Balmoral question

[Donnie]

[pdcorlis]

Well, if you want to get really fussy - proper hat etiquette, and this includes the Balmoral, suggests a hat can be worn indoors if it is a "public" indoor space - but should be immediately removed once entering a private indoor space. For example its ok in the building lobby but not ok in someone's office.

My balmoral was my gateway drug into this wonderful world of kilts - it predates any of my kilts and like Kiltman, I believe what you do with your tails is your own business.

[thescot]

pdcorliss is absolutely correct as to hat etiquette. And that includes sitting at a table eating with your hat on! My mother just might smack that hat off my head. And she's 85!

Except when at a bar. Out west, it's OK to keep your hat on at the bar, but if you sit at a table, it should be removed. I think the bar is like a public area indoors.

A hat is only worn inside when in uniform under arms, ie., with a duty belt.

Haven't worn a duty belt or carried arms in over 30 years, so I take my hat off when indoors.

You should still tie the bow!

[Big Paul]

from Detroit, Michigan, USA!

[Monkey@Arms]

Welcome to Xmarks. You might find some of these threads to be helpful (some include illustrations) http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...query=balmoral

As to the significance of whether it is tied or not, there's alot of bunkum associated with that.

Best regards,

Jake

P.S. Don't forget the search feature is your friend.

[The Barry]

I haven't seen this story put in this thread, so I'll throw it out there and see if there's any truth to it.

I think that I've read somewhere that the tied/untied difference was a highland/lowland difference. One group trending towards tying the ribbons while the other group trending towards not tying the ribbons.

Anybody else heard of this? Or did I accidentally make this up?

[thescot]

I haven't seen this story put in this thread, so I'll throw it out there and see if there's any truth to it.

I think that I've read somewhere that the tied/untied difference was a highland/lowland difference. One group trending towards tying the ribbons while the other group trending towards not tying the ribbons.

Anybody else heard of this? Or did I accidentally make this up?

I thiink you made it up.

Actually, I have no idea. But I think that the ribbon is a holdover from the old knitted bonnets that used a ribbon threaded through to adjust the size to fit the head. That would, of course, require tying.

However, the modern ribbon is superfluous, and is strictly an ornament, if you will. And it should be tied like the old ones.

(Notice how cleverly I slipped that tying business in at the very last. )

Fact is, no one really much cares what you do with your bonnet. But the "correct" way is to tie it in the back, and trim it. Earlier, I said 2 1/2 - 3", but after looking more closely my bonnets, I noticed that the length of the bow may be close to 4".

[Jack Daw]

Hello and welcome from Houston, TX!

[Tim Little]

A belated welcome!!

I'm not much of a hat-wearer myself, so I'm afraid I can't add very much to the question at hand. I trust you've received plenty of good advice already.

I seem to recall reading something in Thompson that the ribbons could either be tied or left untied according to one's taste... or cut off completely! (I'm not sure what that says as an indication of one's "affections".)

Did you make it to Burns Night at Redhook on Saturday? Where were you seated? Jmercier and I were at a table over by the entrance; cleghorn kilts was obviously otherwise occupied as MC for the evening. (And yes, that is a Mackenzie tartan kilt I'm wearing. )

If you haven't already, you should check out the pix here... and feel free to add any of your own, of course!

[Balaamsass51]

Welcome from the middle of North Carolina.

Matt H.