Balmoral tails

[Moski]

Do you guys leave the tails on as I've seen in some pipe bands or do you tie them off and clip them?

[MacRobert's Reply]

I tie mine in a wee bow and trim of the excess.

The tails are probably a vestige of the ribbon that originally ran right around the hat and was used to adjust the size. Depending on how yours is made, you may still be able to tighten or loosen it slightly by how tight you tie the bow.

Tying and trimming is better than being slapped across the face by the tails in a high wind!

[O'Searcaigh]

I tie mine in a wee bow and trim of the excess.

The tails are probably a vestige of the ribbon that originally ran right around the hat and was used to adjust the size. Depending on how yours is made, you may still be able to tighten or loosen it slightly by how tight you tie the bow.

Tying and trimming is better than being slapped across the face by the tails in a high wind!

Exactly!

[flyrod6057]

Tied!

[Thomas H]

I have seen it done both ways, But I was told by my Clan leader to make sure I tie mine as it was the right thing to do , So I did as I was told.

[thescot]

Tied, only and always. I understand that one clan leaves them untied--who knows why--but the untied ribbons on my glengarries--which are only worn untied--are enough to make me tie the balmoral ribbons. Tie 'em, like McRoberts says: a wee bow with the excess trimmed.

[Chas]

The first time the wind catches them and whips them round into your eye, is the time you will cut them off.

Regards

Chas

[Moski]

I was wondering because I often see bands with the tails hanging, especially those wearing Glengarries. It allways looked off to me as I was used to tying off and cutting the ties on Army berets.

[thescot]

You never tie a glengarry's ribbons. They're always loose, and that's part of the look, which I really do like.

But balmoral bonnets are usually tied, though not always. I don't care for the look of the loose balmoral ribbons, but I'm no sartorial expert, either. I do know that the MasPhersons (I think) tend to leave their's loose, so it's really a matter of taster, preference, luck, habit, or just plain "whatever."

[Mike S]

I've always wondered why most manufacturers baste the ribbons of the Balmoral together at the top in one fashion or another if they were intended to be tied in a bow.

Doing so in that manner certainly doesn't protect them during shipping etc. in the manner of a Kilt's pleats.