A single sporran for very casual to semi-formal?

**Andy Ternay** · 14th May 12, 10:09 PM

I'm in the market for a sporran and I'd like to get a nice one that offers maximum utility. Going by the 1 Kilt 10 Looks thread, I'm thinking that it may be possible to get one sporran and be able to run the gamut from looks 1 (very casual) to 7 (semi-formal) with a nice leather sporran, would that be correct?

By nice I mean something along the lines of a Thorfinn Custom Sporran or a Ferguson Britt sporran.

Would one of these encompass the range of looks I have in mind?

**Zardoz** · 14th May 12, 10:23 PM

I use my Thorfinns like that, from casual to dress, the convertible flaps give you a lot of flexibility.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...sporran-71596/

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...sporran-70788/

**MacMillans son** · 14th May 12, 10:33 PM

I would also encourage you to check out our advertiser Wyvern Leatherworks whose red link is on the bottom of this page. I think a nice hunter style sporran can do the job your looking for, though may be a bit much at the "very casual" end of your spectrum. Donnie happily accepts customer input on colors, styles, and details of the sporrans he makes,which makes him a great person to deal with as well.

Here is a photo of the three of his that I own. Either of the two black ones could go up to semi formal I believe (Argyll jacket and tie type event). I wore the hunter style to a black tie event last year, but I think that was a bit of a stretch for it. It was a case of "wear the best you have".

Best of luck in your search!

**David Thorpe** · 15th May 12, 03:47 AM

The one style that runs the entire gambit is full mask -- not to everyone's taste.

**Tobus** · 15th May 12, 05:02 AM

Full mask is what I was thinking too. It is perfectly appropriate for all levels of dress.

**Joshua** · 15th May 12, 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by DrummerBoy

The one style that runs the entire gambit is full mask -- not to everyone's taste.

Not to disagree, but personally (and as proven by the likes of quite a few on this forum), the MOD patterned sporran is just as cozy with a t-shirt as it is with an Argyle jacket. Perhaps not so appropriate for a Prince Charley or Doublet, but it does dress well.

I know that one "can" wear a full mask sporran in all circumstances, but it looks like a soup sandwich to me when worn very casually (in the American sense of the word, i.e. T-Shirt and combat boots).

The OP was looking for a sporran that can run the gambit between casual to semi-formal - great excuse to look for a single, well made MOD style sporran like Artificer's Lugosi, the McRostie of Glasgow, or something similar.

**Tobus** · 15th May 12, 05:57 AM

I believe the word you gentlemen were looking for was gamut, not gambit.

Good point on the MOD cantle sporran, though. It can cover a range of dress. And you could even have different bags made for it, to give it more of a casual or dressy feel, and complement the rest of your wardrobe. I am tempted to say that the brass cantle would not be wholly appropriate for anything like "evening wear", but then I find myself wondering why not. It's probably not well suited to black tie or higher (where silver cantles are usually worn), but could work in a pinch if one were wearing a black Argyle to an evening function with a regular tie. I tend to think of brass as solidly in the daywear category, but maybe that mode of thinking is too "in the box".

What do our well-seasoned gentlemen say? Brass MOD cantles appropriate for evening wear (if built with a bag that's appropriate)?

**creagdhubh** · 15th May 12, 05:58 AM

Full-mask sporrans are suitable for any occassion - day or evening - and level of formality. However, even though they are very traditional, they are not to everyone's liking. All of the sporrans featured below are made by Kate Macpherson, Inverness-shire, Scotland, who is my full-mask sporran maker of choice. I presently have a mink full-mask sporran on commission with Kate. Her work is the best I've ever seen.

www.katemacphersonsporrans.co.uk

Pine Marten

Mink

Fox

Badger

A nice collection indeed!

Best of luck,

**creagdhubh** · 15th May 12, 06:02 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

I believe the word you gentlemen were looking for was gamut, not gambit.

Good point on the MOD cantle sporran, though. It can cover a range of dress. And you could even have different bags made for it, to give it more of a casual or dressy feel, and complement the rest of your wardrobe. I am tempted to say that the brass cantle would not be wholly appropriate for anything like "evening wear", but then I find myself wondering why not. It's probably not well suited to black tie or higher (where silver cantles are usually worn), but could work in a pinch if one were wearing a black Argyle to an evening function with a regular tie. I tend to think of brass as solidly in the daywear category, but maybe that mode of thinking is too "in the box".

What do our well-seasoned gentlemen say? Brass MOD cantles appropriate for evening wear (if built with a bag that's appropriate)?

I think it is fine to wear a brass cantled sporran with Highland evening attire, though personally, I like to see all of the metals matching (shoe buckles, buttons, kilt pin, sporran cantle, sgian dubh, belt buckle, etc) when it comes to Highland evening dress (day attire..doesn't matter to me - brass cantle, silver clan badge, silver blanket pin, brass belt buckle or whatever..). Our own David Pope wears a rather smart hair sporran with a brass cantle with his evening dress and looks wonderful.

Cheers,

**JohntheBiker** · 15th May 12, 06:06 AM

A hunting sporran, particularly with a metal cantle, can run the gamut from casual to semi-formal.

L&M Highland Outfitters make some great looking hunting sporrans.