Too Traditional?

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[Joshua]

If you like maroon then wear maroon, if you like dark green then wear dark green the colour is no big deal.

But if you like Royal Blue with dicing - DON'T GET IT! I want to remain unique in my clothing choices...

[ForresterModern]

But if you like Royal Blue with dicing - DON'T GET IT! I want to remain unique in my clothing choices...

Although I do wear a royal blue balmoral with dicing, my dicing and toorie are red in contrast to your blues. We can both remain unique I guess. For now at least---you never know when you may start a fashion trend.

[ForresterModern]

RE: tartan flashes I have two suggestions that may make them a bit less ostentatious when worn by those who may choose to do so (myself includedd in that category from time to time). First, I try not to wear the chevron cut ones as to me that just makes them look like pennants that should be flying from a yacht sheet, rather I prefer the square bottom ones that are frayed a half inch or so. Second, when I do wear them I usually fold the garters over them once or even twice under the hose top turnover so only a short section, usually an inch or less, is visible out from under the hose top turnover, making them in effect minimal flashes with very little tartan actually showing but enough to be a contrast to the hose themselves, and even then I only wear them with solid colored hose and preferably medium to dark shade hose at that.

RE: bonnet colors, I think any particular color could get you into some potential trouble with somebody around the world, as virtually all the colors offered by Mackey and others are or have been in use by one or the other armed forces units somewhere in the civilized world (on some web sites the colors are actually described as being those of a specific military unit-----airborne maroon, United Nations blue, etc...). At least in the US the toorie is a dead giveaway that one is not trying to emulate any US military forces, as to the best of my knowledge all in recent past used standard berets rather than Balmorals with toories, and none with dicing as well I believe. Obviously things are different in the UK where Balmorals and tam's with or without dicing and toories have been parts of various military units for centuries, as well as the more commonly seen military beret in the last 25 years or so.

[Jack Daw]

In my efforts to be more traditional over the years, I have made an effort to be less concerned about matching. Well, I'm now getting a remark or two each kilted outing about not matching to my growing annoyance. Perhaps for Americans, not being "too traditional" is to avoid not matching.