How do you put on a balmoral?

[Elf]

Go outside and get on with life (try not to wear it indoors unless in a large hall-like public place----think train station or airport---a gentleman {virtually} always removes his hat when indoors). Enjoy.

+3. I have been told the lack of hat etiquette of recent has been due to folks not wearing hats so often since the automobile took over and not even caps after the airplane. Thank you for the post and the whole discussion. I will try to do better in the future.

[EagleJCS]

How do I put on my Balmoral? Err, one head at a time??

Seriously, Jeff (ForresterModern) has it about right. I put mine on so the band is straight and level, about one finger's width above my eyebrows, and make sure the tails are directly in back, then I pull the crown down over my right ear.

[Tobus]

How do I put on my Balmoral? Err, one head at a time??

Seriously, Jeff (ForresterModern) has it about right. I put mine on so the band is straight and level, about one finger's width above my eyebrows, and make sure the tails are directly in back, then I pull the crown down over my right ear.

That's pretty much how I do it too. A Balmoral does require a bit more fuss to put on than other types of hats, but it's not really a big deal. Especially once it has developed a natural fit/flop to the wearer's head.

I use two hands to put mine on. One at the front and one at the rear. Once it's on my head and sitting where I want it, I just make sure the tails are centered in the back (the cockade ends up in the right place automatically), then hold the left rear of the band while I briefly tug and smooth down the top to the right.

I wear mine about a finger width over my eyebrows as well, although I don't measure it. That's just where it ends up, and is the proper place for a hat to go on my head.

I think there is a certain amount of variation for style in this one ... PLease accept my comments fofr what they are worth - which if you combine them with a buck 50 will get you a cup of coffee at a coffee shop. MY two beefs, looking at a lot of photos around here is that many folks wear their headgear too far bak revealing great expanses of forehead. I would also say that many purchase headgear that is too large. I would say that if should probably sit fairly similar to your flight cap... just above the brow line perhaps a bit lower since there is no visor to contend with, and then the band should sit parallel to the ground along the side of your head to the back, or even rise up a little toward the back - never down.

I would agree with most of this except for the last part. The band will not sit parallel to the ground on everyone's head. It greatly depends on the shape of the person's skull. Mine, for instance, is larger at the top rear, with a pronounced bulge (to store my superior brainpower, or at least that's what I tell my wife). And there is no way a hat can sit with the band parallel to the ground on my head, because the rear of my head slopes inward at that point. Every hat I wear slopes down at the rear. The only way to make it slope up at the rear would be to perch it on top of my head with the rear above the bulge, not actually wearing it like a hat but more like a topping ornament. Which is just plain silly.

There is a great amount of variation in the human skull, so there's no one way to wear a hat that works for everyone. The most important thing is to make sure it actually fits your head and stays on, with the other details being a function of your head shape.

[BCAC]

The wearing of a hat (any hat) indoors is just plain bad manners.

[ronin6290]

This seems like a good hat for Maine snow showers. I'm considering a moss green one.

[AJBryant]

The wearing of a hat (any hat) indoors is just plain bad manners.

Agreed.

***.

Word up.

Ayup.

Uh-huh.

Anyone who says otherwise is just making excuses for a lack of cooth. That's why bars and nightclubs used to (and should again/still) have cloak-rooms and hat-check rooms. If there's no place to check my gear, I still take it off and just keep it with me.

[Jock Scot]

I have found over the years that it is wise to keep your balmoral close to hand when not wearing it out and about as the badges have a habit of growing legs!

[Standard]

I can manage mine one handed by grabbing the ribbons (mine are never tied into bows), letting the front band fall roughly into place above my eyebrows, pulling the ribbons to center the balmoral up on the back of my head, then a quick tug on the right brim area to pull it slightly down and forward in the style that I like to wear. The cap badge will naturally fall into place above my left temple with the ribbons centered on the back of my head. I'll admit it is more convenient for me to don my cap with two hands, but it can be done with only one. I think one thing that helps is having a balmoral that you have worn into shape, or Jocked into submission if you don't want to let time and nature have their course. Anyhoo, just my 2 pence for what it's worth.

[Geoff Withnell]

I stand corrected. There is only one universally accepted standard of behavior, and Mr. Bryant knows the motivations and character of those who do not conform.

Agreed.

***.

Word up.

Ayup.

Uh-huh.

Anyone who says otherwise is just making excuses for a lack of cooth. That's why bars and nightclubs used to (and should again/still) have cloak-rooms and hat-check rooms. If there's no place to check my gear, I still take it off and just keep it with me.

[OC Richard]

Funny thing about both Balmorals and Glengarries for me is that if I just stick them on my head without paying attention I have too much of my forehead showing. I think they look more smart on me if I wear them further down than what feels right.

Here's my Balmoral



and here's my Glengarry



Also, that Balmoral, even though I've been wearing it for 30 years, the side that's supposed to lie down tends to stick out sideways when I first put it on, and I have to smooth it down with one hand.

Here's the same hat worn in the 1980s... the only kit I still have from then is that hat, and those ghillies



In the army nowadays the style is to shove hats straight on the head and rather far down



but in the old days they choose a smaller size and wore it cocked at an angle