Hunter Style Black/Chrome Sporran w/Semiformal wear?

[Joshua]

That's a long title. What say the rabble about wearing a black hunter sporran in a formal getup?

(formal being a black argyle with silver buttons, tie, aran hose and buckle loafers)

And I'm making the sporran myself. It's a work in progress, but it will be black and spit-shined shiny.

[Spartan Tartan]

When you say formal, do you mean black-tie? If your intent is to wear the sporran with the jacket you describe and a four-in-hand tie out to dinner or an evening on the town...I would say it probably would be fine.

On the other hand, if what you mean is a tuxedo equivalent evening...I, personally, would go with a fur sporran with a chrome cantle. Again, that's just me.

Also, who are the others you would be with are in the "formal" setting. If you are the only kilted person, you will be able to pull off whatever you wish more easily (and possibly more comfortably, since no one will know any better). If you will be going to an event with mostly kilted people, I would err on the side of caution and go with a formal sporran.

I am sure there are others here with better understanding of the appropriateness, but that would be my starting point.

Best of luck!

[MrLion]

I like the idea of a hunting sporran w Argyle jacket and long-tie.
Would that be okay at a Burn's Supper?
(it sounds/feels formal enough for ME anyway)

[JSFMACLJR]

That's a long title. What say the rabble about wearing a black hunter sporran in a formal getup?

(formal being a black argyle with silver buttons, tie, aran hose and buckle loafers)

And I'm making the sporran myself. It's a work in progress, but it will be black and spit-shined shiny.

Hope those hose aren't white...

[Pyper]

In piping competition I notice many competitors wear a chrome cantle hunting sporan with a silver-button black argyle.

There's a photo halfway down this page showing the look:
http://www.scottishfield.co.uk/artic...dying_art.html

[Joshua]

This event is a semi-formal "party" - my Mom got her masters degree and my stepdad rented a vfw hall for her. I think most folks will be wearing polos and slacks so I may forgo the jacket for no-tie, shirt, and vest personally. If I go with the latter look, I will probably wear one of my daywear sporrans or my new fur+brown leather daywear I posted in DIY.

Hose will either be charcoal "popcorn top" with red flashes, or lovat aran-cable-knit with red flashes (one of these days I promise I'll get proper garters).

Kilt will either be my Blackwatch, or a Caledonia modern that is in the works currently.

[OC Richard]

Is this the type?



It's the old Hunting Sporran, traditionally in brown, done up in black with a chrome Evening Dress sporran cantle stuck on.

This is by far the most popular style of sporrans for pipe bands. They have a bit of "bling" but at the same time are less expensive than fur evening sporrans and have the advantage of having no dangling bits to fall off and get lost.

Several time World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band wearing just these sporrans. At many competitions 90% of the bands are wearing these.



They're normally worn, by pipe bands, with black Argyll jackets, and it's a suitable match in a way, because both the Argyll jacket and the Pipe Band Sporran have the shape of traditionally Day Dress things but are dressed up by being made in black and having silver bits added.

Here in a Highland Dress catalogue from the 1940s you can see how Hunting Sporrans looked in the old days, brown with a leather cantle. Note, in the men's sporrans shown across the top, the clear demarcation between Day and Evening sporrans. The black hunting sporran with chrome Evening cantle stuck on is obviously a hybrid.

[creagdhubh]

Hiya mate,

Don't worry about this 'semi-formal' nonsense, there is really no such thing in Highland attire and J. 'Scotty' Thompson went a wee bit overboard on that subject. As many other members (especially Sandy, Scott, Matthew, and David) will attest, simply coordinate your Highland attire to what type of event you are attending, i.e., black tie, white tie, day wear, etc. It sounds like you are on the right track.

You could easily get away with a smart tweed Argyll and waistcoat, necktie, shirt, kilt, plain leather sporran with strap, polished black leather shoes, smart hose, and flashes or garter ties to your event and be perfectly fine. I wouldn't go for the 'pipe band' look with the black barathea Argyll, silver buttons, black leather hunting sporran with silver cantle, white/aran hose, ghillie brogues, etc...I almost went down that road many, many years ago, and I am soooo happy I didn't (luckily, I had my grandfather's advice). Sure, that attire is fine for a member of a pipe band, as they are in uniform and obviously must all look the same.

The charcoal hose sound far better than the aran hose in my opinion. It's okay to wear flashes, many people do; I do, HRH Prince Charles does, as do many members on this forum - we will also wear garter ties when we so desire as well. I tend to go back and forth, yet usually reserve garter ties for day wear for some reason. If everyone is in relaxed, casual polos, slacks, Oxford shirts, etc, you could get away with the same idea! Wear an Oxford with your kilt with no necktie, no belt, no waistcoat or jacket...simply your sporran, hose, flashes, shoes, sgian dhubh, button-down shirt and kilt! I have worn that type of outfit countless times, especially when outside in warmer weather. You could even roll your sleeves up as the evening progresses, and as the pints or drams are flowing! I like the sound of your brown sporran - brown always looks quite smart, and in my opinion, a far better choice than black in regards to a day wear sporran! Wear black shoes though (hahaha, again, just my hoest opinion mate!)!

I encourage you to search the the forum a wee bit; take a look around at some of the different outfits, take what you like from them, then add your own personality. Naturally, a fine place to begin is with HRH the Duke of Rothesay - especially for 'semi-formal' functions in which you are curious about.

Slainte,

[The Wizard of BC]

Do you mean something like this?



Yep, this is my go-to formal sporran.

[creagdhubh]

Steve,

You look great! Even though I am not too fond of that style of sporran, you definitely pull it off mate!

Good on ya,