Scottish Bonnets?

[Woodsheal]

Some of the smaller caps shown here I would call a beret.

The Balmoral is difficult to define - it is both wider and deeper than a beret.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

When speaking of the modern, structured Balmoral you are correct. But, my son has a real beret sent home by a girlfriend when she visited France. It is knitted, felted, 11" in diameter, and pretty much identical to the early Scots "broad" bonnet of the 18th and early 19th C's.

[Peter Crowe]

When speaking of the modern, structured Balmoral you are correct. But, my son has a real beret sent home by a girlfriend when she visited France. It is knitted, felted, 11" in diameter, and pretty much identical to the early Scots "broad" bonnet of the 18th and early 19th C's.

You are absolutely correct about the similarity of the broad bonnet and the traditional Basgue beret especially the ones without internal leather headbands manufactured in the Spanish Basque region. However, I once saw a late eighteenth century broad blue bonnet in a museum in Dumfries (contemporaneous with Burns residence in the burgh) which had a heavier looking wool body than Basque berets. It was navy and even included a red torrie.

I sometimes wear a contemporary French made Basque beret (not with the kilt) and have a couple of contemporary made Mackie balmorals, which I occasionally wear with the kilt.

[Ryan Ross]

When speaking of the modern, structured Balmoral you are correct. But, my son has a real beret sent home by a girlfriend when she visited France. It is knitted, felted, 11" in diameter, and pretty much identical to the early Scots "broad" bonnet of the 18th and early 19th C's.

And then, there's something that comes between a modern balmoral and an 18th & 19th century deal.

Here's sort of a "fusion" bonnet that I made for my father; I kind of like it...

[SlackerDrummer]

Here's sort of a "fusion" bonnet that I made for my father; I kind of like it...

Dude, your dad looks just like you.

[Ryan Ross]

Dude, your dad looks just like you.

I know. It's CRAZY.

...he wears the same size bonnet, too.

[Dale Seago]

And then, there's something that comes between a modern balmoral and an 18th & 19th century deal.

Here's sort of a "fusion" bonnet that I made for my father; I kind of like it...

That looks uber-classy!!

[Ryan Ross]

Your Bonnet looks great, and the gauntlet too!

I missed this post, earlier.

Believe it or not, that is actually a "Ryan Ross Bonnet" that was made by Miss Abigail James (Sorcha, on Xmarks); a very generous gift.

And the bracer was made by our very own Nighthawk, using artwork from... Miss Abigail James (again). Check it out:

That looks uber-classy!!

Thank you very much, Sir.

I think it does a fair job of looking modern, giving a solid place to wear a badge or brooch, but still maintaining a bit of the swag that older style bonnets had (and still have). That was the intent, at any rate.

[Pleater]

When speaking of the modern, structured Balmoral you are correct. But, my son has a real beret sent home by a girlfriend when she visited France. It is knitted, felted, 11" in diameter, and pretty much identical to the early Scots "broad" bonnet of the 18th and early 19th C's.

Well there are strong historical links between France and Scotland, so the similarity is not all that surprising.

I was just looking for one of my military style berets and one of my own made caps in order to meaure them for comparison, but they seem to have gone AWOL.

Not surprising as I have not been at home much for some time now. If and when they turn up I will report back.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: