Sporran Strap for dress?

[denmcdough]

When I first got into this kilt thing, about a year ago, I didn't know much about wearing highland attire, and so I wore a chained sporran strap for everything: dress, semi-dress, and casual. I finally decided to go with an all leather sporran strap for day wear, and found it to be very nice. Now, is it acceptable to wear the all leather strap for dress? Most pics that I see, where dress sporrans are in evidence, show individuals with the chain strap. I guess it's personal preference!?? Any advice is appreciated.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

There is no reason that a strap, as opposed to a chain, couldn't be worn with a dress sporran. I personally wear a chain with my silver cantled dress sporran, but use a strap with my full mask muskrat sporran because I think the strap is more appropriate. It's really a matter of deciding which you think looks better, and then go with it.

[Tobus]

I like a leather sporran belt for everything, as it will wear less on the kilt itself. But I've been thinking that it would be a pretty cool idea to have a 'dress sporran belt' for those fancy occasions. Basically it would be a leather sporran belt, but with a chain overlay on the front (or some sort of dressy adornments on the leather itself). Best of both worlds.

[KWD]

I like a leather sporran belt for everything, as it will wear less on the kilt itself. But I've been thinking that it would be a pretty cool idea to have a 'dress sporran belt' for those fancy occasions. Basically it would be a leather sporran belt, but with a chain overlay on the front (or some sort of dressy adornments on the leather itself). Best of both worlds.

I LOVE THAT IDEA!!! let me know if you make it happen, I would VERY interested in that..

[creagdhubh]

When I first got into this kilt thing, about a year ago, I didn't know much about wearing highland attire, and so I wore a chained sporran strap for everything: dress, semi-dress, and casual. I finally decided to go with an all leather sporran strap for day wear, and found it to be very nice. Now, is it acceptable to wear the all leather strap for dress? Most pics that I see, where dress sporrans are in evidence, show individuals with the chain strap. I guess it's personal preference!?? Any advice is appreciated.

I typically wear a smooth (no visible grain), black leather sporran strap with my horse hair sporran that I wear whilst in Highland attire for formal events - see photos of me below. Sometimes I do prefer a chain strap, but a black leather strap is perfectly acceptable!

[creagdhubh]

I like a leather sporran belt for everything, as it will wear less on the kilt itself. But I've been thinking that it would be a pretty cool idea to have a 'dress sporran belt' for those fancy occasions. Basically it would be a leather sporran belt, but with a chain overlay on the front (or some sort of dressy adornments on the leather itself). Best of both worlds.

Could work, interesting idea nonetheless. In my honest opinion, I would go with either a chain strap, or a leather strap.

Cheers!

[Bob C]

A leather strap with formal dress just looks wrong to me.

[Zardoz]

I wear a leather strap for all levels of dress, I doubt anyone notices, and it's more comfy for me.

I've been thinking that it would be a pretty cool idea to have a 'dress sporran belt' for those fancy occasions.

I've been thinking along these lines as well. My dress and casual kilt belts have Celtic tooling, why not a sporran strap to match?

[Jordan]

Ive got a leather sporran strap that I use for all occasions. I prefer it to a chain and I dont think anyone has ever noticed or said anything about it anyway.

[Whidbey78]

I prefer straps, though I don't have one yet that will work for dress. I think, as a few others have already mentioned , that it looks fine, and nobody really notices(or says anything anyhow). For me it's not a fashion choice, I just see no reason to wear something that I know increases wear and tear on the kilt if there is an alternative.

I found some chain a while back that was very similar to what is usually used with sporrans but was more rounded and exceptionally smooth. I opted out though as it was made of silver and was priced at a little over $40 per foot. I'd be interested if anyone has used an alternate chain to reduce wear, mainly to see if it really made a difference.

My wife also had an interesting suggestion: Using a light steel cable(similar to what is used to hang picture frames and the like) with smooth metallic beads over it...similar look, much smoother than most chain, and since the beads would roll it could be potentially snag free and may cause little wear. Yet another idea I have yet to try.

No thread jack intended.