Dress Sporrans

[Verlyn]

Can anyone tell me how it came about that dress sporrans are the ones with fur and the smooth leather sporrans are considered day or casual sporrans? My daughter's fiance was showing me the sporran he wanted to order for the wedding and my wife asked why fur? We told her it was for dress, so the next question was why. We have no clue. So, I'm open to finding out that answer. Thanks in advance.

[Planopiper]

Maybe it's like with jackets. Leather is for daily wear. Fur is formal. Fur is more difficult to work with and maintain so fur items are more expensive to produce and to own. That's usually criteria enough to make something dressy as opposed to casual.

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Hey Verlyn, there are NUMEROUS sources for the facts, and I'll let those with the better links throw those on here.

As for the Dress/Formal sporran for the wedding... I did NOT wear one at mine. It had nothing to do with the cost or the availability (as I own a Piper's horse hair sporran) but was a conscious choice not to have it detract from the Irish National Tartan or (much more importantly) the bride's gown. If he should decide to go with a more casual one, there ARE options available that are a light fur on a day sporran. It's a GREAT alternative.

Just a suggestion off the track.

Okay you historians... start posting those links!~

[Verlyn]

Thanks for the answers so far. In retrospect, I think the one he was looking at may be a day sporran with light fur. Still, the history behind this would be interesting, although planopiper's idea makes sense to me. Todd? Are you going to weigh in on this?

[Big Paul]

I wore a Semi-formal (light fur) sporran a my wedding. I worked out great. If the gallery ever gets back up and running (Hint, hint Hank) you ould see it.

[macwilkin]

Todd? Are you going to weigh in on this?

The kilted reference librarian is still trying to find a source for the answer! <grin>

Cheers,

Todd

[Bob C]

I wore a white rabbit fur sporran with a cantle at my wedding. The white actually complemented my bride's dress very nicely. It's a little sideways in the attached picture.

To the purists who will notice the sash is on her wrong shoulder, I know that already. I was nervous, ok?