Choosing a Sporran

[shamrock715]

I know you can wear semi-dress sporrans for formal occasions or everyday wear.

Is there generally a rule on wearing a day sporran to a formal occasion or is is basically personal preference.

I tend to like things sometimes more subdued and was wondering if I made the decision to wear a more basic leather sporran with some embossed design that wasn't necessarily for a formal occasion if it would still look as nice. I personally think something all leather can look very nice even though not traditionally for a formal occasion.

Just wanted some thoughts on the subject.

Thanks,
Matt

[Father Bill]

Hi Matt.

I think you're worrying too much. First of all, the idea of a "semi-formal" sporran is very recent and therefore probably somewhat bogus - not really any such thing.

Now. Yes, you can wear a plain sporran to a formal event, but understand that you will be "different" from the others. Generally speaking, a formal sporran has a hair or hide front and a metal cantle (usually silver) If you wear a plain sporran, it's certainly less showy and may take a bit of chutzpah just because it isn't the norm, but again, yes you can. Jock does. I do sometimes.

Cheers!

[Liam]

There are some fabulous hand crafted sporrans by craftsmen such as Artificer, Lamar Britt, Wyvern and others and while technically for day wear would stand out in a positive way IMHO at any event. They aren’t inexpensive, however but will something you can pass along with pride to the next generation. As has been said here before wear the best you have and don’t apologize.
If you think it is necessary to comform to the letter of some specified dress code and don’t wish to comply or are unable to, contact the organizers. It is rare on our side of the pond for the organizers to be so strict, or perhaps even rarer for them to understand the dress code they are specifying.

[shamrock715]

Hi Matt.

I think you're worrying too much. First of all, the idea of a "semi-formal" sporran is very recent and therefore probably somewhat bogus - not really any such thing.

Now. Yes, you can wear a plain sporran to a formal event, but understand that you will be "different" from the others. Generally speaking, a formal sporran has a hair or hide front and a metal cantle (usually silver) If you wear a plain sporran, it's certainly less showy and may take a bit of chutzpah just because it isn't the norm, but again, yes you can. Jock does. I do sometimes.

Cheers!

Thankfully it's my occasion and I'll be the only one in a kilt. Knowing that very few if any people there will know what a sporran even is, I'll be able to get away with whatever I want on this one!

[OC Richard]

I know you can wear semi-dress sporrans for formal occasions or everyday wear.

As mentioned above, in traditional Highland dress there's no "semi-dress" category. Traditional civilian Highland dress is divided into Day Dress and Evening Dress.

Is there generally a rule on wearing a day sporran to a formal occasion or is is basically personal preference.

I don't know about "rules" but there are traditions. Formal occasions call for Evening Dress, and all the things that go with it, if one is to follow the tradition.

For non-formal things one would wear Day Dress including all the things that go with that.

With many people these traditions are not being followed. There's no law, it's just tradition and fashion.

[MNlad]

Thankfully it's my occasion and I'll be the only one in a kilt. Knowing that very few if any people there will know what a sporran even is, I'll be able to get away with whatever I want on this one!

It seems you've answered your own question. Except for truly formal events like St. Andres and Burns dinners (and the occasional wedding) formal kilt wear, including dress sporrans, is seldom seen on these shores. You will get a lot more mileage out of a good day sporran (and some can be quite hansom) than you ever will out of a silver-cantled dress number. Personally, I think a dress sporran worn at a highland game is much more out of place than a quality hunter model on Burns Night.

[Taskr]

I wore a good quality, black leather sporran that would get a bit of a buffing when needing to be a bit dressy. Found a good quality metal cantle sporran that gets used now, but not for everything formal. I figure if quality, clean shoes fit the bill, so will the plain sporran (or the plain one I faced with mink)

[Good Egg]

As mentioned above, in traditional Highland dress there's no "semi-dress" category. Traditional civilian Highland dress is divided into Day Dress and Evening Dress.



I don't know about "rules" but there are traditions. Formal occasions call for Evening Dress, and all the things that go with it, if one is to follow the tradition.

For non-formal things one would wear Day Dress including all the things that go with that.

With many people these traditions are not being followed. There's no law, it's just tradition and fashion.

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you. I add all the caveats about there being no right or wrong and no kilt polis and were discussing convention and tradition, not military uniform regulations.

For a start there is considerable confusion over formal and informal and casual. Formal is best bib and tucker, Morning suits in the day and white tie and tails in the evening. Informal is a lounge suit in the day and lounge suit or black tie in the evening, casual is anything else. For reasons of economy Informal wear tends to be acceptable at formal events.

For a formal event in day you should not wear evening wear. You wouldn't wear a dinner jacket (tuxedo) to a luncheon or a garden party, why would you suddenly sprout black bow tie and PC because you're wearing a kilt? For a formal event in the day you should wear a jacket and tie or for the most very formal and if you have the wherewithal a doublet. Although a tweed Argyl jacket is acceptable I favour a black Argyle because it better matches the suits or morning coats that others will be wearing.

[Hirsty]

My general rule of thumb is cantle for evenings, flap for the day, unless you are luck enough to have a mask. I must emphasise that this is my rule.

The sporran is something you can express your individuality with and leather is a great material. I think you should go with your gut. After all, you will be the only kilted person there and thus, immediately, will be the most dapper there.

[SunriseEarth]

I know you can wear semi-dress sporrans for formal occasions or everyday wear.

Is there generally a rule on wearing a day sporran to a formal occasion or is is basically personal preference.

I tend to like things sometimes more subdued and was wondering if I made the decision to wear a more basic leather sporran with some embossed design that wasn't necessarily for a formal occasion if it would still look as nice. I personally think something all leather can look very nice even though not traditionally for a formal occasion.

I've worn my Wyvern Roy Roy sporran with semi-formal wear. Since so few events (at least in the US) are truly black tie, I have found my Wyvern sporran to be exceptionally versatile. I'd recommend it or a similar style as a possible option for you.