We are often asked how to wear a sporran correctly when it comes to wearing your kilt for the first time. If you have any questions about what we have included in this guide, just shoot us an email and we will be delighted to help.
How to Wear a Sporran – The Ultimate Guide
Your kilt outfit will not be complete without adding a sporran. It is vitally important to wear the sporran correctly, otherwise you will be getting a few looks from your fellow kilt wearers. You will know that the sporran is in the correct position when you can draw a vertical line down your outfit, so that the line passes through the buttons of your waistcoat, your tie or bow-tie, sporran and kilt belt buckle. Sometimes, the sporran is moved over to either the left or right side of your kilt when you are dancing, if you are partaking in a ceilidh for example.
Which Sporran to Choose?
You will have probably noticed that there are many different types of sporrans, depending on the occasion that you wear a kilt too.
History of the Sporran
Not many people know where the word sporran comes from. In fact, its from the Gaelic word “purse”. Kilts do not have pockets, so this means that there is no place to keep your personal effects when wearing the kilt, such as money, food or even lead musket during the wars. This lead to the development of the sporran to solve this storage problem. In the modern era, sporrans are great for your smartphone and wallet. Oh, and you will also find the occasional hip flask in there as well!
What are the Different Types of Sporrans?
Here at Kilts.com, we stock a range of different sporrans, namely:
- Day
- Semi-Dress
- Dress
- Hunting
- Horsehair
Day Sporrans are mainly worn during informal events. It is recommended that you don’t wear a sporran of this type to a wedding for example, as it will reduce the formality of your look. You will notice that this type are often made of leather, and don’t feature any animal hair, as well as having no metal cantle.
Semi-Dress Sporrans combine features of both the day and dress. In most semi-dress sporrans, they will feature animal fur accompanying the leather. I would say this is a great sporran to choose if you plan to wear it during formal and informal occasions. Think of it as smart casual.
Dress Sporrans are for the most formal of occasions. These are commonly worn at weddings where you want to stand out from the crowd. You will notice the use of animal furs in most products, and there will most likely be a shiny metallic cantle at the top.
