R.R. MacIan prints

[Guinness>water]

I recently bought the book "The Clans of the Scottish Highlands" illistrated by R.R. MacIan. While looking at all the pictures, I noticed that almost every highlander is wearing a horse hair sporran. I know they all probably wore those because it was the fashion in that time period, but why dont more folks wear them now? Is it a fad that has passed?

Second, you talk about clothes not matching. Holy Moses! If you were using that as a guide to dress, you could wear just about anything with kilt. All colors of hose, shirts, and garters. Though, I noticed most had red garters no matter the color of hose.

Could (not should) we today, use these pictures as a referance/guideline?

Example: many wear green and black diced hose with thier kilt (no matter of tartan, green based, red based they didnt seem to care).
Could we wear a horse hair sporran everyday casually as they did?

Thanks and please feel free to post images of the prints, if you can find them

[Joshua]

There are some that feel this style should make a comeback, and honestly I did the look - I just don't think military-styled horsehair sporrans are very practical, and diced hose are too expensive to wear regularly without regard to wear and tear.

I know that Josh over at SHO rocks diced hose and a horsehair for just about any occasion and it looks fantastic.

[OC Richard]

military-styled horsehair sporrans

There is nothing military whatsoever about the sporrans shown in McIan.

The notion that "horsehair sporrans = military" is modern.

The military began wearing long hair sporrans early in the 19th century at the same time that civilians did, and civilians wore them in all modes of Highland Dress from the plainest possible Day Dress to full Evening Dress throughout the 19th century and into the early years of the 20th.

[Joe Gondek]

It could also be that the artist just really liked that style sporran or that it was the type of sporran that he had available in his studio

[M. A. C. Newsome]

One word of "warning" about the R. R. MacIan images. While his depictions of what would have been contemporary Highland attire are fairly reliable, many of his figures are supposed to be dressed in historical attire, and MacIan was operating on some assumoptions that modern research has shown to be incorrect. So please keep that in mind - his images, while nice looking, are NOT accurate sources for historic information.

[Hothir Ethelnor]

I have found the horsehair sporran to be my favorite. It does require a brushing about once a week if worn every day. When sitting it is the best thing for pushing the apron down between your knees.

I love my horsehair sporran but then again not many folks can afford one (or two) so it's not so much of an option. For DIYer's though there are explicit instructions to be found online how to make one.

[davidlpope]

Example: many wear green and black diced hose with thier kilt (no matter of tartan, green based, red based they didnt seem to care).
Could we wear a horse hair sporran everyday casually as they did?

Well, sure, knock yourself out.

But just be ready for what I call the "pocketwatch effect".

First, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing a pocketwatch as both a way to keep time and as a "fashion accessory". In fact, some folks have pocketwatches which have been passed down in their family that have great sentimental and intrinsic value. There was a time when pocketwatches were common and accepted and wouldn't be given a second thought. Wear one today, though, and it will likely be looked at as a "gimmick" or quirk. This shouldn't stop you from wearing a pocketwatch, but be prepared to be the "odd man out". Also, pocketwatches seem to favor a particular style of dress (traditional, conservative attire, with waistcoats with watch pockets). So, a pocket watch will seem less out of place if worn with such clothing, than say with jeans, ball cap, and t-shirt.

Likewise, should you decide to wear less common kilt accessories (full mask sporrans, hair sporrans, diced hose, etc.) then you're probably better off dressing more traditionally.

An example:
A hair sporran with kilt, Argyll hose, bar buckle brogues, tartan waistcoat, and regulation doublet? Excellent!
A hair sporran with Utilikilt, scrunched socks, tennis shoes, and t-shirt? Fail!

[Guinness>water]

A hair sporran with kilt, Argyll hose, bar buckle brogues, tartan waistcoat, and regulation doublet? Excellent!
A hair sporran with Utilikilt, scrunched socks, tennis shoes, and t-shirt? Fail!

I get ya.

I usually wear my tank, tan hose, bison traditional garter ties, long sleeved collar shirt,Danner hiking boots and a Rob Roy style pouch sporran. I've incorporated the kilt into my normal "logger" type/style clothing.

I dont think green/black diced hose would look real out of place, wouldnt draw any more attention than the kilt already does. Hair sporran would if it was the pretty white one but I've seen black and brown colored ones also.

I dont know, I'd kinda like to move in a more historically inspired, commoner direction. Seems today that the only way most people wear the kilt is fancy style or at least semi fancy. In those R.R. MacIan prints he depicts common everyday runnin in the woods Scots wearing the hose and sporrans that are today resereved for "Dress" attire.

[Jock Scot]

I get ya.



In those R.R. MacIan prints he depicts common everyday runnin in the woods Scots wearing the hose and sporrans that are today resereved for "Dress" attire.

I am very sorry old chap but the "common everyday runnin in the woods Scots" were doing their "runnin" clad mostly in rags and looked nothing like those pictures of those posing for an astute and gifted artist who provided "eye candy" for Queen Victoria. These damn pictures ought to come with a health warning!

[Bugbear]

I am very sorry old chap but the "common everyday runnin in the woods Scots" were doing their "runnin" clad mostly in rags and looked nothing like those pictures of those posing for an astute and gifted artist who provided "eye candy" for Queen Victoria. These damn pictures ought to come with a health warning!

Don't worry, Jock, I won't look at them.

* Blind guy joke. *