A revisit to the Hair Sporran, perhaps to the wedding

[iustus]

Hello all,

I have wandered through the "Hair Sporran for Pipers only?" thread twice now... And well I thought I'd give it one more go.

So I'm getting married, am wearing either my 13oz red MacRae or my newer Black 16oz.

The Jacket is a Black military cut-away, 3 buttons... like you see in Tunes of Glory. Not the mandarin collared jackets in black but the ones the officers are wearing in Khaki with shirt and tie... only mine is black with black buttons.

Now if it comes to the red MacRae, I'm planning on going with the very nice black leather sporran with silver studs and wear it with a chain... it will be a day wedding and suits, though some maybe in kilts and waistcoats, maybe an argyle or two.

But if I go with the Black 16oz, same jacket, maybe black hose instead of the white (controversy understood) and red flashes...

Well the bride likes the hair sporran (I do not have one). Thinks its masculine and feminine at the same time etc. So it might be the black bear and a hair sporran... but I'd like to consult the community.

Now I realize the fact that she likes it should be the end of the story right, but it is an investment and since I am still studying, money is not exactly at our disposal, thought it could be worked out. I think it would look great with the black kilt no doubt (very Mr. John Brown) but I am not sure I'd go that route with the red MacRae.

The other piece is that I do not have a formal wear sporran only the nice black leather and the standard leather sporran in brown. In the past I have rented a PC and fur sporran for formal events.

So, this would be my formal wear sporran.

I'd like to hear from those of you who pipe in them and those who wear them minus the pipes. I am a piper though I do not normally wear regimental style unless I'm with a band that wears it and that hasn't been in a very long time.

So I'm asking folks to weigh in on a Hair Sporran for formal attire once more.

I am not much for PC on me and don't plan on wearing one anymore, I'd go with the more humble Cut-away Black jacket and if needed a plaid in ancient Clergy (though not for the wedding and perhaps not with the red MacRae). So the PC together with the Hair Sporran is not a danger. I personally think the fur sporran looks much nicer with the PC.

Thanks every body,

Irid ghibht Dhe Agus,
justin


ps there is a picture of the black sporran in my photos, none of the kilts are my red MacRae or black bear, but My Lake Sup Highlanders kilt. A gift from a friend when I was just learning to play the pipes in High School, MacGillivray tartan.

[OC Richard]

"Hair sporrans for pipers only"? I didn't see that thread, but it's a wrongheaded notion to me.

Long hair sporrans (horsehair, goathair) used to be universally worn in all modes of Highland dress: the dress analagous to our "day wear", the dress analagous to our "evening wear", and military dress, all alike.

I'm not sure exactly when Highland dress divided itself into the neatly compartmentalised categories of day, evening, and military each with its own special jacket, sporran, hose, and shoes but these clear distinctions didn't exist in the 19th century and there's no reason not to revive the old ways of doing things in my opinion.

Here are a couple guys in the 1860's wearing what we would consider "day dress" but wearing hair sporrans:



and wearing black jackets...



I have endless photos of Victorian, Edwardian, etc photos of people wearing Highland dress and hair sporrans are everywhere. Here's a guy in 1860:



here are more guys...





so do the hair sporran!!

By the way, the military jackets you mention in Tunes of Glory (a great movie) are:
Blue Patrol Dress (very dark blue with standup collar, usually worn with trews by military officers but can be worn with kilts by pipers)
No2 Dress (the colour the British call "khaki" but in the US is called "olive drab", open collar with lapels...this is a very versatile jacket and in the military is worn with trews, with kilts and plain leather sporrans, and with kilts with full dress horsehair sporrans according to the form of dress.)

[BEEDEE]

Personal view - I find the hair sporrans over the top even for formal wear. Probably because they are most associated with regimental uniforms in the Scottish Regiments and formal wear for pipe bands.

My choice was to go with one of the Fergusson Britt sporrans in skunk. It's dressy enough to wear at any formal occasion, but also looks good in semi-formal wear. I wore it at my wedding with a weathered hunting MacRae and think it would go equally well with the Red MacRae. Here's a link: http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/sporran_fb.html

Brian

[McFarkus]

I say, if you and your fiancée like hair sporrans, go for it. I personally like the Ferguson Britt fur sporrans mentioned above. I have one in Canadian Beaver which is spectacular. The hair sporrans, in spite of their size, tend to have very little space in them for 'stuff.' The Ferguson Britt, though not as capacious as the Rob Roy sporrans, have adequate space for the basics.

[dfmacliam]

I think if you read on all the threads about hair sporrans, you might see that the hair and the goat sporrans were actually the normal, until recently, for everyday wear. The many paintings and pictures posted, actually validate that fact.

I, personally, like the look of a long hair goat sporran, and in due time will either find, or make one, to my liking.

Hair sporrans are not for pipers only. It seems, these days, only military, or pipers wear them, so we gain that misconception.

[OC Richard]

It was actually looking over so many old photos of pipers (and non-pipers as well) that made me realise how underdressed we pipers are nowadays.

There was actually a stock civilian piper's dress that was worn virtually unchanged from the 1860's up through the 1920's, consisting of a sort of jacket I don't see anymore, long hair sporran, tartan hose, Glengarry, etc:





So I decided to get buckled shoes (not Mary Janes but the "buckle loafers" so common in the 19th century), tartan hose, an antique sporran, antique brooch, and plaid. In my own little way I'm trying to bring back this old piper's costume a bit:

[davidlpope]

I think that a hair sporran looks nice with a very formal traditional outfit. Check out the recent thread of pictures of clan chiefs to see the wide variety of hair sporrans (and other types) out there. I have an angora hair sporran (a bit smaller than a typical military hair sporran) that I really like.

That being said, the market is flooded with hair sporrans typically used for pipe bands which all look the same (same chrome cantle, white hair with two black tassles) which adds to the "hair sporran = piper" phenomenon.

My advice:

If you plan to wear formal kilt attire in a traditional way (clan tartan kilt with Regulation/Sherriffmuir doublet, argyll hose, etc.), I think a hair sporran goes well. See Matt Newsome's website for some of his pics of formal wear with a hair sporran.

If your attire will be more contemporary (solid black kilt, black military-style "Service Uniform" jacket) or more day-wear (it's a day wedding, right?), then I think the hair sporran would look out of place, unless you really play up the Edwardian/ "John Brown" look (which may look gimmicky).

If you could post pics of the other elements of your outfit it would be a bit easier to conceptualize. Otherwise, I'd vote for a more understated look, without the hair sporran.

For what it's worth (from a guy who is thrilled to be married 9 years and counting), try not to get too hung up on the clothes you'll wear at the wedding. I've found that the everyday joy of married life makes the "pagentry" of most weddings seem a little misguided. Best wishes, buddy, on this wonderful new adventure.

Cordially,

David

[HarborSpringsPiper]

It was actually looking over so many old photos of pipers (and non-pipers as well) that made me realise how underdressed we pipers are nowadays.

There was actually a stock civilian piper's dress that was worn virtually unchanged from the 1860's up through the 1920's, consisting of a sort of jacket I don't see anymore, long hair sporran, tartan hose, Glengarry, etc

Discussion of this jacket came up on another thread. Someone considered it an earlier form of a Regimental doublet, which may be the case, I don't know. However, I think if you dropped the white piping and shoulder shells, it would be great waistcoat/jacket combo for piping or evening wear today.

So I decided to get buckled shoes (not Mary Janes but the "buckle loafers" so common in the 19th century), tartan hose, an antique sporran, antique brooch, and plaid. In my own little way I'm trying to bring back this old piper's costume a bit:

Looks good, Richard!

[Ancienne Alliance]

Take a look at this link,

http://www.skyehighlandoutfitters.co..._Sporrans.html

The last one is definitely on my wish list... driving me crazy !


Best,

Robert

[NorCalPiper]

While BEEDEE is correct with the horse hair being associated with the regimental look, I personally believe that there should be a renaissance of sorts for this style into the civilian world. If you look at 18th and 19th century portraits and prints, hair sporrans were for crofter and laird alike. My avatar should attest to my ideas and I'm personally trying my best to reintroduce this style to anyone who will look, or listen at or to me! I am 100% into the hair sporran these days and thats about all I'm wearing with my kilts. I have INCREDIBLE RESPONSE everywhere I go.