wearing the sporran

[ehillbaird]

what is the correct hieght for a sporran?

[thescot]

I am guesing that you mean where to wear it.

I try to wear it very near my kilt belt, no more than three fingers or so below. I don't like othe drropy look of wearing it to low, and I have found that it can be quite uncomfortable.

Go here--http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f98/greenville-pics-59601/--and scroll down through the photos.

[BLHS209]

If I remember correctly, I have read that it should be about a fist below the belt buckle. But saying that I went to a book and "the top of a small sporran should not be lower than about a hand's breadth below your navel." Going on -"If you decide to wear your sporran so, however, you must put up with the fact that you will be wearing it a few inches higher than other people." Quote from So You're Going To Wear The Kilt!, by J. Charles Thompson - 3rd revised edition, 1989, pgs 75-76

[ehillbaird]

thank you for all your answers. I want to appologize for the confusion with the question.

[Snowbear]

Wear it how it's most comfortable. When walking around a lot I tend to hang my sporran about 4 fingers beneath my belt. When sitting, I tend to wear it a wee bit lower for the comfort of the sporran pressing the apron down propperly.

[figheadair]

If I remember correctly, I have read that it should be about a fist below the belt buckle. But saying that I went to a book and "the top of a small sporran should not be lower than about a hand's breadth below your navel." Going on -"If you decide to wear your sporran so, however, you must put up with the fact that you will be wearing it a few inches higher than other people." Quote from So You're Going To Wear The Kilt!, by J. Charles Thompson - 3rd revised edition, 1989, pgs 75-76

Oh dear but no! This is not regimental dress we're talking about and there are no rules. My advice is to avoid Scotty Thompson's book like the plague as it's too full of rules that are completely rediculous and have no historical, or inded practical basis such as the only correct shoes for wear with a kilt are black brogues or the sgian dubh is worn in the right sock. The only don't in this is don't wear it too low or will interfer with the hang of the apron.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Wear it where it is comfortable. Generally, this will be a few inches (a handsbreadth, as they say) beneath the belt. The problem with wearing it too low is that it tends to slip and slide around, and it interferes with the hang of the kilt apron.

Wearing it a handsbreadth beneath your belt is great advice -- if you are wearing a belt.

If I'm wearing a waistcoat, I tend to wear my sporrans just a tad lower than otherwise, to make sure that the top of the sporran clears the bottom of the waistcoat.

If I'm not wearing either a belt or a waistcoat, I tend to wear my sporran a tad higher than otherwise, bringing it up closer to wear my belt would otherwise be. I just think it looks better given the absense of a belt.

The point is that it needs to feel secure and comfortable when you wear it. If you wear it too low, it will feel neither.

And if you have any kind of a belly on you, please make sure that your sporran is not so low that it slips beneath your belly, which not only accentuates your girth, but also makes the kilt apron hang horribly.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Oh dear but no! This is not regimental dress we're talking about and there are no rules. My advice is to avoid Scotty Thompson's book like the plague as it's too full of rules that are completely rediculous and have no historical, or inded practical basis such as the only correct shoes for wear with a kilt are black brogues or the sgian dubh is worn in the right sock. The only don't in this is don't wear it too low or will interfer with the hang of the apron.

Peter,

I once had someone who was retired British military criticize my dress because the turn over on the cuff of my hose was either an inch too short, or too long (can't recall now). Point is, it was not "regulation."

I had to politely remind him that I was not in the military and was not wearing a uniform.

I find Thompsons's book to be a handy guide so long as you take what he says as opinion (and 30 to 40 year old opinion, at that) and not the "rule book."

[BLHS209]

Yes, the book may be "strict" but when there isn't anything else available (before finding XMTS), it is a good place to start. And yes, it is meant to be a guide, not the be all to end all.

[OC Richard]

what is the correct hieght for a sporran?

Rather than giving my opinion or inventing a rule or quoting somebody else's opinion or rule, let's just have a look-see:

late 18th century:



early 19th century:



circa 1860:







around 1900:







and in the military: