Is this Sporran too formal for daily/casual wear?

[ShaunMaxwell]

Yes indeed, I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the McRostie sporran. However, my McRostie sporran strap is just a long leather strap, without those rather gaudy "silver" clips, with a buckle on one end----like a long thin belt.

The sporran strap that come with my ebay purchased McRostie was too small for me, so I had to opt for my only other black sporran strap, which is apparently gaudy.

You're a treasure, Jock.

SM

[Dollander]

Keep in mind that you're asking a forum full of people who are intimately familiar with traditional highland dress, whereas the vast majority of people you'll encounter are not. Maybe things are different in Canada*, but I've had quite a few people ask if I'd just come from a festival or a wedding while I was wearing a tartan utility kilt. Sure, that sporran might seem a bit showy compared to the rest of your outfit, but in the grand scheme of things, who's gonna know? I've read plenty of times on this forum and elsewhere that one's hose should be scrunched down for casual dress, but I figure if it's chilly enough for kilt hose versus regular socks, then I'm wearing them up (with flashes to keep them there). So while some people consider "mixing formalities" to be a major faux pas, I see it at most as mildly eccentric...not unlike wearing a kilt.





*or at least different in Ottowa in 2016 than in the area just north of Nanaimo, BC where I spent 4 months back in 2002.

[Terry Searl]

i agree, wearing a kilt is just like wearing other items of clothing......what and how you wear your own is only your business....as long as you are respectful ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE WEARING A TARTAN KILT. there will be some that say one should never insult culturally associated clothing and I agree with that as well.....I would say that a kilt is not necessarily a Scots form of dress UNLESS IT IS MADE FROM A TARTAN FABRIC.....just my opinion though

[Randy McIntosh]

One of the rules of thumb about wearing a kilt that I always violate is that if you're wearing a sporran, don't wear a belt, or at least a wide belt. The top of the sporran should fall two inches or two fingers below the top of your waistband.

When and where did this rule of thumb come from? Not to wear a belt while wearing a sporran?

I would never ever wear a sporran 2" form the top of my waistband.

[triolamj]

[Sigh] Over the years, the topic has come up, generally by a traditionalist pointing out that I'm wearing a belt with my sporran. I register their opinion but continue to do as I please. The distance below the waistband for the sporran is customary; in the reference picture it's a bit low even given that the wearer has a belt on. The two-inch / two-finger rule has come up on this forum in the past on multiple occasions and for multiple reasons. Generally, Scotty Thompson's "So You're Going To Wear the Kilt" would be the authority but I don't have my copy to hand to quote. Just out of curiosity: do you think he's wearing his sporran too low in the picture and how low or high do you wear yours? Imagine the picture minus the belt and with the sporran raised about 2 to 2-1/2 inches higher.

[Randy McIntosh]

I wear mine about the way he is wearing his whether or not I'm wearing a waist belt matters not.
Without the waist belt and 2 to 2-1/2" inches higher would put it where the belt sits.
It is not a fanny pack.

Sorry but higher is not for me.

[bikercelt1]

One of the rules of thumb about wearing a kilt... is that if you're wearing a sporran, don't wear a belt, or at least a wide belt. The top of the sporran should fall two inches or two fingers below the top of your waistband.

Did you misstate this? I've heard lots of people say you shouldn't wear a belt with a waistcoat but I've never heard anybody say you shouldn't wear a belt and sporran together. As I said in another post, a sporran with a metal cantle tends to clack against the waistplate of a belt when I sit down so I don't usually wear a formal sporran unless I'm wearing a jacket and/or waistcoat, sans belt. I wear my sporran four fingers (approximately 3 inches) below my buckle or waistplate (or where the buckle would be when I'm wearing a waistcoat. Two inches below the top​ of your waistband would be high indeed.

[Hielandman]

It is a nice looking sporran, but it is for evening/formal wear.

[Jock Scot]

When and where did this rule of thumb come from? Not to wear a belt while wearing a sporran?

I would never ever wear a sporran 2" form the top of my waistband.

Thats a new one to me too. Its perfectly acceptable and probably usual to wear a sporran with a wide kilt belt-------one would never consider wearing a narrow belt with the traditional kilt, except in dire circumstances----- if no waistcoat is worn.

I notice that quite often that newcomers to the kilt tend to wear their sporran too low----its not an "equipment" protector. There is no right or wrong height for the sporran, but generally speaking, higher is better than lower and its down to ones personal choice and particularly on what one is doing. I will think nothing of adjusting the height of my sporran two or three times a day depending mainly on what I am doing.

Interestingly, from my traditional point of view the "plate" style belt buckle worn through the day seems to be a modern fad and particularly prevalent amongst hire companies and those outwith these shores. In my day the "prong" buckle was/is worn during the day and informal evening events and the "plate" buckle was/is reserved solely for dress(formal) events.

Perfectly normal and usual wide kilt belt and sporran.


If I was being ultra critical of myself and if I had had a mirror handy or Mrs. Jock to observe I would have raised my sporran two/three inches, but it is what it is!

To get back to the OP's question, yes the sporran will not really do for daywear, but if its all you have, then go with it until you get a chance to buy a suitable day sporran.

[McMurdo]

Well said Jock, and completely in line with my way of thinking. I do favour prong buckles with daywear and only wear the plate style buckle for evening wear if applicable.