blue bonnet?

[Deil the Yin]

What's the "proper" (historical?) way to wear a Jacobite style blue bonnet? Square on the head but pulled over the right ear? Tilted and pulled over the ear? or Square on the head with no shaping of the bonnet itself?

I have a white cockade that will be mounted over the left temple, so if that makes a difference....

I realize that the blue bonnet was probably worn all kinds of different ways but what I'm seeking is a recognizable "look" appropriate to the bonnet and, perhaps but not rigidly, to the period.

From a couple of references, which is rather scanty I know, historically, the blue or Scotch bonnet was worn every and any which way, either as it fell or happened to get pulled.

If you are putting on a cockade then I think you should wear it so it is visible, but other than that just find a mirror and try it various ways until you find one that you feel suits you. If you find the bonnet too large or floppy for your taste you can fold in a pleat and sew or pin it to reduce the volume and suport the cockade. It makes a place to wear a feather or other ornament, or to hide folding money.

Anne the Pleater

My first thought regarding this issue was something along the lines of Pleater, as I've never known the Jacobite army to have had "uniforms" in which the cap might have been worn to some regulation. On top of that the nature of Gaelic Highland culture tends to be individualistic and creative as opposed to rigidly militaristic or imperial etc (eg though the breacan mor or great plaid was the common habit among highlanders, it could be worn in a myriad of ways in addition to the pattern/tartan itself which were woven to individual specs as opposed to the modern custom of "clan tartans"). That being said, I'm not exactly an expert on the Jacobite armies, so the question arose- were there in fact uniformed regiments within the Jacobite contingency at anytime of the '45? Pray tell...

Curiously,
Wesley