Balmoral ribbons and "toupee"

[aonghas]

Would you so kind to tell me if at the back of a balmoral the ribbons are needed or can they worn at the discretion of the wearer?
Also the top ball (toupee) required?
Maybe my head is lob sided but when I wear the balmoral the ball is of centre, does it need to be re-located?
Thank you.

[Bruce Scott]

I can't stand to have those ribbons loose in the breeze and I'm no fan of the big bow either, so I simply tie them in a reef (square) knot and shove the free ends inside the balmoral out of the way.

Since the crown is generally pulled forward and to the right the tourie is bound to be off centre as shown below:


From Jock Scot's tutorial on bonnet shaping
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...67/index5.html

[Tarheel]

I am glad you have chosen to remove the ribbons of your balmoral aonghas. There is just as much discussion on Glengarries as you have seen here.
I have to include the US Army Garrison Cap worn by Elvis Presley in the 1950's to compare the types of available caps (with and without a toorie) to demonstrate my point.
I hope you are happy with snipping off the ribbon of your balmoral. No more nagging of the nape for you.

[Jock Scot]

Would you so kind to tell me if at the back of a balmoral the ribbons are needed or can they worn at the discretion of the wearer?
Also the top ball (toupee) required?
Maybe my head is lob sided but when I wear the balmoral the ball is of centre, does it need to be re-located?
Thank you.

These days the ribbon has no real use-----it used to to be used to adjust the size with older designs------ and if you really don't like the ribbon, and a bow will not do, then just cut the things off.

The TOORIE sits where it is and depending on how you wear the bonnet and probably the shape of your head. The toorie will possibly, actually, will be almost certainly be a tad off centre, but then, who said that the toorie should be dead centre in the first place?

There is really no need to overthink all this you know, but I do wonder if you want to redesign the balmoral that much, why bother to have one in the first place and just wear a beret?

[Bob C]

"Toupee?" Really?

[Mike_Oettle]

The officers in my regiment wore khaki balmorals with ribbons, and I always thought they looked a bit odd.
When I purchase a balmoral, I will request one without ribbons. My First World War-style tammie only has a bit of ribbon in the middle at the back (sewn into the band) that is handy for centring.

[Father Bill]

*Snip*
When I purchase a balmoral, I will request one without ribbons.

Save yourself the cost of a special order and borrow a pair of embroidery scissors.

[MNlad]

As you have seen, opinions on the ribbons really vary among members. Personally, they're gone before I wear a Balmoral for the first time. As for the Toorie, it's grown on me over the years and adds a jauntiness and uniquely Scottish flair to the bonnet.