Thoughts on "Jaunty" Glengarry Angle?

[PiperOfThePlains]

What do you think of the angular wearing of a glengarry, as opposed to letting it sit straight on top of the head? I like it, but the tails/ribbons don't sit well.

[Father Bill]

... it actually depends on the shape of your head and face. Honest!

[sailortats]

I always wear mine at an angle and let the ribbons fall as they may. Did the same with my white sailor's hat as soon as I got out of sight of the ship.

[Stoneyburnpiper]

I have what you could call a rather large head and round face if you were to ask me anyhow my measurement is 23" not sure if its big or not lol but I'm also in a pipe band so when I'm sporting my glen I usually have it cocked to the max so to say. I think it shows a bit of attitude and spunk. After all, when I'm all dressed up I do feel like a rock star

[EagleJCS]

I wear my Glen approximately level front to back, with the tails centered, but two fingers above my left eyebrow and just one above my right eyebrow. Gives it a bit of a tilt without going too far over to the side of my head.

[PiperOfThePlains]

That's how I wear my balmoral, although I may occasionally give it an ever-so-slightly greater pull to the right. It gives it a nice look, IMHO.

[OC Richard]

Like other things, this has gone through various changes in style over the years.

Here's a fairly early Glengarry, worn straight. Note the large size of the Glen itself, and interesting early shape



Lest you think that the Glen above was a one-off variation, here's another very much like it



Here's an excellent photo of an Army Glen c1855



But oftentimes the Glens seen in early photos are very much like today's



For a very long time in the Army it was standard to wear the Glengarry at an angle. Here are the Pipe Majors of several regiments, the very men setting the standard for the members of the pipes & drums, c1900. Note a surprising degree of consistency despite being from different regiments



One thing to note is that the size of Glengarry changed over the years. Note that in the last quarter of the 19th century it was popular to wear Glens a bit on the small side of what was usual in the mid-19th century and mid to late 20th century. Also at that time (especially in the 1870s)) the standing collars of military uniforms got lower, so more of the neck was exposed, just as the small high Glen exposed more of the forehead.

This small Glen thing was taken to extremes at times





The current fad in the Army is to wear Glens a size or two bigger than in the latter 19th century, and shove the Glen far down on the head, and straight, like this



Some of these Glens look huge, especially compared to the ones the Army wore in 1900



Though one does see slightly angled Glens today in the Army, too.

[Jack Daw]

At those times when I have worn my glengarry, it's difficult enough to keep the thing on wearing it square when I bend over. It's even more difficult to keep it on when I wear it at a "jaunty" angle. So, I choose to "wear it square" when I have to wear it (piping or parading).

[BCAC]

Nice photos. Richard, looking at that photo of the PMs, it would seem that the moustache was "de rigueur" at the time, also. Thanks for sharing.

[Stoneyburnpiper]

I was going to add on the mustaches as well lol even a few of them could pass for brothers. The front 3 seem to have similar gillies. Great photo! If I ever reach the rank of PM I'll have to don the stache