Formal Sporran with Tweed Argyll

[Troglodyte]

You will receive a range of opinions in response to your query, but, in general terms, there are a few factors to bare in mind.

Smart is not the same as formal, and whilst tweed can appear very smart indeed, it is essentially informal. In the UK, tweed is casual-wear, being the work clothes of ghillies and gamekeepers, and the preference of sporting gents.

Allthough it is now seldom heard, a tweed jacket is known by soldiers as a change-coat, and a half-change by schoolboys. Meaning it is the garment of choice when lounging around off duty, for its informality and casual comfort.

There are no written rules, but convention governs what is thought proper, and the less ornate the sporran, the better suited it is for daytime activities.

But a wedding is quite a different situation all together.

The bride's preferences set the rules to follow, and dressing up an informal (albeit very smart) tweed-and-kilt outfit with a more ornate 'trimmed' sporran is going to upset no-one. What some would call evening sporrans (the fur front and metal trimmed sort) are often seen here in Scotland at Highland Games.

The fluffy white and silver-trimmed sporrans are best left of evening use, but a mid- or dark-toned fur sporran with a metal cantle can work very well. The chrome finish can be too shiny, an the 'antique' finish looks better in daylight anyway.

The trick is knowing how to carry it off. No matter how smart and formal garments are, if they are worn loose, sloppy and slovenly, that is how they will appear - and be recorded for ever on the photos..! Conversely, good tweeds worn neatly will find approval in even the most critical eye.

The picture has been taken at a Games in Scotland, and perhaps gives you the answer you need.

Ballater Games 1.jpg