A Balmoral problem...

[NPG]

I recently discovered that my fiancée who is not a fan of the Balmoral, snipped the torries off of my two balmorals because she felt they looked too much like I belong on a golf course. Thank goodness they were not higher end balmorals like Robert Mackie's, but needless to say I'm left with a dilemma. I can get a new balmoral which may suffer the same fate. I can wear the balmorals as they are, or I can look for alternative headgear for when I wear the kilt. What would you folks recommend?

[Jock Scot]

The Scots did invent the game after all!The obvious thing to do is get a new girl, but I suspect that is not an option! The kilt and the balmoral is part and parcel of that scene. Other traditional choices is the useless Glengarry, the practical and more informal "fore and aft" and or "the deer stalker"------------beware Scottish tailors and merchants are not consistent with their labelling here. A Panama is also an established option as is I think a Tilly style in hot weather. An Aussie slouch hat is an option too in hot climes. Bareheaded is probably the most traditional option----weather permitting.

[GrainReaper]

My balmoral solution:

My wife likes my black balmoral but feels the toorie is a bit much depending on the rest of my outfit. I wanted different colored balmorals to accent my attire, so here is what I did, I snipped off the toorie and hot glued a bit of Velcro to it so it sticks to the wool, I bought a few wool puffballs in assorted colors and glued Velcro to them too, now I'm free to wear my balmoral without a toorie, or with any of a selection of colored toories to bring in some color if I choose

[NPG]

The Scots did invent the game after all!The obvious thing to do is get a new girl, but I suspect that is not an option! The kilt and the balmoral is part and parcel of that scene. Other traditional choices is the useless Glengarry, the practical and more informal "fore and aft" and or "the deer stalker"------------beware Scottish tailors and merchants are not consistent with their labelling here. A Panama is also an established option as is I think a Tilly style in hot weather. An Aussie slouch hat is an option too in hot climes. Bareheaded is probably the most traditional option----weather permitting.

Being a hockey family golf is a bad word around here, it is synonymous with missing the playoffs and and the season ending too soon.

I did consider the obvious option, but only for a second and realized it's easier to get new headgear than a woman who will mostly put up with me. Thanks for the suggestions for different options. I do agree with you though the balmoral really is part and parcel.

[NPG]

My balmoral solution:

My wife likes my black balmoral but feels the toorie is a bit much depending on the rest of my outfit. I wanted different colored balmorals to accent my attire, so here is what I did, I snipped off the toorie and hot glued a bit of Velcro to it so it sticks to the wool, I bought a few wool puffballs in assorted colors and glued Velcro to them too, now I'm free to wear my balmoral without a toorie, or with any of a selection of colored toories to bring in some color if I choose

That's an interesting option... I'll see if she kept the torrie. Thanks!

[Baron of Plenderleith]

My own lovely Lady objects to the ribbons. But then, she is Irish.

My father solved a similar conundrum by adopting the French beret as his headgear of choice -- no toorie, no ribbons, but balmoral shape.

[sailortats]

I have a very simple solution - get a new fiancee

[NPG]

My own lovely Lady objects to the ribbons. But then, she is Irish.

My father solved a similar conundrum by adopting the French beret as his headgear of choice -- no toorie, no ribbons, but balmoral shape.

I've always been hesitant about berets because I know their military affiliation, though I suppose that does not apply to the French beret as much as the military styled ones. As I never served I would never want to give the wrong impression with my headwear.

[NPG]

I have a very simple solution - get a new fiancee

If only it were that easy, and I would not be surprised if I had done something that had prompted the torrie removal, but I know better than to ask, since it might lead to the removal of who knows what else.

[ThistleDown]

The tourie is as much a part of the traditional bonnet of Scotland as is it's heat-retaining, rain-shedding sloped flat shape and it's one-size-fits-all ribbons. But it is not 'part and parcel'. If you don't like the tourie (that's 'tourie', not 'torrie', by the way) simply don't wear it. Most of us don't. There are alternatives (the very best is still the simplest 'none') and Jock has offered several you might want to consider (the Anzac/SA slouch and the fore-and-aft, are just two) but stay away from military/band uniform and civilian costumery (berets, historical/histerical headgear) and live with our wonderfully, patiently evolving traditional dress.