What's the story on the huge hairy sporrans

[JCheshire]

My wife tells me I have a huge, hairy sporran...

[TurboKittie]

My wife tells me I have a huge, hairy sporran...

[Tobus]

I'm not sure what the "story" is on hair sporrans; that's a good question. They go back to at least the early 1800s in military tradition, but I'm not sure if they had a civilian history before that. I don't recall seeing examples of hair sporrans in pre-proscription portraits, but I could be wrong. I'm sure the experts like Matt or Todd will have the background.

At the very least, they were in full-blown fashion by the mid 1800s. From there up through at least the 1920s or 1930s, men wore them quite often. Then they just kind of disappeared from popular Highland fashion and were replaced with other sporran types.

The story is that hair sporrans go way back and seem to be making something of a comeback.

I'm glad to hear they're making a comeback! I absolutely love my horse hair sporran, and would like to branch out to a goat hair sporran, as well as other hair sporrans with various cantle styles. I really think hair sporrans work well with the proportions of a kilt. It always looks odd to me when people wear those tiny day sporrans and have a lot of tartan real estate below it. A long hair sporran just looks better to me. Especially if it goes all the way to the bottom of the apron and just a tad below.

And yes, there's something inherently manly about a long, hairy sporran swinging in front of you. We could debate all day about the imagery or connotations behind it, but you have to admit that it's just plain cool. And I'd bet the ladies really like it, even if they find it rather crude. If nothing else, it gives your kilt some 'action' in the front when you walk, like the swish of the pleats in the rear. A long swinging hair sporran really makes people look at you when you walk.

Come to the dark side. Wear the hair!

[McClef]

I think they hide too much of the apron.

There - I said it!

[biblemonkey]

I think they hide too much of the apron.

There - I said it!

*WHEW!* It's NOT just me?! ith:

[Peter Crowe]

*WHEW!* It's NOT just me?! ith:

I agree with both Biblemonkey and Trefor in respect of general kilt-wear. I suppose it is also what you are used to, I was brought up to the wear the kilt by my dad who customarily wore THCD day dress, so a smaller leather sporran is part of my earliest kilt memory. I was also taught that Horsehair sporrans were uniform items for Soldiers or Bandsmen.

[creagdhubh]

I'm not sure what the "story" is on hair sporrans; that's a good question. They go back to at least the early 1800s in military tradition, but I'm not sure if they had a civilian history before that. I don't recall seeing examples of hair sporrans in pre-proscription portraits, but I could be wrong. I'm sure the experts like Matt or Todd will have the background.

At the very least, they were in full-blown fashion by the mid 1800s. From there up through at least the 1920s or 1930s, men wore them quite often. Then they just kind of disappeared from popular Highland fashion and were replaced with other sporran types.


I'm glad to hear they're making a comeback! I absolutely love my horse hair sporran, and would like to branch out to a goat hair sporran, as well as other hair sporrans with various cantle styles. I really think hair sporrans work well with the proportions of a kilt. It always looks odd to me when people wear those tiny day sporrans and have a lot of tartan real estate below it. A long hair sporran just looks better to me. Especially if it goes all the way to the bottom of the apron and just a tad below.

And yes, there's something inherently manly about a long, hairy sporran swinging in front of you. We could debate all day about the imagery or connotations behind it, but you have to admit that it's just plain cool. And I'd bet the ladies really like it, even if they find it rather crude. If nothing else, it gives your kilt some 'action' in the front when you walk, like the swish of the pleats in the rear. A long swinging hair sporran really makes people look at you when you walk.

Come to the dark side. Wear the hair!

Well said, Tobus!

[McClef]

Glad to see I am not the only one of that opinion!

When part of an extremely elaborate uniform such as a military band they look less out of place because there is so much to take attention away from the kilt in any case.

But otherwise I have to stand by what I said - they are more overwhelming decoration than use. There is only the sporran to compete with the kilt rather than compliment it.

I appreciate that some will like long sporrans but I honestly feel that this is at the expense of the kilts beneath.