horse hair sporran only for pipers???

[Nervous Jock]

I'm not sure I agree with this statement. The PC is very appropriate for Burns Suppers, Tartan/St. Andrew's Balls, etc.

Regards,

Todd

Agreed, I would say a PC is appropriate to any black tie evening function although the Argyll has its place too

[bum357]

thanks for the replys guys. i did not realise that it was a non functioning dress item. i would not cut the hair of a real sporran (only a synthetic) it just does not feel right. as for wearing a PC to this function - that will be fine, no one will be looking at the jacket anyway. i'm pretty sure i will shock them just wearing the kilt.

[PiobBear]

i like the look of the horsehair sporran...i was thinking about getting a synthetic one and shorting the hair so that it looks smaller - not so overwhelming.

Most non-military Victorian sporrans you see in pictures are goat, not horsehair (If I can ever find a decent cantle, I'm going to make one. Fashionable or not, I really like the look with evening wear).

1. They're supposed to be overwhelming. Consider the Argyll officer's full-dress "swinging six":


2. The synthetic horsehair sporrans I've seen are shiny slinky snow-white Barbie-doll hair or something; not at all what I'm looking for in a sporran.

3. If you cut it, it's yours forever; it'll have absolute zero resale value. Everyone will look at it and think it's a butchered horsehair sporran, and wonder why on Earth somebody would do that.

Unless your company function is extremely formal I would not suggest wearing a PC to it. The PC jacket is pretty much the formal equivalent of a coat and tails. The PC is great for an formal embassy dinner or a groom at a wedding, but not your run of the mill formal event. If the other guys will be wearing regular tuxedos then I would suggest wearing a black Argyle jacket instead and consider wearing a semi-dress sporran if you don't like the fur sporrans.

I'm quite positive that I disagree with this statement. Think of a Prince Charlie (with waistcoat, tux shirt & black bow tie) as the equivalent of a tuxedo; an Argyll jacket (with oxford shirt and Windsor-knot tie; with or without waistcoat) as the equivalent of a business suit, and a tweed jacket as the equivalent of a sportcoat.

While I go black tie all the time, I've only done two white tie events in the past five years. I simply change out my black waistcoat, tie, & studs for white. I wear Argyll hose, buckle shoes, plaid & dirk to both.

[Kilted Christian]

Yes, I've understood that the length of the piper horsehair sporran is also to balance out the rest of the ensemble - the full regalia. To this end, you might want an nicely balanced horsehair like in Matt's photo. I think this is like other aspects of Highland style clothing; go with what you like if you follow the basic rules. I don't think automatic no-no on horsehair unless you're a piper is a basic rule.

[Gary Krueger]

Our band Cabar Feidh Pipes and Drums wears what is known as "summer military" an open collar tan short sleeve navy uniform shirt (with our military ribbons on the left and our band ribbons on the right we don't ever mix military and civilian) Glengarry with Cock's feather, Horsehair Sporan (thank goodness that our kiltmaker put a small pocket on the face of Kilt's the under apron.) Matching tartan style socks with green flashes, spats and comfortable shoes. Of course our kilts This is generally worn for parades.

For competions and other gigs we wear day wear. Glengarry with black hackle, Argyle jacket, vest, White military shirt with black tie, Dayware sporran, white hose with green flashes, gillies. and of course our kilts.

When going out I wear my muted Ross Weathered hunting and a tweed jacket...actually it's my picture above left. Black shirt, and black tie, black hose with tartan flashes and comfortable shoes.

As long as you are happy and look good...what the heck, eh?

[KiltedKop45]

I'm really getting alot out of this thread. I have not had the occasion to go formal YET, But I already have a Beautiful white Angora sheep sporran with black horsehair tassels. I plan on wearing it when I go to Dumfries next year for the Burns Supper. Thanks for all the advise.. I agree with most of the others. Find a fur sporran that will not overpower your wardrobe, and by all means get one with a pouch or you will have to ask your Wife/ date to hold all of your things for you.

[Nervous Jock]

will have to ask your Wife/ date to hold all of your things for you.

Keep your hands on your money

[Nanook]

Most non-military Victorian sporrans you see in pictures are goat, not horsehair (If I can ever find a decent cantle, I'm going to make one. Fashionable or not, I really like the look with evening wear).

Mixed. I seem to have seen all kinds of hairs.

1. They're supposed to be overwhelming. Consider the Argyll officer's full-dress "swinging six":

One can well argue that the entire Highland regalia is intended to be "overwhelming".

I would, however, be careful with the "military" and "civilian" divide since they both, in the context of Highland garb, play off one another. At the core, however, of nearly all our modern "civilian" suiting (business to leisure suits) is a "military" uniform. Uniforms were throughout the modern industrial era the motor and inspiration to fashion.

Horse hair sporrans (in their functional forms) I see, like full mask sporrans, as "universal". As suited (or one might argue ill-suited) to day as to evening attire. The gold guilt officer's sporrans I find a bit too much (unless, of course, one is an officer) but the standard issue sporrans with white metal and patent leather cantles I think are very nice. My favorite pattern is the Black Watch (5 balls). The badges one can view as "fan gear" or (again, in contrast to the officer's pattern) easily replace with something less specific (despite pattern).

[Phil]

Here are some hair sporans - - I think goat hair was the usual hair used for them. At one time they were the usual sporan for a dressy occasion but they have been superseded by the smaller furry type over the last 50 years or so. This is the kind of look - - a bit over the top. I have seen people wearing them occasionally though and there is no reason why you shouldn't. It certainly looks different!

[JamieKerr]

I apologize for reviving this dead thread, but I see that this question has not been dealt with recently. I've looked through the responses present in this thread, and am simply looking to see if anyone else has any views on this topic. I think I like the look of the horsehair sporrans, and would like more opinions on them. Also, I see that many of them are non-functional. Is there really any way to tell if one has a pocket or not?