Circumcising a kilt, strapping it on and twiddling touries
Style Guy Stylee:
What’s your opinion on those little fuzzy bits on the top of Glengarry bonnets? They are usually black or red, but I sometimes see bands wearing light blue ones or even yellow.
What’s the right colour?
Yours,
Jimmy Jameson
Dear Jimmy-Hat:
You are a perceptive one, I must say. This “little fuzzy bit” at the top of a Glengarry is commonly called a tourie – a tassel or bauble on a bonnet. As you say, they generally are black or red. And they should stay black or red.
I too have noticed pipe bands that have different coloured ones, I assume to try to make a statement. Some poor seamstress or seamster must have bought a bunch somewhere and sewed them in. To me, when they are in non-traditional bright colours they look awful, and they distract from the smartness of the hat itself.
It’s all about where you want the attention to go. If you want people to gaze at the crown of your head and not that beautiful tartan or those lovely sporrans or even the deftness of your fingerwork or rudiments, then, yes, go for your gawdawful technicolour touries. But sometimes the simple is the most beautiful.
And so ends another installment of The Style Guy. Are you at a loss when it comes to some aspect of Highland wear? The Style Guy will have the answer. Just send him a message, and, unless it’s totally stupid, The Style Guy will set you straight in his next roundup of responses.
Leave those loops attached. The best way to store a kilt is to roll it inside out. You will never get creases or that awful wave in the back if you do so. Start with the under apron and roll over the pleats to the over apron. I then use my flashes to hold it in place then hang it from those two loops that are there for a very useful purpose. What you SHOULD cut off are those ridiculous loops found in the back of modern kilts. Belt loops? Really?