Dress Sporrans

[Verlyn]

Can anyone tell me how it came about that dress sporrans are the ones with fur and the smooth leather sporrans are considered day or casual sporrans? My daughter's fiance was showing me the sporran he wanted to order for the wedding and my wife asked why fur? We told her it was for dress, so the next question was why. We have no clue. So, I'm open to finding out that answer. Thanks in advance.

[Planopiper]

Maybe it's like with jackets. Leather is for daily wear. Fur is formal. Fur is more difficult to work with and maintain so fur items are more expensive to produce and to own. That's usually criteria enough to make something dressy as opposed to casual.

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Hey Verlyn, there are NUMEROUS sources for the facts, and I'll let those with the better links throw those on here.

As for the Dress/Formal sporran for the wedding... I did NOT wear one at mine. It had nothing to do with the cost or the availability (as I own a Piper's horse hair sporran) but was a conscious choice not to have it detract from the Irish National Tartan or (much more importantly) the bride's gown. If he should decide to go with a more casual one, there ARE options available that are a light fur on a day sporran. It's a GREAT alternative.

Just a suggestion off the track.

Okay you historians... start posting those links!~

[Verlyn]

Thanks for the answers so far. In retrospect, I think the one he was looking at may be a day sporran with light fur. Still, the history behind this would be interesting, although planopiper's idea makes sense to me. Todd? Are you going to weigh in on this?

[Big Paul]

I wore a Semi-formal (light fur) sporran a my wedding. I worked out great. If the gallery ever gets back up and running (Hint, hint Hank) you ould see it.

[macwilkin]

Todd? Are you going to weigh in on this?

The kilted reference librarian is still trying to find a source for the answer! <grin>

Cheers,

Todd

[Bob C]

I wore a white rabbit fur sporran with a cantle at my wedding. The white actually complemented my bride's dress very nicely. It's a little sideways in the attached picture.

To the purists who will notice the sash is on her wrong shoulder, I know that already. I was nervous, ok?

[Hal]

Well, while this isn't an answer to the original question, Here's my take on it: Wear what you like...It's between you and your bride.

At my wedding, I wore a fairly plain black leather sporran. Why? My wife is "anti-fur" (She's not an activist...It's just her preference) And she didn't care to go "synthetic". She "Liked" the leather, and I didn't have enough of an attachment to tradition to mind.

The rest of the wedding party wore "Half leather, half fur", because that's what the livery offered!


I'm sure I violated a few social rules. Most people wouldn't know the difference. And by way of explanation to the occasional kilted brother out there who asks....It's a tiny concession to make, when (otherwise) your wife enthusiastically supports the kilt...Anytime, anywhere, any occasion! ;)


Hal

[Andrew Breecher]

My formal sporran doesn't have fur on it, because I don't like fur. I don't particularly like leather either, but I figure it's the least of two evils. So I got a "semi-dress" sporran that's black leather with a silver cantle and silver studs decorating the face. That's good enough for me, and none of my friends know the difference, so that's all I care about.

Andrew.

[Shane]

Andrew,

That's exactly my thinking on the subject. I'm not too big on fur, more from an aesthetic viewpoint than a moral one. I haven't purchased a dress sporran yet, but when I do it will be leather with a silver (metal) cantle. I've seen versions of these sporrans that I think look just as formal/dressy/sharp as any fur sporran. I can't see any reason why a dress sporran HAS to be fur.

Shane