A Formal Alternative

[Liam]

I think you will be the most admired gent at the wedding. With the Buchanan tartan as the backdrop no one will even notice your sporran.
Go for it, enjoy and post pictures!

Slainte

[CMcG]

Appreciate the comments and candor.
The event is actually two: the wedding will take place at 2:00 in the afternoon. There is then a hiatus and the formal reception begins at 7:00, so technically evening wear would be in order. I've only the black Argyle - so I've got to make do with that for both. I do have a waistcoat to wear with it that night along with a dressier white shirt and a dressier shoe.

So I could come up with a perfectly acceptable kit for the wedding with the Argyle, a long tie, the new sporran and a less dressy shoe. I have several good options on hose. I guess the hitch is I really don't want to invest in a formal evening sporran and don't really want one of the inexpensive (and lower quality) ones I see on ebay etc. Does anyone know of a place to rent a more appropriate sporran for the evening? I think I've got the rest of it covered, that seems to be my stumbling block.

Does the wedding actually specify two separate dress codes? If not, I would split the difference by wearing morning dress to the wedding and the same thing to the evening reception.

[Nathan]

If you're not planning to switch to a black bow tie and tux shirt for the evening, your new sporran is fine. Where I'm from, only the wedding party is typically in black tie for such occasions. Do you expect the other guests to bust out the bow ties during the hiatus?

[CeilidhDoc]

If the wedding itself is in the day that ray sporran is just fine for that part. I agree with the reasoning that Nathan is getting at though.

Will others be changing into black tie at the nighttime reception? If not, then you will likely be fine. If so, then there is likely a problem IMHO.

If you are going to an event where you would feel out of place in a long necktie because the event is black tie and formal, then you should likewise feel uncomfortable wearing a day sporran because it is a fairly similar comparison, just for something worn below the waist rather than above. Maybe that analogy is helpful. Again, just my opinion here.

[Just Hugh]

I am relatively new to kilt wearing and have shown up at an event in "modified" formal wear. No one knew a damned thing about kilts and complemented me on a kit that would have the rabble fainting.

So, you can definitely "get away with it." However, now that I know better, I wouldn't pair a P.C. jacket with a sporran that didn't have metal cantle.

I know you posted here to get feedback and you'll ultimately do what you want, which is the whole process. However, I'd look for a sporran with a metal cantle without the furry bits you don't want. I can't link to one, but I'm sure they exist. Black leather with a metal cantle would fit the event and keep you honest to your preferences.

What you have is a fancy day sporran. I might have worn it before I knew better, but I can't recommend it.

I have asked questions on fora and ignored the responses, so that's your choice. Have a good time, whatever you do, none of us will be there.

[Chas]

Apart from you (and now us) no one will know any different. If anybody should ask, tell them it is formal daywear.

[BCAC]

That's a difficult situation. You could certainly "get away with it", but should you? I certainly wouldn't do it. It would be "nagging" me all night that I wasn't properly dressed and that would probably spoil the evening for me. Is there not a possibility to hire an evening sporran for the day? I'm surprised that no one, a little closer to you than I am, has offered to lend you one. You could borrow my formal sporran if you can pay the shipping from/to the south of France and you have time enough. It does have fur on it, though. A nice full mask sporran would do the job for both the day ceremony and the evening do.

[Bareknees1]

Ah, the never ending debate between what could be labelled "traditionalists"-wool only, brass cantelled or full mask sporranned, cromach holding crowd, or the "personalists"(ouch)-interpretative kilting with polyviscose(gasp), interpretive sporranining(is that a word?), ball cap wearing crowd. At the end of the day, self expression and enjoyment is a wonderful thing, as life is too short to get too hung up. That being said, I think CeildhDoc nailed it. If one wouldn't "mix and match" a style that the general populace is aware of--ie some "saxon" dress faux pas, it seems a little disingenuous to mix and match highland dress just because one can slip it by the unknowing. No one's getting murdered here, the angst is probably amusing to some, distressing to others(deep breaths BCAC, it will be ok). It's a stunning sporran, maybe just not the right one for this occasion. As you stated in the initiation of the thread, read on, enjoy.

[creagdhubh]

Personally I think dressing for what would look formal to the uninitiated is dangerous business. To my mind anyway I think it is important to dress to the level of formality requested and to keep it consistent, mixing formalities is something I try hard not to do as it generally confuses everyone. That is a nice looking sporran, don't get me wrong, however I do not think I would wear it with the outfit pictured as it is simply a mix in formality.

Agreed. Well put, Glen.

[Nathan]

There could be a nice fur alternative dress sporran made of stingray like this one by Artificer:



I just think the one you purchased is too casual based on the shape and soft bodied construction.