Too "Matchy-Matchy"?

[OC Richard]

Looks like something Elton John would wear on stage.

Like this?

[azwildcat96]

I like to consider myself a "traditionalist", although I proudly wear an Eddie Brat sporran (have a look here) whenever possible, because his workmanship is incredible, they are wearable works of art, and they're just plain fun!

For the traditionalist in me, I'd reserve the colored leather for a liner in a more traditionally colored leather bag.

Having said that, I firmly believe that there are no kilt police! ...so do what you want.

Maybe this post won't help you...

[Thekiltedmohawk]

I like to consider myself a "traditionalist", although I proudly wear an Eddie Brat sporran (have a look here) whenever possible, because his workmanship is incredible, they are wearable works of art, and they're just plain fun!

For the traditionalist in me, I'd reserve the colored leather for a liner in a more traditionally colored leather bag.

Having said that, I firmly believe that there are no kilt police! ...so do what you want.

Maybe this post won't help you...

I'd love to wear this http://www.eddiebratleather.com/prod...h-beer-barrel/ for St. Patrick's Day. I thought it's the perfect sporran to wear!

[The Q]

I quite like the blue sporran with that tartan. Wearing sporran of the majority colour of a kilt to me works as well as black. Even for formal occasions.

For non formal occasions while I don't like to see a kilt with out a sporran ( it just seems naked, like claiming its a kilt without pleats).
The actual shape colour and form of the sporran I think can be much more individual than is often the current practice.
I am looking at making a sporran with different symbols that can be fitted to the front i.e. rough collie (wife hobby) or yeoman keelboat (my hobby) probably held on with Velcro.
I would wear some of those brat sporrans but prefer a home made solution.

[Manxstralian]

[QUOTE=Antipodean Celt;1290229]

Gorgeous sporran, gorgeous kilts. It all looks great to me, though of course you traditionally wouldn't have a blue sporran.

If I had a blue sporran I'd wear it with a kilt that didn't have a load of blue in it. What pops into my "eye" is how nice that blue sporran would look with a saffron kilt. (Complimentary colours and all that)]

Hi Cameron,

I was thinking the same thing as OC Richard. A blue bag like that would look splendid accompanied with a saffron or ochre coloured tartan. Australia tartan for instance?

So don't be hasty; non-traditional it maybe, but I am sure it would look fantastic in the right combination.

all the best,

John

Oh, no, I'm pretty sure I'm all done with kilt buying, I think the two Manx is enough....
I quite like the blue bag with the hunting tartan, I'll just make a brown and black bag for the cantle, possibly also a wallaby fur bag as well (I'm sure I have some wallaby fur in a box somewhere), or a fox fur bag. I didn't think that the blue leather would be seen as so "non-traditional", but I'm not knowledgable about the history of the dyeing of leather.
On another note, in an evening-wear (not black or white tie specifically, more like a dinner at a good restaurant, or going to the theatre) perspective, is the brass cantle acceptable? I do have a chrome plated cantle sporran, but I prefer the functional brass.

Cheers,

Cameron

[Manxstralian]

Cameron ,

Suede can be a fickle thing . I have never had much luck with it . There are many shades of brown that would work great with your Manx Hunting tartan ( which is a great looking tartan by the way )

Best of luck on the next sporran bag .

Cheers , Mike

Here's the old suede bag, I quite liked the colour, but it didn't hold up to any actual wear. I'll be getting some leather in a similar shade soon, and also some black. I do like the very simple style of sporran with no tassles, although I may try a simple knotted central tassle at some stage.

Cheers,

Cameron

[Downunder Kilt]

Stick with your functional brass cantle Cameron. I am of the opinion that it would be most acceptable at black tie also, after all it was originally issued for the coronation of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in 1953

[Manxstralian]

Stick with your functional brass cantle Cameron. I am of the opinion that it would be most acceptable at black tie also, after all it was originally issued for the coronation of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in 1953

Really? I wasn't aware of that.
Such a great cantle, I'm very happy I was able to get one. If I'd had the presence of mind, I would have gotten two, and gotten one silver plated, but I'm happy with what I got.

On another note, we should do a Melbourne XMarks meetup!

Cheers,

Cameron

[OC Richard]

About matchy-matchy I came across this guy... woah! At least he doesn't have a black sporran, shirt, and tie



like this



Yes about those MOD "Culloden" sporrans, in 1953 when it was time for a big do for the coronation of Elizabeth as Queen the army had to face the fact that, since Full Dress had been withdrawn in 1914, soldiers had nothing more fancy than khaki Battledress or at best khaki Service Dress.

So, an all-new "No1 Dress" was devised which was, as we would say today, "retro". It included a Balmoral/TOS in dark blue which Highland troops had worn since at least the 18th century, an 18th century style sporran, and a Coatee (which the army had worn 1800-1855). So yes there was some epoch-mixing going on! I believe this costume when first introduced was called "Coronation Dress".

Here it is! Worn by the Gordon Highlander on the left. The piper as you can see retains the horsehair sporran and Glengarry. The evil thing about those Culloden sporrans is that they covered them with pipeclay, a messy affair. Oftentimes one can find one which was never worn, with the bag in its original suedelike brown state.



Here are more soldiers of the 1950s & 1960s wearing those sporrans. You can see that ORs and officers wore the same kind. Interesting that they chose Archer Green for the jackets rather than red, which British troops had long worn. Archer Green started out as the doublets for the pipers of the Cameron Highlanders (green being their old "facing colour" and musicians long having worn "reversed colours" jackets) in the 1840s and by mid-century had spread to the pipers of the other Highland regiments. Who would have known, in 1850, that the entire Highland infantry would be put into piper's jackets a century later!



Here's a number of old Gordon Highlanders MOD Culloden sporrans in various states



The MOD Culloden sporran Artificer re-bagged for me has become my favourite; here's my mostly anti-matchy outfit, with hose and flashes and tie having colours which do not occur in the kilt.

[Stitchwiz]

The MOD Culloden sporran Artificer re-bagged for me has become my favourite; here's my mostly anti-matchy outfit, with hose and flashes and tie having colours which do not occur in the kilt.

And it all works! The tones and hues all have the same value so everything goes together just fine, Richard.
The colour of the jacket goes with the light stripe in the tartan. The shirt is the right colour for the jacket and the tartan (snow white would have been all wrong). The blue in your hose leads the eye into the colours of the tartan and vice versa. And the silver in the tie does the same. The red in the tie is the pop of colour which connects with the flashes.
Not planned, I'm sure, but even the mellow aging of the ivories of your pipes is perfect! (Not that you would ever want to change them.)

As stated before, you have a good eye, Richard. Very handsome indeed!