What's the story on the huge hairy sporrans

[Bugbear]

Yes, this is true, and that's why many like them. Each to his own, of course. But if we start saying that anything that's more decoration than use doesn't really belong with the kilt, then we would also not wear:

sgians dubh
Braemar cuffs
gauntlet cuffs
epaulets
buckle brogues
waistcoats
any pocket which is sewn shut
heck, even the kilt itself!

I'm not sure why decoration is something that should be avoided. It is, after all, much of the reason we wear the kilt! These are not strictly utilitarian garments. Decoration is every bit a part of the kilt as comfort and utility. As long as something doesn't actually impede functionality, why would we want to take away the decoration?

Exactly. That's somewhat like how it went for me.

I just wouldn't feel right about wearing all the decoration, not that I care if someone else does.

I would have prefered the plain smaller sporran to the huge hairy one for my own personal use.

[Tobus]

As a sidebar, learning the Highland tradition of males being the ones who wear ornate decoration while the females dress more plainly (relatively speaking) has been an interesting journey. I grew up wearing Saxon dress, where men are supposed to be dressed in a rather drab manner. A little flash of colour with a tie or pocket square is about as far as you can go with that. Maybe the sparkle of some nice jewelry. And the women are the ones who wear bright colours and ornately-decorated dresses. They can get away with feathers, flowers, wild hats, and all sorts of things that would be downright scandalous on a man.

My wife, bless her heart, has had an interesting time adjusting to the mentality of Highland tradition. She jokingly calls me the peacock and herself the pea hen. But I still occasionally sort of cringe at the idea of strutting around like a peacock, showing off fancy, ornate decorations in my wardrobe. It's hard to let go of the Saxon dress mentality sometimes. I find myself recently, though, embracing the Highland dress mentality more and more. While most average (non-Scot) men would guffaw at the idea of wearing something so "in your face" as a long horse hair sporran, I revel in it. It's quite liberating!

[McClef]

Distinction has to be made between what decorates and enhances and what, to be frank, obscures,

Simples.

[Dale-of-Cedars]

Distinction has to be made between what decorates and enhances and what, to be frank, obscures,

Simples.

Mayhaps a sporran-maker, or one of his customers, in the 1700's had a stain or hole on their front apron and decided to obscure it?

The rest, they say, is history...

[Tobus]

Distinction has to be made between what decorates and enhances and what, to be frank, obscures,

Simples.

I'm going with obscures.

As they say, a long hairy sporran hides a multitude of sins.

(OK, they don't really say that, but they SHOULD!)

[Bugbear]

As a sidebar, learning the Highland tradition of males being the ones who wear ornate decoration while the females dress more plainly (relatively speaking) has been an interesting journey. I grew up wearing Saxon dress, where men are supposed to be dressed in a rather drab manner. A little flash of colour with a tie or pocket square is about as far as you can go with that. Maybe the sparkle of some nice jewelry. And the women are the ones who wear bright colours and ornately-decorated dresses. They can get away with feathers, flowers, wild hats, and all sorts of things that would be downright scandalous on a man.

My wife, bless her heart, has had an interesting time adjusting to the mentality of Highland tradition. She jokingly calls me the peacock and herself the pea hen. But I still occasionally sort of cringe at the idea of strutting around like a peacock, showing off fancy, ornate decorations in my wardrobe. It's hard to let go of the Saxon dress mentality sometimes. I find myself recently, though, embracing the Highland dress mentality more and more. While most average (non-Scot) men would guffaw at the idea of wearing something so "in your face" as a long horse hair sporran, I revel in it. It's quite liberating!

Fair enough, Tobus. We all see the world a little differently, and that, to me, would be only for very rare and specific situations, rather than all the time.

To me, I feel nothing liberating about having to give up what few traditions, beliefs, or world-views I have only to wear a kilt, but it isn't my tradition in the first place. It was my mistake, though.

[O'Searcaigh]

While most average (non-Scot) men would guffaw at the idea of wearing something so "in your face" as a long horse hair sporran, I revel in it. It's quite liberating!

' Don't want any long hairy sporrans in MY face!

[Mike_Oettle]

For myself, I got used to the plain leather pouch I was issued in the regiment, and looked somewhat askance at the hair sporrans the officers wore.
I never fancied myself wearing one, until fairly recently.
One style in particular that has caught my attention of late is a cantled sporran of angora goat, with a long, trailing mass of white mohair.
I don’t see myself affording one in the near future, but it would look great with formal wear.
It would also have the advantage of setting my wife’s mind at ease with regard to the “risk” I run of indecent exposure!
Regards,
Mike

[GoodGirlGonePlaid]

There are quite a few hairy sporrans in the vintage kilt thread. Especially on the kiddos.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-photos-43316/

[CopperNGold]

You are a brave man, McClef!