To Sporran or Not to Sporran

[toadinakilt]

Does it bother anybody else when SportKilt and Utilikilt and some others show pictures of grinning clients that aren't wearing sporrans? Not like I'm throwing a hissy fit or anything, but somehow a kilt looks more like a kilt and less like a skirt when there's a sporran involved. Anywhoo. IMHO.

[Rob Wright]

Not really. About half the time I go without a sporran with my tartan kilts and I never wear one with my contemporary's. If you are wearing a jacket with pockets there really is no need for a sporran. But it all comes down to personal preference.

Rob

[Bob C]

I'm with Toad. A kilt is not a kilt without a sporran.

[Hamish]

Personally, I wear sporrans only if I have insufficient pockets in my jacket, or whatever else I am wearing. The sporran is, after all, only a pocket. Of course, I am talking here of tartan kilts. The only exception is when I am wearing the full rig, probably for some official or semi-official event - then I would wear the sporran because it is part of that 'costume' or 'uniform' (how I hate those two words!).

As for my non-tartan and other contemporary kilts, well I very seldom wear a sporran with any of them......... the Utilikilts have wonderfully capacious pockets anyway, so who needs a sporran? Anyway, Utilikilts are American and sporrans are Scottish - they don't necessarily go together. However, I do wear sporrans with my "TFCK" kilts from time to time, depending upon the availabilty of other pockets.

I really do not think that sporrans look 'right' with anything other than tartan or Scottish-style kilts, but I admit, there are no rules concerning this.

[toadinakilt]

A friend of mine has a black Utilikilt that he wears with a small leather sporran, and the effect is marvelous. Actually, now that I think of it, the snaps on the front of the Utilikilt give a visual equivalent to a sporran, so it doesn't look too bad. I admit to being concerned with visuals. It's just a thing.

[Raphael]

I always wear a sporran, because I have too much junk to carry with me.

Freelander RULES!!!!

[Bill]

It's just me but I like the look of a sporran it completes the "look". It says this is a kilt not a skirt IMHO. I know that a kilt is a kilt whether the sporran is there or not but as I said it's just me.

Bill

[GMan]

I like wearing a sporran because when someone asks what it is I just love saying sporran. Call me weird, I thank you in advance.

[Freelander Sporrano]

I don't own a Utili or sports kilt.
I only have Tartan kilts I feel un-dressed without a sporran........I wonder why.........(Tee hee!!)

[James]

Like Hamish I think they do look odd if worn with other than a tartan kilt.

For formal occasions I do think it best to go with convention, so would wear a sporran.

However such kilts as the 'hillwalker' are designed to be worn without a sporran-having pockets: and the same applies to my 'gentlemen's' kilts as I had them made with pockets.

It is interesting to see how often in old photographs the sporran was dispensed with-with emphasis on the military. Whilst during my own service kilted units would often be seen at work not wearing the sporran: note work as opposed to a formal dress parade.

There is also the fact that a sporran can be very inconvenient at times-think of driving a car with seat belt sporran etc. Whilst if pockets are available. why bother with extra clutter?

Oddly enough I've had more comments when going out without a skean dhu than if not wearing a sporran: whilst not a soul has ever commented upon my wearing a side sporran, even in demi formal dress.

So I'd suggest that apart from formal occasions when convention should rule, it is entirely up to the individual. Thus allowing the kilt to develop as a day to day garment suitable for modern life, whilst observing the proud traditions for more special occasions.

James