For everyday wear, a leather sporran and comfortable leather shoes are a good place to start. For a wedding or ball, choose your accessories to match the formality of your outfit. Here is what to look for.
Day, semi-dress or dress?
A leather day sporran works with a shirt, jumper or tweed jacket. The black SDY4 shown below has Celtic edging. If you plan to wear your kilt mostly for casual occasions, this is the type we would suggest first.
A semi-dress sporran usually has a leather flap and a fur front. It is a little more decorative, making it a useful choice for a family celebration or a less formal wedding. SSD1 is an example.
A dress sporran is intended for formal outfits, such as those worn with a Prince Charlie jacket. On the SGT1 pictured here, a metal top called a cantle takes the place of the leather flap.
All three models have three tassels, so the tassel count will not tell you which type you are looking at. On SSD1 and SGT1, the colour and markings of the hide may also differ from the photograph.
Where your sporran sits and how it attaches
Wear the sporran centrally over the front of your kilt. When first trying it on, position its top roughly 4–5 inches, or 10–13 cm, below the top of the kilt. This is a starting point; adjust it to suit your build and the size of the sporran.
A separate strap, or a chain with leather strap sections, holds it around your body. The hooks on the chain strap pictured below clip onto the D-rings on a connecting strap. Check that this connecting piece is fitted at the back of your sporran.
Then put your phone, keys and wallet inside, walk around and sit down. If the sporran presses uncomfortably or gets in your way, adjust the strap. Try it with the things you will actually carry: an empty sporran may sit differently.
Which shoes should you wear?
You do not always need ghillie brogues with a kilt. Classic leather brogues with ordinary laces work for everyday wear, including with a tweed jacket.
Traditional ghillie brogues have no tongue, and their long laces tie around the ankles. Black is the usual choice for formal Highland dress. Brown works well with daytime and less formal clothing. The photographs show brown Campsie and black Endrick shoes.
Try your shoes on with the kilt hose you intend to wear. If they are new, walk in them beforehand. Your wedding day is a long day to spend breaking in shoes.
Illustrative wedding photographs; the outfits shown are not products from our shop.
Three outfits to try
- For everyday wear: a kilt, shirt or jumper, leather SDY4 sporran and comfortable leather shoes with ordinary laces.
- For a family celebration: a kilt, shirt, tweed jacket, SSD1 semi-dress sporran and black leather shoes. If you prefer ghillie brogues, Endrick is one option.
- For a formal evening: a kilt, Prince Charlie jacket and waistcoat, white dress shirt, black bow tie, SGT1 dress sporran and black ghillie brogues.
For a wedding, follow the couple’s wishes; for other formal events, check the dress code on the invitation. A morning ceremony can be just as formal as an evening event.
Browse our sporrans, or tell us where you are going and what you already own. We will be happy to help you choose the remaining accessories. For the other parts of the outfit, see What to wear with a kilt.