Bamoral tails (or no balmoral)?

[macwilkin]

I have two Balmorals. The first is a lovat green and I tied the tails in a bow. The second I got from glengarryhats was supposed to be khaki, but it really is a darker brown. I cut the tails off this one.

I like wearing the Balmoral with other civilian clothes in cooler weather, but the tails seem to me to be a nuisance when hanging down and not particularly "manly" when tied in a bow in back with regular civilian clothes. With a kilt, tied bows are OK for me.

I may be somewhat influenced by all the Army soldiers wearing their black berets here on Post. What they have to go through to get their berets looking right would be another thread in itself.

My next Balmoral will be tan. I want something to go with traditional light tan khaki pants.

Some of the pics in the link below show my Lovat Green Balmoral.

Regards,

Tom

Tom,

Have you seen "Monarch of the Glen"? The character Golly Mackenzie, the estate Ghillie, frequently wears his bonnet with "mufti" -- usually a wax jacket and a pair of "cargo pants" -- and it looks very "manly" -- but Golly usually has a fly-fishing rod or a shotgun on his shoulder! :mrgreen:

T.

[sirdaniel1975]

But He is gone now and things may have changed
thats why Hamish needs to write a new book or at least make a video

An instructional video/DVD on all this kilt who-hah would be a fantastic Idea.

Any takers: Hamish.... Matt?

Think of all those excellent DVD chapters.. I'm such a geek....

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I tie my bonnet's ribbons into a bow... I like the way it looks that way.. I don't look good in a Glengarry either, I think I look funny in it.. I have a blue bonnet and a quasi tam/balmoral that I made(seen in past threads)...

anyway, try this link for a bonnet ribbon style:
MacGillivray Print


Daniel S. Williamson

[Retro Red]

I love the Balmoral - own 3 of 'em (black, tan, green) - but I don't like the tail. While they used to serve a purpose to tighten the hat, they're merely decorative, now. Still, I couldn't bring myself to bob my Balmoral tails, so I just tuck 'em inside.

Now, that silly looking pompom (torrie) on top, that's a different story - cut that sucker off as soon as I got each bonnet. My cats love playing with the torries, though.

My final step in personalizing my Balmorals is to dampen them & shape them to my head. I don't like 'em all stiff & sticking out like a friggin' flying saucer landed cock-eyed on yer head.

Add my clan badge, & I'm good to go!
.

[McClef]

I only have a Glengarry at present but intend to get a Balmoral or two next month in Edinburgh.

I like the tails and toorie on the Glengarry so I expect I will like them on the Balmoral too!

Does any one like the Tam O' Shanter?

[bikercelt1]

My final step in personalizing my Balmorals is to dampen them & shape them to my head. I don't like 'em all stiff & sticking out like a friggin' flying saucer landed cock-eyed on yer head.

One of the things I do to help shape my Balmorals or Berets is put small weights in the right side to pull it down close to the side of my head. It helps avoid the flying saucer look as well as off-setting the weight of the clan badge (an Xmarks pin makes a great clan badge by the way). Three 3/4" chrome (no corrosion from sweat) spacers for a 1/4" bolt gives my Balmorals just the right degree of "slouch" to make them look well worn but they're not so heavy as to make it obvious that I've weighted the hat.

Jamie

[turpin]

An instructional video/DVD on all this kilt who-hah would be a fantastic Idea.

Any takers: Hamish.... Matt?

Think of all those excellent DVD chapters.. I'm such a geek..

Daniel S. Williamson

And think of the director's cut, and the special features and deleted scenes. Rated PG-13.

[MacWage]

As I started this thing, I'll add something.

I have tried several tying methods, but am not entirely satisfied at the results. I have also used the loose method, but have problems with the flapping hitting my ear, or worse-> eye, when driving (in the convertible, no problems in a tin top).

I made one to match the car, green body with yellow toorie and ribbons. Once, on the way to work, I decided to rip the annoying things flapping me in the head (not the brightest idea I've had ). Fortunately, I only ripped the ribbons and not the wool!! I cleaned up the mess, but have yet to make and reattatch new ribbons.

Others, I've made the hat, including the finished toories and grosgrain ribbon edging, but havn't actually attached the tails. I've been so busy, it just hasn't made it to the top of my list. I have used them, as they coordinated with my wardrobe, and no one has (openly) noticed the lack of tails.

Right now, I have 2 with loose tails. One that had a loose tail, but is now tail-less. 4 with ties (two functional- bands are sleeves and the hat is sized by knoting the ribbon-> one of these has no "bows" just a knot).
2 more have just the hat (no tails). WOW!!! THAT IS 8 HATS!!!!! I never realized I that many.

Thompson said that bobbing the ribbons is "cheating," but that no one who has not read his book will probably notice. I was thinking of simply leaving them off in the future and declaring my "almost done" balmorals as "done."

I was curious what ya'll thought.

Thanks,