Balmoral bonnet and feathers...

[Thomas H]

Who can wear Hackles in there hat ? anyone or just pipers?
And I want to wear a sprig of pine in my hat (Ferguson plant badge) is there
a right way or wrong way? Someone should write a code of dress book.
Thank You.

[Harold Cannon]

It may come as a bit of a surprise to some, but the custom of allowing armigerous clan folk to wear a single feather is not limited to those who have arms granted by the Lord Lyon. On the contrary, those who have arms granted by any substantive office of arms are accorded the same privilege.

That being said, here in the states, if a person were to register their arms with the American Heraldry Society or the American College of Heraldry, would that qualify them to either wear a feather or a plain circlet with their crest? Seeing as those are the nearest thing we have to a governing body for heraldry.

Of course we couldn't wear a real eagle feather unless you had rights as a native american so a substitute would have to be found or a good hand painted imitation may be used as those are available from places like Crazy Crow Traiding Post.

[creagdhubh]

It may come as a bit of a surprise to some, but the custom of allowing armigerous clan folk to wear a single feather is not limited to those who have arms granted by the Lord Lyon. On the contrary, those who have arms granted by any substantive office of arms are accorded the same privilege.

No surprise to me, I was aware of that. I think the Lyon Court tends to be my "default" office when it comes to the discussion of armigers.

[creagdhubh]

Here's another fine example of wearing your clan's plant badge (feathers are indeed present, but he is entitled to wear them, and it has always been his personal preference to do so - specifically at the Argyllshire Gathering). Torquhil Ian Campbell,
13th and 6th Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell, wearing the Campbell plant badge in his jacket lapel, and in his bonnet - very smart in my opinion, and not done too often these days.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

That being said, here in the states, if a person were to register their arms with the American Heraldry Society or the American College of Heraldry, would that qualify them to either wear a feather or a plain circlet with their crest? Seeing as those are the nearest thing we have to a governing body for heraldry.

As neither the American Heraldry Society or the American College of Heraldry are in a position to grant substantive arms, it would be up to the individual clan chief to determine whether or not he would recognize the armigerous status of those clanfolk adopting such arms.

Frankly, this is a rather thorny area for most chiefs; on the one hand they want to play by Lyon's rules, and not be seen to do anything to undermine his authority. On the other hand, their jurisdiction in clan matters is universal and they may assign feathers to whomever they want, regardless of Scottish armigerous status.

For example: Lyon will not recognize grants of arms made by the Canadian government through its Bureau of Heraldry. However, most chiefs will recognize the armigerous status of their Canadian clan folk, and have no problem with them displaying a feather. The same may not be said concerning assumed arms in the United States, regardless of whether or not they are recorded with a non-governmental body such as the American Heraldry Society, the American College of Heraldry, or the Society of Creative Anachronism. It generally seems to be the attitude of most chiefs that they will (perhaps grudgingly) recognize grants made by governments outside of Scotland, but are unwilling to accord the same recognition to arms which are self-assumed.

[Dale-of-Cedars]

Torquhil Ian Campbell,
13th and 6th Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell, wearing the Campbell plant badge in his jacket lapel, and in his bonnet - very smart in my opinion, and not done too often these days.

And 1 cromack/crook plus 2 canes! Talk about 'belt AND suspenders'!
Though as he seems to be upright without their assistance, I assume he's holding them for others...

[creagdhubh]

I am quite sure His Grace, the Duke of Argyll, was simply holding the smaller canes for others, who knows? I do know he is holding is own cromach in the other arm, as I have seen him use the same cromach before. Sometimes his kilt belt can be seen "sagging" a wee bit, as I have seen this before with the Duke in other photos, and though it tends to bother me, what can one do, you know?! I do not see the suspenders (braces?) in which you speak of, and I am quite sure he does not wear them with the kilt.

[creagdhubh]

Who can wear Hackles in there hat ? anyone or just pipers?
And I want to wear a sprig of pine in my hat (Ferguson plant badge) is there
a right way or wrong way? Someone should write a code of dress book.
Thank You.

In my opinion, I like to see the wearing of coloured hackles, cock feathers, etc, to pipers, or pipe band members, who are in uniform, and perhaps have the aforementioned items as a chosen uniform accessory. I believe there is no right or wrong way to wear your clan's plant badge.

Typically what I do is...first, collect a few sprigs of whatever the plant badge is, be it boxwood, pine, white heather, red whortleberry, bracken, etc; second, wrap each sprig together with green florist's tape, which can be purchased from your local nursery or home and garden center, once each individual sprig is wrapped together to form a "spray," it is ready to be tucked behind your clan badge (brooch). I tend to tuck the plant badge behind the front part of the bonnet's cockade, where there is a bit of a "pocket." The plant badge tends to fit securely in this fashion, and to me, looks better than have any portion of the green florist's tape showing if one were to simply tuck the plant badge spray directly behind the actual clan badge.

Take a look below. I am wearing boxwood, white heather, and purple heather. You can control how large you want your plant badge to be, by adding as many sprigs to form the spray, as you so desire. For me, the size of my plant badge varies, and really depends on what I prefer that day. Sometimes, as the situation dictates (indoors, formal functions, etc), I do not wear a plant badge in my bonnet at all, but rather on the left lapel of my tweed jacket.

Me on your right, wearing white heather.


Boxwood.


Purple heather.


Cheers,

[Phil]

In my opinion, I would restrict the wearing of coloured hackles to pipers, or pipe band members, who are in uniform, and perhaps have hackles as a chosen uniform accessory.

You are, of course, perfectly entitled to express your opinion but to suggest restrictions in the choice of how one should accessorise ones headwear is just a little presumptious to say the least.

[creagdhubh]

You are, of course, perfectly entitled to express your opinion but to suggest restrictions in the choice of how one should accessorise ones headwear is just a little presumptious to say the least.

I am sorry you interpreted my words in that fashion, Phil. I was certainly not attempting to be presumptious in any way, as that is not the kind of person I am. All I meant was, and of course is my opinion, that I tend to think the wearing of hackles look best on pipers, or members of a pipe band, who may be in uniform. Of course, this also includes drum and pipe majors. I have also seen many regimental/military reenactors wear hackles of every sort.

Kind regards,