Wedding attire ideas brainstorming…

[OC Richard]

Personally, I love a more vintage/historical look. The looks in MacLeay, have many parts that continue on to the present in terms of traditional and acceptable. Some items are less "acceptable" by some, but can be pulled off (in my opinion) without looking costumey. Patterned (tartan) hose with daywear, hair sporrans in the same situation, boots, etc. are examples of this.

Yes it's a bit of a grey area! Thing is, in the early 20th century Highland Dress became rigidly systematised with Day and Evening dress having specific sporrans, jackets, hose, footwear, etc.

The 19th century was far less rigid and things were mixed fairly freely, which makes the MacLeay portraits (and photos of the same period showing the same things) so refreshing to me.

I do the same thing, my go-to sporran, goat hair (which in 20th century Highland Dress doesn't belong anywhere) worn with tweed



In the spirit of these guys

[Profane James]

It's long been the way, from the 2nd quarter of the 19th century to now.

The idea that the sporran should end at the bottom edge of the kilt is entirely modern and flies in the face of tradition.

IMO, Looks better with the natural taper at the bottom, rather than the sharp corners. Again, IMO, with the sharp corners, it would look better at the same length of the kilt - otherwise suggest it is being worn too low.
Do you have any old photos of these long sporrans with the natural tapering at the bottom being worn?

[NPG]

I do the same thing, my go-to sporran, goat hair (which in 20th century Highland Dress doesn't belong anywhere) worn with tweed

I love the goat hair sporran, do you mind if I ask where you got yours?

[Father Bill]

Ya' know . . . .

In so many of these threads the discussion needs to be clarified into one of two camps: Do you want to blow people out of the water by fanciful and exciting "bling" or do you want to wear the kilt because it's a good thing to wear.

In the latter case, "less" is always "more". Conservative, "proper" and dignified aparrel is always respectable.

In the former, there are no limits because it's not real anyway, so who cares!

Whether this thread & question falls into the category of such threads, only the OP can say.

[OC Richard]

IMO, Looks better with the natural taper at the bottom, rather than the sharp corners.

I'm with you, the thing about trimming the bottom straight across is a recent military thing, which I don't care for. Odd how the army can be so "retro" in so many things, but at times will go for something completely new and strange.

Do you have any old photos of these long sporrans with the natural tapering at the bottom being worn?

Hundreds of them. Long hair sporrans were standard in all modes of Highland Dress (civilian Day Dress, civilian Evening Dress, and military uniform) from the time they evolved in the early 19th century up to the complete overhaul of Highland Dress in the early 20th century. This left long hair sporrans only worn in military Full Dress, abolished in 1914, though they survived in Levee Dress, Full Dress as worn by some bandsmen, and in civilian pipe band costume.

Long hair sporrans mid-19th century. The one of the left is trimmed, the one on the right ends in the indistinct wispy way one often sees then. Note the sporrans go all the way to the tops of the hose, covering the knees.



Typical civilian Highland Dress of the third quarter of the 19th century





And the "riotous finery" of high Victorian Highland evening costume. Outfits precisely like this were captured by MacLeay, and today are routinely dismissed as being figments of the artist's imagination. Funny how MacLeay's eye, and cameras of the same period, recorded exactly the same things, yet nowadays people reject the paintings as fantasy while pretending the photographs don't exist.

By the way note that the jacket is rather plain, seen time and again in period photographs and MacLeay.

[OC Richard]

I love the goat hair sporran, do you mind if I ask where you got yours?

Ebay.

The cantle is old, probably from the 1920s. The goathair body is new, and has a huge roomy interior, which is why I love wearing it.

Big bottle of beer, and a bottled water?



No problem!

[Profane James]

Wonderful photos! Thank you sir.

['Thogail nam bo]

By the way note that the jacket is rather plain, seen time and again in period photographs and MacLeay.

That is interesting. The simplicity of the jacket is easily overlooked.

[NPG]

Ebay.

The cantle is old, probably from the 1920s. The goathair body is new, and has a huge roomy interior, which is why I love wearing it.

Big bottle of beer, and a bottled water?

No problem!

Ah so a bit of a DIY, that sounds fun. I'll look into something like this, I think the goathair looks rather nice.