Balmoral bonnet and feathers...

[Bidule]

I did not expect so much negative reactions! (I had not seen debate after small opinion poll on the question of September, 2010) Since feathers seem disadvised, what about hackles? In general carried on glengarries, can one carry them on the balmoral? Moreover, if one opt for plant decorations, (as Mael Coluim, which recommends me the dandelion...) why not thistle, which would deserves the coherence?

[Jock Scot]

In truth the Scots don't wear a balmoral very often, but if they do(most don't), they usually only wear the Clan badge on it and nothing else. On more formal occasions, like a Clan Gathering, or perhaps an important Highland Games, then perhaps a feather, if one is "entitled" to, it may come forth, but on the whole we don't bother.

Now we at Xmarks sometimes wear a Dandelion in our bonnets as a recognition sign and splendid it looks and also very effective it is.

[vmac3205]

Bidule, why would you want a feather when you could have a dandelion?

I personally, would avoid any feather in my bonnet.

Well said!

[kiltiejimbob]

http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/242.html
This link from the Lord Lyon's website spells it all out. Although eagle feathers are traditional, I would hazard a guess that any feather, seen from a distance, would tend to indicate a presumed status as a Chief, chieftan or armiger and it would be best to avoid any feathers unless you have a right to the above mentioned designations. It would invite a challenge from the "eagle eyed" among us. ;)

[EagleJCS]

Just my opinion:
If you do wind up wearing a feather, make sure it looks absolutely nothing like an eagle feather. (i.e., it should probably be long, slender, striped, and lay back along the hat rather than stand tall.)

A hackle, as you have noted, is more often seen on a Glengarry. I think they're often seen as symbolic of military service. (For example, each of the Scottish battalions in the RRS has their own color hackle worn on their tam o' shanter and many other military and para-military organizations use a hackle in some of their headgear.) I haven't seen many hackles being worn in my part of the world.

I think a plant badge would be the way to go. If you have no clan affiliation, I think a dandelion would be, well, dandy!

[Phil]

Well, there you have it. So if you are to be denied feathers in your cap what choice is being left to you? Probably nothing unless you fancy some strange plant stuck in your balmoral. It is actually quite educational reading all this advice from residents of the "land of the free" who are ready to counsel against the possibility of antagonising the feelings of some hereditary individual who has derived his rights to something simply through an accident of birth. Does this mean that they feel this is all right for somewhere else just so long as it doesn't happen here? An interesting conundrum indeed.

[Cygnus]

Reconsidered and deleted.

[Dale Seago]

Just my opinion:
If you do wind up wearing a feather, make sure it looks absolutely nothing like an eagle feather. (i.e., it should probably be long, slender, striped, and lay back along the hat rather than stand tall.)

I don't often wear a balmoral these days. If I do, though, I sometimes wear one of my parrot's scarlet tail-feathers on it (or if I'm feeling REALLY jaunty, one of the long black primary flight feathers from the tips of her wings). They being direct gifts from the lass herself, I have no qualms about that. No one has ever taken offense, and on more than one occasion I've been eagerly asked, "Do you have an African Grey?".

[Dale-of-Cedars]

I don't often wear a balmoral these days. If I do, though, I sometimes wear one of my parrot's scarlet tail-feathers on it ... and on more than one occasion I've been eagerly asked, "Do you have an African Grey?".

Likewise. I wear a mix of scarlet and maroon tail-feathers from my 2 African Greys in my Tilley Winter hat. Still looking for a proper bonnet though...

[Mael Coluim]

Well, there you have it. So if you are to be denied feathers in your cap what choice is being left to you? Probably nothing unless you fancy some strange plant stuck in your balmoral. It is actually quite educational reading all this advice from residents of the "land of the free" who are ready to counsel against the possibility of antagonising the feelings of some hereditary individual who has derived his rights to something simply through an accident of birth. Does this mean that they feel this is all right for somewhere else just so long as it doesn't happen here? An interesting conundrum indeed.

Along with no kilt police there are no feather police here in the US. Maybe different in Scotland, though The OP asked for what do we think? So, I gave him my personal opinon. He can wear what he wants.

Now on the other hand, at least here in the US, if he wears a dandelion in his cap badge he will get much more recognition by being affiliated with this membership than wearing some bird feather in his bonnet that only will be recognized by some as trying to be something he is not. Just my opinion.
But again, he can wear what he wants.