Too Traditional?

[Arnot]

It is something that I have noticed retired American service personal seem to do.

He's quite correct, in my case anyway. It is a Paratrooper's balmoral purchased through Alcaig Kilts. I'm not trying to hard, I am (in my nutty little mind) still a "Geronimo".

[Peter Crowe]

Gentlemen,
I think that one could over-think the appropriateness of bonnet colours. For example a Mackie's fawn bonnet is very close in colour to the sand coloured beret of the Special Air Service Regiment. I would not think that any gentlemen wearing a fawn balmoral was trying to pass himself off as a former member of the SAS. I think Jock's point about the maroon balmoral is well made, in Britain (and most Commonwealth countries) that colour is very closely associated with elite airborne soldiers and has no other real association and would be considered 'poor form' to be worn by anyone who wasn't a former paratrooper. I believe that in the UK veterans are generally more understated about showing their former service, but I suspect that has more to do with a cultural reaction against both the high cost (human and economic) of the 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 wars.

[Jock Scot]

MacLowlife.

I quite understand my dear chap, no worries.

[Harold Cannon]

I have never been too hung up on the color of the bonnet because most of the retired military ,that I have seen, usually have the dicing it their colors and/or have their insignia as their bonnet badge. As seen in the picture above the the tourie is usually of their colors too.

[auld argonian]

The color thing as it pertains to Balmorals has me in a spot because I do love the dark green and that color looks good on me but I don't want to step on anybody's toes by getting one (I am Balmoral-less at this stage for that very reason). Worn a beret for many years and now have to deal with second looks from US service personnel that now have to wear the black beret....no, I am not dissing you, I was wearing this long before your branch of the service decided to adopt it, I don't wear it the same way as you and there's no insignia on it, thank you.

Best

AA

[creagdhubh]

I have never been too hung up on the color of the bonnet because most of the retired military ,that I have seen, usually have the dicing it their colors and/or have their insignia as their bonnet badge. As seen in the picture above the the tourie is usually of their colors too.

Agreed.

[creagdhubh]

He's quite correct, in my case anyway. It is a Paratrooper's balmoral purchased through Alcaig Kilts. I'm not trying to hard, I am (in my nutty little mind) still a "Geronimo".

You look quite smart, Arnot! Thank you for your service as well. I particularly like your plain daywear sporran, and I can easily tell it is from McRostie's of Glasgow - very nice! As you may well be aware, Jock has the same one as you, only his sporran has the addition of three tassels. They are great sporrans (leather goods in general).

Cheers,

[sailortats]

Arnot, Once a "geronimo" always a geronimo and you certainly look the part. Obviously you wear it very proudly as well you should.

[Jock Scot]

Alright chaps let us not get too deep into balmoral colours. We in the UK tend to not go for loud colours and others do. It is just the way each of us choose a colour that does appear as noticeable national trend. It also does appear that my observations on bonnet colour are confirmed by those from outwith these shores. If you like maroon then wear maroon, if you like dark green then wear dark green the colour is no big deal.

[creagdhubh]

Alright chaps let us not get too deep into balmoral colours. We in the UK tend to not go for loud colours and others do. It is just the way each of us choose a colour that does appear as noticeable national trend. It also does appear that my observations on bonnet colour are confirmed by those from outwith these shores. If you like maroon then wear maroon, if you like dark green then wear dark green the colour is no big deal.

Agreed.