Brown sporran with eveningwear?

[RichardtheLarge]

I’m curious what the rabble thinks about sporrans with brown leather components being used for eveningwear (black tie, in this case). I’ve seen a couple of examples of this type of sporran lately:

https://thehighlandshoppe.com/produc...dress-sporran/
https://www.kinlochanderson.com/shop...-chain-tassels

Yea or nay? If one wore this with a black bow tie, how would he do it? Black or brown shoes? Black or brown sporran strap/belt? Could one wear it with a black barathea jacket/vest, or would one need a blue, green, or burgundy jacket to play with these earth tones for formalwear?

[revdpatience]

In my opinion, the first example you show would work for evening dress with no changes to any other component of the outfit -- black tie, black jacket, black shoes. The reason? It's a metal cantle with fur body and only a little bit of leather that happens to be brown.

In my opinion, the second example wouldn't work at all because the brown leather body with a brown leather flap is a daywear style (as opposed to the metal cantle).

Those two opinions, plus two dollars, still won't buy you a cup of coffee.

Yea or nay? If one wore this with a black bow tie, how would he do it? Black or brown shoes? Black or brown sporran strap/belt? Could one wear it with a black barathea jacket/vest, or would one need a blue, green, or burgundy jacket to play with these earth tones for formalwear?

[Luke MacGillie]

Are you having some confusion on terms? Brown sporrans or shoes are just not worn with formal attire. But not every social gathering in the evening is a formal event.

[FossilHunter]

Brown fur on a metal cantled sporran is fine for an formal sporran.

I think the flap sporran with no cantle and brown leather would only be suitable for informal day use.

[RichardtheLarge]

Are you having some confusion on terms? Brown sporrans or shoes are just not worn with formal attire. But not every social gathering in the evening is a formal event.

I guess I’m more curious about how rigid this convention is, or should be. Here’s a fashion designer in what appears to be a brown velvet tuxedo with brown shoes and black bow tie and lapels. It breaks several “rules” simultaneously, but I rather like the overall effect:
https://smhttp-ssl-39255.nexcesscdn....es-606x900.jpg

[Father Bill]

Let's just stay aware, folks, that there are some whole different worlds out there. As soon as you say 'fashion designer' you're talking about someone whose whole life is dedicated to breaking rules and pushing boundaries.

Same applies to "semi-formal". It's really neither, neither fish nor fowl, just someone's attempt to create something different from what would have been 'out there' at the time it was created. No, it really isn't formal. It also really isn't day-wear either.

There is a tremendous movement in today's world that asks "How can we do this differently," rather than, "How can we do this well?" The same thinking has also come up with some of the strangest creations imaginable in other parts of the fashion world, in architecture, in church liturgies, in the world of work, in every place you can imagine.

The questions for us as kilties, is "When does it stop being Scottish and just create a habitation of its own," and, "Is that what we want?"

[Luke MacGillie]

I guess I’m more curious about how rigid this convention is, or should be. Here’s a fashion designer in what appears to be a brown velvet tuxedo with brown shoes and black bow tie and lapels. It breaks several “rules” simultaneously, but I rather like the overall effect:
https://smhttp-ssl-39255.nexcesscdn....es-606x900.jpg

There is no accounting for bad taste, except in the pocket books of designers who try and sell such tripe to the public and a loss of social capital of the wearers. Appearing in such should lead to public snubs, and a distinct tapering off of invitations to social events, perhaps even hosts recalling invitations for already RSVP'd events. We don't do shame anymore, and that is a shame.

[RichardtheLarge]

There is no accounting for bad taste, except in the pocket books of designers who try and sell such tripe to the public and a loss of social capital of the wearers. Appearing in such should lead to public snubs, and a distinct tapering off of invitations to social events, perhaps even hosts recalling invitations for already RSVP'd events. We don't do shame anymore, and that is a shame.

To clarify this point—supposing there was a highland black tie event, and guests wore doublets of various colors, including black, blue, green, burgundy, and brown. Do you propose ejecting the guest in the brown doublet and permitting doublets in all the other colors?

[jthk]

There is no accounting for bad taste, except in the pocket books of designers who try and sell such tripe to the public and a loss of social capital of the wearers. Appearing in such should lead to public snubs, and a distinct tapering off of invitations to social events, perhaps even hosts recalling invitations for already RSVP'd events. We don't do shame anymore, and that is a shame.

Just putting it out there that I completely disagree with the second statement; don't think shame in this context is a healthy way to deal with people. But then again, as that famous saying goes about everyone having opinions and other ... things. Haha!

[RichardtheLarge]

In my opinion, the first example you show would work for evening dress with no changes to any other component of the outfit -- black tie, black jacket, black shoes. The reason? It's a metal cantle with fur body and only a little bit of leather that happens to be brown.

In my opinion, the second example wouldn't work at all because the brown leather body with a brown leather flap is a daywear style (as opposed to the metal cantle).

Those two opinions, plus two dollars, still won't buy you a cup of coffee.

Take a look at the second sporran’s counterpart: same theme, same styling, same fur, but black leather instead of brown:
https://www.kinlochanderson.com/shop...-chain-tassels

These are both “semi formal” sporrans, which in theory could serve for both dressy daywear and eveningwear—or so most of the books I’ve read suggest. Whether the presence of brown leather immediately disqualifies the article from evening is the question.

I have an L and M full mask badger sporran, touted as an “wearable at all times” sporran, but the body of the bag is brown leather and visible from the side. The leather inserts of the tassel cones are red leather and visible from the sides and front. If black leather only is the rule, would this sporran be disqualified from evening use?