Would you ever wear a feather in your cap, particularly in the U.S.?

[WolfmanJack]

Even though I love the look, I’ve never worn a feather, thinking this was reserved for chiefs and armigers.

But, at the recent Wisconsin Highland Games, I saw several men wearing feathers in their tams or Glengarrys. I know they are not chiefs or armigers. I really fancy the look of a feather; the perfect finishing touch to a Highland kit.

Knowing xmarksthescot.com is the home of the experts in all things Scottish, I set to work searching here for an answer. What I found were very wide-ranging opinions and extremely intense feelings being expressed here on this subject.

Now I’m more confused than ever. Let’s see if a poll can bring any clarity or consensus to this question.

[BLHS209]

Even though I love the look, I’ve never worn a feather, thinking this was reserved for chiefs and armigers.

Now I’m more confused than ever. Let’s see if a poll can bring any clarity or consensus to this question.

Yes, it is for the clan chief's.

And myself, I cause enough problems with out adding more to my life.

Chris Shepherd

[McClef]

Chiefs and Armigers wear Eagle Feathers.

Any other type of feather would not in itself impinge upon their privileges.

But of course that does not mean that there will not be varying views on the subject!

[Jock Scot]

If you are wanting to dress as a Scot, then I think you should should stick to Scots conventions,wherever you are in the world. What you choose to do with eagle feathers in particular, I leave at your respect of the Scots tradition, that you are wanting to be a part of and your discretion.

[Zardoz]

Doesn't it sort of depend on the feather, and how you wear it?

If one was not a Scottish chief or armiger, and ran around wearing the big eagle feathers in the style that they do, just because they liked how it looks, I guess they should expect to be challenged on it at some point by the small but seemingly vocal percentage of folks who might know or care about the chief or armiger thing. Or by someone pointing out that possessing eagle feathers is only legal for native Americans with the proper paperwork.

Now if someone had another type or size of feather and stuck it in their bonnet, again just because they liked how it looks, I would hope they could get through their day unmolested.

[Cygnus]

I've been curious about this myself. My surname is Swan and I've always thought it would be fitting to wear a swan feather in my cap!

If you are wanting to dress as a Scot, then I think you should should stick to Scots conventions,wherever you are in the world. What you choose to do with eagle feathers in particular, I leave at your respect of the Scots tradition, that you are wanting to be a part of and your discretion.

Could you elaborate for those of us who are ignorant of Scottish traditions, Jock? I realize it would be a serious faux pas for me to wear an eagle feather or a feather dressed up to look like one, but are there traditions and conventions regarding the wear of other feathers?

[Jock Scot]

I've been curious about this myself. My surname is Swan and I've always thought it would be fitting to wear a swan feather in my cap!



Could you elaborate for those of us who are ignorant of Scottish traditions, Jock? I realize it would be a serious faux pas for me to wear an eagle feather or a feather dressed up to look like one, but are there traditions and conventions regarding the wear of other feathers?

I think by now that eagle feathers have been covered as far as Scots traditions go. There is certainly one Clan Chief who wears pheasant feathers instead. I don't know if he has not got eagle feathers to hand, or he prefers pheasant feathers, or perhaps it is a Clan tradition, but I am abolutely sure that wearing any feather, other than eagle feathers, will not tread on any Scots toe. Although many of us would wonder why any one else would bother.

[CDNSushi]

... and called it macaroni.

[PEEDYC]

From the Scottish Tartans Authority

http://www.tartansauthority.com/high...lt/some-advice

Quote : We mentioned feathers in one's bonnet earlier and should emphasise that it's viewed as the worst possible taste to wear eagle feathers in your bonnet to which you're not entitled. They're not fancy dress and have a long established significance in Scotland that shouldn't be trampled on. Here's what the late Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk had to say on the subject:

"The convention has long been established that a chief wears three eagle feathers, the chieftains of cadet* branches and Feudal Barons* wear two and the gentleman (armigers*) of the clan may wear one feather. The Sovereign, as Chief of Chiefs, wears four.") Lecture over!!!!

[Mike_Oettle]

Lots of opinions here. PEEDYC remarked that the Royal Company of Archers take the feather business to the extreme, while Jock Scot remarked that it was no more extreme than the bearskin or the Royal Marines’ topi.
Personally my take on the Archers is that their bonnets are stranger than their feathers (which admittedly are very long in proportion to the hats). For my liking the bonnets stand too straight – anything that wide at the top ought to tilt over.
And Jock, the busby is not a bearskin. It is a much smaller type of fur hat. But blame the drummie brigade for misnaming their fluffy bits of fake fur “busbies”.
The band of the Cape Field Artillery (a Citizen Force unit, equivalent to Territorial Army or National Guard) adopted a colonial-type uniform in the 1960s which included karakul busbies. They looked quite spiffing, I thought.
Karakul was very highly regarded at the time, since it was a product of South West Africa (then regarded as the fifth province of South Africa) and was also produced in the Northern Cape.

Dave Dove (with tongue firmly in cheek, I am sure) suggested a coloured ostrich plume. Well, coloured plumes are generally associated with showgirls’ outfits, although I have seen men wearing them in blue, stuck into their broad-brimmed hats.
And when I worked on an ostrich farm I also had a broad-brimmed hat with a white ostrich plume and a smaller black (body) feather. It certainly caught people’s attention, but it was tricky getting it to work even with the broad-brimmed hat. Much to showy for a bonnet, to my mind.

I rather like Dale Seago’s choice of an African grey parrot’s red tail feather. My wife intends to become an African grey owner, so I will probably have a source of supply for those!

I have a coat of arms, but I would not class myself with a Scottish armiger because my arms are not currently registered.
But even with a registration certificate on my wall, I am not sure that I would wear an eagle feather. A smaller feather would not attract as much attention.
On the other hand, African fish eagles inhabit the estuary where my best friend has a holiday home, and I might pick a feather up there sometime . . .
Regards,
Mike