ribbons and wear it with a leather jacket for a more contemporary look.

Finally, I have a Lovat Green balmoral, don't remember from whom I bought it.
On this one I tied a bow in the back and sewed it in place.

I think for the new green one I might leave the tails free, like Golly the Gillie on Monarch of the Glen.

Next one might be a dark blue to go with the X Marks kilt.

Tom