balmoral

[Nanook]

Tied: Civilian
Loose: Military

The Balmorals that were issued and worn in the army don't have ribbons to hang. The Glengarry bonnets have ribbons but they are not to be tied. The standard Black Watch Balmoral pattern as issued has neither a rosette at the front nor ribbons at the rear but a kind of micro-rosette at the rear. Most of the Balmorals I've seen that have ribbons have tended to be cheap grade bonnets (more often than not, made offshore). Military Balmorals tend not to have a rosette but a backing tartan and a badge (the Black watch have neither) and so would look strange with a large rosette bow at the rear (which is what tied ribbons are really about). This might be why most regiments wear the Glengarry style of hat :-)