Regimental Sporrans

[Troglodyte]

My understanding is that sporrans with long horse hair tassels are associated with highland regiments. Seems questionable to wear one when I have no military experience. Any comment?

There is an association, to be sure. And with pipe-bands, too.

But that is not to say that hair sporrans are out-of-bounds to civilians in any way.

The 19th century saw many a civilian kiltie sporting a hair sporran, and the photographic evidence suggests that the strict day/evening or formal/informal classifications we now go by, were unknown back then.

This picture has been shown on this forum before, but it serves the purpose again - even if there is a suspicion that it has been staged. Said to be a smith in Pitlochry, our fine fellow is sporting both a hair sporran and tartan hose.

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There is an abundance of same era photos of ghillies and other equally down-to-earth professionals who are shown kilted with hair sporrans, going about their rough-and-ready activities.

The white hair and dark tassel sporrans have a distinct 'dressy' look to them, but the dark hair versions - especially those with a leather cantle, such as the London Scottish use - lend themselves very well to informal daywear.

If you fancy using one, why not..?

[User]

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It seems to be universally accepted that a kilt should end somewhere between the top and the middle of the knee. But that kilt appears to end at the bottom of the knee, and it looks mighty fine in my opinion. I'm tempted to try a bottom-of-the-knee kilt. I do a lot of sitting, and a little extra length doesn't seem like a bad idea to me.

I know there are two schools of thought: If it's not traditional, it's wrong. Or do whatever you want, there are no rules. But at times I find myself torn between them. I don't want to look like I don't know what I'm doing. But sometimes I know what I'm doing, I'm just choosing to ignore convention.

[figheadair]

It seems to be universally accepted that a kilt should end somewhere between the top and the middle of the knee. But that kilt appears to end at the bottom of the knee, and it looks mighty fine in my opinion. I'm tempted to try a bottom-of-the-knee kilt. I do a lot of sitting, and a little extra length doesn't seem like a bad idea to me.

I know there are two schools of thought: If it's not traditional, it's wrong. Or do whatever you want, there are no rules. But at times I find myself torn between them. I don't want to look like I don't know what I'm doing. But sometimes I know what I'm doing, I'm just choosing to ignore convention.

I would lay money on that kilt being a hand-me-down and not made for him. The length is therefore not an historically reliable guide.

Oh and there are very definitely some rules, pleats at the front for example.

[User]

I would lay money on that kilt being a hand-me-down and not made for him. The length is therefore not an historically reliable guide.

Bah, you're probably right. Still looks good to me. But after additional thought, maybe I should reconsider a long kilt. The average person doesn't really know what a kilt is, so I may be one of the few examples they'll see in person. As such, it may be better to give people a more proper example.
Or maybe I'm overthinking this and should go for it. I can always hem it after realizing it's a mistake.

Oh and there are very definitely some rules, pleats at the front for example.

Heh, touche.

[figheadair]

Bah, you're probably right. Still looks good to me. But after additional thought, maybe I should reconsider a long kilt. The average person doesn't really know what a kilt is, so I may be one of the few examples they'll see in person. As such, it may be better to give people a more proper example.
Or maybe I'm overthinking this and should go for it. I can always hem it after realizing it's a mistake.

A hem was often put on a child's kilt to allow for growth, I've even seen the odd adult on done that way but it is invariably done when using poor quality cloth. A good quality cloth with a descent selvedge or, heaven forbid a tuck edge, does not need to be hemmed and doing so will affect the the movement of the cloth, and not in a good way.

[OC Richard]

A hem was often put on a child's kilt to allow for growth, I've even seen the odd adult on done that way but it is invariably done when using poor quality cloth. A good quality cloth with a descent selvedge or, heaven forbid a tuck edge, does not need to be hemmed and doing so will affect the the movement of the cloth, and not in a good way.

Sadly in the Pipe Band world, where a "band set" of kilts might be worn for a half-century or longer, kilts are unceremoniously altered as needed to fit current band members.

Even though they're quality hand-stitched heavyweight wool kilts they get hemmed and un-hemmed repeatedly, have the straps and buckles moved and replaced, and even the horror of having a new hole cut in the kilt for the strap on the under-apron to pass through.

As the band's kilt-fixer I've un-done all sorts of things.

What can't be readily fixed are the holes in the upper-apron which invariably occur with bands who wear kilt pins.

[kingandrew]

I've always hankered after a horsehair sporran, with a roomy bag, to upgrade from the white bunny fur model I currently wear with my Prince Charlie for formal events. I love the traditional look of the hairy sporrans, and I think it would look dashing on the dance floor as well.

For day wear, I have a couple of nice leather bags. One is a very roomy Rob Roy style, the other a fairly roomy black rectangular job with leather tassles across the front.

Andrew