Plain Sporrans after 18:00

[Mathew MacKillop]

Greetings All.

I have read in various posts here that semi-dress sporrans are abominations. For myself, I am inclined to think the same for actual dress sporrans. I know that my saying so will rile a good number of folks here, I say it anyways, but it is of course just my opinion and my feeling towards them. My thought process is that I find they look like enormous fuzzy versions of a woman's change purse (alright, older woman's change purse) due to the style of the closure at the top. There is way too much shiny metal for my taste; They seem to be more of an aristocratic affectation that a practical, usable item of apparel. They may be more "ancient" and commonly used than they seem to me, but the impression I have is what it is.
I am also not in the least a fan of fur of any kind being worn (regardless of the person or the item, I find it looks gaudy), and I would never survive wearing any sort of obvious fur around a good many people I know. Fur is not worn commonly here, and those that do wear it get strange looks from the rest of us. I recognize by now that they are a common and expected part of traditional dress, and that many folks here own and wear them. To each their own, but I'd rather avoid it, myself. Strangely, this same anti-fur logic does not seem to apply to leather. For myself, it is merely aesthetic and I truly do not like the look of fur, but for others it is somehow ethical, and yet leather is exempted from their criticism. Humans are so odd!
Which leads to my actual question: Can a plain leather sporran serve as an all-purpose sporran? I will not be attending any black or white tie events; likely nothing fancier than daytime weddings and office Christmas parties (evening into late night). There is a plain black sporran at USAKilts that has a nice pin closure, which I find very sharp looking and just decorative enough with the metal pin (http://www.usakilts.com/simple-pin-day-sporran.html).
For context: I will not, at any time, be wearing any of the kilt-rental style PC Jackets or Argyll jackets with the elaborate cuffs and extra non-functional buttons everywhere. By the time I have enough items handy to go about kilted on a regular basis, I would like to add a few tweed jackets, a few waistcoats, and later on a Wallace type jacket. There will never, under any circumstances, be shiny metal buttons on my coats. There will be no epaulettes. I even doubt that I will ever want a belt with a waistplate for those waistcoat-free occasions; a simple ring-and-post buckle (I think that's what they're called) in brass or stainless steel are about as much flash as I could tolerate. The name of the game, for me, will be to keep it as simple and plain as possible at all times. Unless it is windy enough to make it useful, I do not even intend to add a kilt pin. I intend to use the kilt itself, the hose (and flashes when worn), and a boldly coloured neck tie as my "bling" items, along with very small bits of metal such as the pin on the sporran for just a touch of shine, as well as a basic tie clip when not wearing a waistcoat.
So, to get the questions out here in the open:
1. Is it common for plain leather sporrans to be the only ones worn?
2. At an evening event populated by actual Scots, would there be ANY kilted gentlemen present not wearing a dress sporran?
3. Can a case be made under the circumstances for the semi-dress sporran for more formal outings? I have seen some that merely have a very short-furred front and otherwise look very much like plain day sporrans, and while I still do not love the look, I would be willing to suck it up and wear one if not doing so would cause raised eyebrows and offended sensibilities. Then again, with the attitude I have seen here on XMarks towards them, it may be just the opposite and wearing one would be more of a faux-pas than wearing a plain one in the wrong setting.

I am looking forward to your ever-helpful responses!

Regards,

Mathew MacKillop

[Stitchwiz]

IMHO, wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. We have freedom of choice. That is what makes us all unique. We can do what you have done, open the floor for discussion, and then you will have lots of fun trying to decide what you will wear in the right context.

We are not meant to be mirror images of each other - think about how boring it is to see a large group of students who all wear the same uniform. They are trying all kinds of silly things to make themselves stand out from the crowd! Been there, done that, would not want to wish it on anyone.

Sounds like you know yourself very well. (Just watch that the apron may flap in the breeze if you don't have a kilt pin or something similar to weight it down. I know you've thought about it - perhaps fasten a lead weight on the inside of the apron where it won't be seen. Be sure to anchor it in a way that won't distort the tartan - perhaps stitch a little pouch (just big enough to hold the weight) to the apron where the fringe is because you have multiple layers of fabric there.)

Enjoy your kilt and accessories and know that everything you choose to wear is just right for you. And everyone else is free to do the same.

[The Wizard of BC]

Well yes, there are some who will tell you that you should wear something specific and in a specific way, (and put it in such a way as to make it a rule) and there are some who will tell you to wear what you've already got.

I just wear what I like and what suits me. I'm not a fancy dresser and I don't like much of what is put forth by some as Highland Wear. So instead I wear things like this when I am going out.

[Mathew MacKillop]

Oh Great Wizard Steve, you are a man after my own tastes. I could easily see myself in a very similar outfit, and be happy to wear it to almost any event. I might want to notch it up with a black Wallace jacket for really formal attire, or spice things up with a red tie or something similar, but you're telling me and showing me exactly what I wanted to hear. No fur sporrans for this guy!

[Dughlas mor]

It sounds to me like a nice day sporran would serve your purposes just fine. If you should ever find yourself at a fancier evening event wearing your black day sporran, you certainly wouldn`t be the first to do so, and probably not the only one there doing it. I consider the "semi formal" sporrans to be day sporrans with fur fronts, and they are fine if you like them, but I don`t think they look any more formal than a nice day sporran. Going by the way you say you want to dress and where you plan to be when kilted, I don`t think you have much to worry about.

[The Wizard of BC]

I'm sorry I don't have one in my shop right now, but, you could consider a black version of this all leather sporran.

[Liam]

From your post it would seem to me that you have already formed your opinion of what you like and dislike, so my advice is to go for it, whatever it is. Although my opinions differ from yours, I have always tended to do what I prefer, not what others do.
Cheers...

[Mathew MacKillop]

Very nice! I like the shape, and the style of the lower half, but if I were shopping at this moment I would look for something similar without the studs and without the central design or multi-layer leather at the top. Strangely, I could see myself admiring that very sporran on someone else, without necessarily wanting to wear it myself. I think I may be in a category that takes "simple" and "un-ornamented" to a new level.

[Macman]

My take, from a traditional point of view, is that if you're not planning on attending any black or white tie functions, and you're planning on wearing the sporran with nothing more formal than a tweed jacket, then a plain sporran is perfect for any time of day or night.

Edit: to hopefully clarify: if the event is not formal (black or white tie), then the 18:00 "rule" is not in effect.

[Mike S]

Very nice! I like the shape, and the style of the lower half, but if I were shopping at this moment I would look for something similar without the studs and without the central design or multi-layer leather at the top. Strangely, I could see myself admiring that very sporran on someone else, without necessarily wanting to wear it myself. I think I may be in a category that takes "simple" and "un-ornamented" to a new level.

As minimalist as you seem to be, it would appear that a plain military style leather sporran is what you are after:

http://www.landmhighland.com/index.p...roducts_id=963