Sporran Selection Advice...

[RichardtheLarge]

The thing to be aware of, IF you're concerned about Traditional Highland Dress (which many people aren't) is that our Traditional Civilian Highland Dress as it's come down to us has, since around 1900, made a clear distinction between Outdoor/Day Dress and Evening Dress.

Each mode of dress (Day or Eve) has its own dedicated shoes, hose, sporran, shirt, necktie, and jacket.

To mix the two would like be showing up at a formal evening function wearing a tuxedo jacket, board shorts, and flip-flops.

So the first thing I would do in putting together a Highland outfit is decide which mode of dress is being put together.

For Day Dress, the traditional look would be:

-black brogues (plain or wingtips)

-selfcoloured (plain) Day hose in one of a wide variety of colours (Lovat, brown, blue, claret, etc)

-brown leather sporran with or without tassels (matching leather) and with or without fur front

-tweed Day jacket and waistcoat

-tattersall shirt or plain shirt

-necktie plain, striped, or all-over pattern

Now many will argue with some or all of these, but as I said this is the traditional look one has seen throughout the 20th century. Under various pressures it appears to be breaking down nowadays.

I know that it’s traditional, and I know that it’s historical, but I really just don’t like the black brogue and brown sporran together. I’d rather see brown wingtips and brown sporran!

[ThistleDown]

I know that it’s traditional, and I know that it’s historical, but I really just don’t like the black brogue and brown sporran together. I’d rather see brown wingtips and brown sporran!

Yes, but that's a cultural thing. In the US fashion is much more matchy-matchy. In Traditional Highland Civilian Dress (get that right: THCD, emphasis on 'Traditional Highland', followed by 'Civilian' to differentiate from 'Military') you must really forget all those European, UK and now American 'rules' and follow the 'conventions' of the Highlands. It's all good and well if you want to match your sporran, belt and shoes, colours in your tie, tartan and hose, shirt and nosegay, but that isn't how it is traditionally done, as you noted, and what you do therefore is strictly personal choice. How we wear what is traditional, is how we express our personality in the Highlands.

[RichardtheLarge]

Yes, but that's a cultural thing. In the US fashion is much more matchy-matchy. In Traditional Highland Civilian Dress (get that right: THCD, emphasis on 'Traditional Highland', followed by 'Civilian' to differentiate from 'Military') you must really forget all those European, UK and now American 'rules' and follow the 'conventions' of the Highlands. It's all good and well if you want to match your sporran, belt and shoes, colours in your tie, tartan and hose, shirt and nosegay, but that isn't how it is traditionally done, as you noted, and what you do therefore is strictly personal choice. How we wear what is traditional, is how we express our personality in the Highlands.

In that case, I’d rather see tan wingtips and a brown sporran.

[ThistleDown]

In that case, I’d rather see tan wingtips and a brown sporran.

It's actually the black brogues that are traditional, so you might think of the bit of personalising for you in green (red/brown/blue, etc.) laces. Away off into your creative mind with possibilities there. Of course, you might also like the Red Hot Chili Pipers' take on sporrans . Look them up. If you don't know The Chili Pipers, they're great! Flashy, but good performers and it's fun what they wear traditionally.

[McMurdo]

My first sporran was my dad's old one, he gave it to me as it was collecting dust in a drawer somewhere in the house. I still wear it often in fact I was wearing it yesterday. It is a simple 3 tassel brown day wear sporran that he got when he was a scout in Scotland in 1950. Here he is wearing it in 1950



Here I am wearing it yesterday

]

I would purchase the best sporran you can afford that is a classic style, anything too modern will be dated in a few years, the sporran we are wearing is 68 years old now and it is still in great shape, something to think about.

[Baeau]

.....I would purchase the best sporran you can afford that is a classic style, anything too modern will be dated in a few years, the sporran we are wearing is 68 years old now and it is still in great shape, something to think about.....

Ta! I was showing this to 'She' a moment ago. Her comment, "He doesn't look 68". My reply, "Not him, the sporran!" 'She', "I wasn't looking there!!" Again, my thanks for the advice, & the fun moment. The last few weeks for us, have been really tough. We need some humour, to share a lighter moment.

[Terry Searl]

My first sporran was my dad's old one, he gave it to me as it was collecting dust in a drawer somewhere in the house. I still wear it often in fact I was wearing it yesterday. It is a simple 3 tassel brown day wear sporran that he got when he was a scout in Scotland in 1950. Here he is wearing it in 1950



Here I am wearing it yesterday

]

I would purchase the best sporran you can afford that is a classic style, anything too modern will be dated in a few years, the sporran we are wearing is 68 years old now and it is still in great shape, something to think about.

Truly a treasure McMurdo , I have a couple of pocket watches that were my father's and am thrilled now that I have attire I can wear them with........ completely aside ......has that brown-ish jacket you are wearing been cut down for a kilt jacket or is it the usual lenth for wearing with trousers.....thanks

[McMurdo]

Truly a treasure McMurdo , I have a couple of pocket watches that were my father's and am thrilled now that I have attire I can wear them with........ completely aside ......has that brown-ish jacket you are wearing been cut down for a kilt jacket or is it the usual lenth for wearing with trousers.....thanks

This Argyll jacket is Harris Tweed made as a kilt jacket not a conversion it is from Keith Scott Complete Outfitters Dundee. I think it is from the 1950's I purchased it over 10 years ago at a local tartan shop on consignment for $40.00. It features genuine horn buttons not plastic. I suppose it might look that way because I'm not that tall. Oh I also have the kilt he was wearing, but it shrunk in my closet.

[Terry Searl]

This Argyll jacket is Harris Tweed made as a kilt jacket not a conversion it is from Keith Scott Complete Outfitters Dundee. I think it is from the 1950's I purchased it over 10 years ago at a local tartan shop on consignment for $40.00. It features genuine horn buttons not plastic. I suppose it might look that way because I'm not that tall. Oh I also have the kilt he was wearing, but it shrunk in my closet.

Thanx for the quick reply McMurdo. Double teasures then. The brown tweed jacket looks great on you and what an incredible find .......the searching and finding is half the fun isn't it....
My query was because sometimes photos make things appear different than they really are, especially backs to front and fronts to back.......I really enjoy the photos and comments you post of your different attires.....each one looks great .....cheers

[tokareva]

McMurdo, what tartan is that your dad was wearing in the pic? Thanks.