How do you put on a balmoral?

[creagdhubh]

Welcome to the rabble, Crawdad!

I always use two hands when putting on and adjusting my Balmoral bonnet. I first get the band portion of the bonnet just right on my head or to my liking, which tends to be positioned straight and low on the brow, just a wee bit above my eyebrows (I have never been fond of Balmorals placed further back on the head and canted, exposing large amounts of the forehead) ensuring that the cockade is positioned over my left temple and the ribbon bows are centered in the rear. I then firmly hold the band of the Balmoral to prevent the whole thing from moving (though it seldom does, since a proper fitting bonnet should not move around on your head too easily) as I pull the right side of the Balmoral down at the same time. I have never "Jocked" any of my Balmoral bonnets, as I prefer to allow the natural process of years of use to effectively "break in" my bonnets. To each is own, I suppose.

I used to wear a Glengarry bonnet once in a while, yet I have always preferred the Balmoral style. I have since sold off the two Robert Mackie Glengarry bonnets and I only wear Balmorals nowadays. I have seen quite a number of Americans at various Highland games and gatherings/events of a similar nature, wearing the Glengarry bonnet. I think many of them prefer this style of bonnet because it may prove easier to wear than its counterpart, can be a bit more compact when carrying and has more of a military look to it. If you are much more comfortable with the Glengarry bonnet, then by all means, go with it! It's all about personal preferences and what you feel comfortable in.

A couple of photos of me wearing the Balmoral bonnet.



Cheers,

[Crawdad]

Thanks for the advice. You've pretty much confirmed that I am doing it correctly, but that there's not a way to put it on as quickly and easily as I can the glengarry. Think I'll use the glengarry for everyday wear and keep the balmoral for special occasions.

[Jock Scot]

Thanks for the advice. You've pretty much confirmed that I am doing it correctly, but that there's not a way to put it on as quickly and easily as I can the glengarry. Think I'll use the glengarry for everyday wear and keep the balmoral for special occasions.

Well, of course it is entirely up to you on what you choose to do, but with a little practice(I admit I wear a balmoral most days) I think you will don a balmoral just as quickly as a glengarry. With the greatest respect we are talking civilian wear here, where a certain amount of personal flair is almost encouraged so if, for example, the bonnet badge is out by an inch one day and half an inch the next, no Sarn't Major is going to have apoplexy!

[theborderer]

Thanks for the advice. You've pretty much confirmed that I am doing it correctly, but that there's not a way to put it on as quickly and easily as I can the glengarry. Think I'll use the glengarry for everyday wear and keep the balmoral for special occasions.

Many wear the glengarry as though the right ear is holding all the weight. During my military service the fold at the front was between the eyes. The edge 1 inch above the eyebrows and the Pom was central on the head.

[creagdhubh]

Many wear the glengarry as though the right ear is holding all the weight. During my military service the fold at the front was between the eyes. The edge 1 inch above the eyebrows and the Pom was central on the head.

I believe the canting of a Glengarry bonnet to the right was a regimental tradition for quite some time. You often see old photos (OC Richard, this is your queue) of regimental soldiers wearing their Glengarry in this fashion. A bit like U.S. soldiers canting their service covers, back and to the right, during WWII. Nowadays, this method of wear simply isn't done.

Cheers,

[Tobus]

Many wear the glengarry as though the right ear is holding all the weight. During my military service the fold at the front was between the eyes. The edge 1 inch above the eyebrows and the Pom was central on the head.

I've always been fascinated by the way that military headwear is worn intentionally off-regulation as a personal statement. This was extremely popular during the WWI and WWII eras, where virtually nobody wore their hat square on their head. It was always pushed over for a 'jaunty' look. Some fellows wore it so extremely cocked to one side that it always seemed on the verge of falling off, and I can't see how they actually wore it like that without pinning it to their hair (this was, of course, back before buzz cuts became the norm).

But the wearing of Glengarries cocked to one side (and Balmorals, for that matter) certainly goes farther back than that. It is pretty clear in MacLeay's portraits from the mid 19th century that they were typically worn slightly askew during that period as well. Some examples are below. There are only a few men depicted by MacLeay wearing their hats straight.

I would even be so bold as to say that the tradition of wearing headwear with the kilt leans strongly more towards wearing them askew than straight. Regardless of what current military regs may say, civilian hats are traditionally worn tilted to the right. From the mid-1800s well past the mid-1900s, this seems to have been the way they were worn. Modern examples seem to go back and forth.

[Crawdad]

I guess I didn't really ask my question properly to begin with. I can put on my balmoral using both hands as been described by several posts, but as I was raised to take my hat off when I entered a building and put it back on when I leave the building that gets to be a nuisance. I can put on or remove my glengarry with one hand while carrying something in the other hand. I was hoping somebody had a suggestion for how to do that. I think as I said earlier that I will stick to the glengarry for day-to-day use and keep the balmoral for the more formal occasions when I'm less likely to have something in my hands.

[Father Bill]

I'm a lifelong hat-wearer. Sometimes, using your right hand, you can "hook" a Balmoral onto the front, left "corner" of your head, and then stretch the back right corner of the hat into place with a couple of small tugs at the spots in between to bring it into place. Takes a bit of practice while watching the telly, but you can pull it off. You can pull it on too!
ith:ith: (Okay, not a Balmoral, but I don't think we have a Balmoral emoticon)

[Jordan]

I can pretty much do it one handed but it takes a little practice and I couldn't explain what it is I do.

[BBNC]

Welcome to the rabble, Crawdad!

I always use two hands when putting on and adjusting my Balmoral bonnet. I first get the band portion of the bonnet just right on my head or to my liking, which tends to be positioned straight and low on the brow, just a wee bit above my eyebrows (I have never been fond of Balmorals placed further back on the head and canted, exposing large amounts of the forehead) ensuring that the cockade is positioned over my left temple and the ribbon bows are centered in the rear. I then firmly hold the band of the Balmoral to prevent the whole thing from moving (though it seldom does, since a proper fitting bonnet should not move around on your head too easily) as I pull the right side of the Balmoral down at the same time. I have never "Jocked" any of my Balmoral bonnets, as I prefer to allow the natural process of years of use to effectively "break in" my bonnets. To each is own, I suppose.

I used to wear a Glengarry bonnet once in a while, yet I have always preferred the Balmoral style. I have since sold off the two Robert Mackie Glengarry bonnets and I only wear Balmorals nowadays. I have seen quite a number of Americans at various Highland games and gatherings/events of a similar nature, wearing the Glengarry bonnet. I think many of them prefer this style of bonnet because it may prove easier to wear than its counterpart, can be a bit more compact when carrying and has more of a military look to it. If you are much more comfortable with the Glengarry bonnet, then by all means, go with it! It's all about personal preferences and what you feel comfortable in.

A couple of photos of me wearing the Balmoral bonnet.



Cheers,

Is that a clan badge on your balmoral? One way to help it point in the right direction. Looks great!