Socks for ultra-casual

[Karl R]

I'm trying to figure out the right socks to wear with casual wear. But first, I need to explain....

Forget the level of casual displayed in "1 Kilt 10 Looks." That "casual" look is far too classy for my question. We're talking U.S. casual ... and not the stuff that would remotely pass for acceptable on "casual Friday." It's more, "I left work on casual Friday, went home, and dressed down from there. A lot."

When I go out dancing, I dress for comfort (unless it's truly a special occasion). I'm hot. I'm sweaty. I'll bring spare t-shirts for when I soak through the first one (and second one). Within those parameters, I prefer to look better, rather than worse.

From that starting point, I'm considering working a kilt into the rotation of dance attire. It's not quite as cool (body heat-wise) as my linen pants, but it's cooler (same standard) than my 100% cotton cargo pants. Aesthetically, it's cooler than both of those options.

But now I have a sock problem. With my cargo pants and linen pants, my socks are largely invisible. In a kilt, they're on full display. So I would like to figure out which socks look the best with a kilt ... in this setting.

The rest of the outfit:
Black t-shirt with a funny and/or snarky saying (black shows sweat less than other colors)
Dance sneakers (they're black sneakers; completely black; no other color; I'm not kidding; just black; and they're not high-rise)
Dark kilt (my current kilt, and the one on order, both fit that description)
Black hunting sporran with plenty of chrome ... and a chrome chain (it's resting against a dark kilt ... in poor lighting ... I wanted it to be visible)

The setting:
I'll be in a bar/club/pub/dance hall ... It will be dark. Forget suggestions like "cable knit." Observers will be able to tell the difference between black socks and white socks. Probably.

The choice of socks:
Black kilt hose, worn "up"
Black kilt hose, "scrunched down"
Black athletic socks, below the calf
Black ankle-high socks
(I'm following the website's culture of using what we already have in our closets)
Black dress socks, below the calf, are also an option ... however unlikely that is to be anyone's choice ... it is in the wardrobe

The question:
I'm not so interested in what you would wear. (We all have our personal foibles.) When you've seen others dressed extremely casually, at Highland Games or wherever, what ultra-casual socks actually seemed to work on other people?

A side note:
Yes, I have a relatively achromatic wardrobe. And a distinct set of clothes I wear. When I wore a kilt last weekend, it elicited fewer comments than when I wore a blue-gray button-down dress shirt.

I'd welcome any input. I might even put a small amount of it into practice.

[McMurdo]

I'd go for these cotton kilt hose

https://www.hamiltondrygoods.com/socks/kilt-socks/

[Wareyin]

I would think kilt socks, worn "up". I personally think the scrunched sock look only works when wearing boots, and certainly not with low top sneakers. That said, pics would help, as well as give you a chance to try out each look and see what you prefer!

[Tarheel]

Do you usually change socks during nights out when you dance? If not, a pair of thin (compared to wool kilt hose) compression knee high hose in grey or brown. The material would hug your legs better during activity, promote better circulation control, wick sweat off your legs and fit the complete look of kilted with hose and sporran.
I'm trying to think out side of a box here (translates empty coffee cup this early morning).

[FossilHunter]

If your choices, I would opt for the kilt hose worn up. I find that when I see guys with sneakers and short socks at Highland games, it accentuates the resemblance to a woman’s skirt. I couldn’t tell you why but the proportions seem more like those of a skirted woman than a kilted man. Especially if they are wearing the kilt below the knee.

[TheGratefulNed]

Of the options given, I'd say either kilt hose worn up or the calf-length athletic socks. I agree with Wareyin that scrunched hose really only look good with boots.

If you don't mind spending a little bit of money, you can probably find an inexpensive pair of rugby/soccer socks for less than you'd spend on most kilt hose (even cheap ones). They will breathe better than kilt hose (especially if they're wool), are designed to come up to your knee like hose do, and are generally good about staying up even through strenuous activity (at least until the elastic starts to wear out, then you just wear a pair of flashes with them or at least the elastic garter off some flashes).

[alfrenovsky]

I'd like a bright live polo shirt with matching socks. Yellow, red, bright green or purple. Those kinds of color.

[BertMcG]

I would think kilt socks, worn "up". I personally think the scrunched sock look only works when wearing boots, and certainly not with low top sneakers. That said, pics would help, as well as give you a chance to try out each look and see what you prefer!

I agree, I’ve tried the scrunched hose with sneakers, not for me but some can make it work

[Macman]

With sneakers, the only things that work for me are kilt hose, worn up, or anklet socks. Anything in between looks odd to my eyes. For the look you're going for, I'd choose anklet socks, and I think they'd be the most comfortable for dancing.

[California Highlander]

When "ultra casual" I wear these https://www.rei.com/product/118955/r...-quarter-socks with a kilt and either Keen hiking shoes or black Nike cross trainers.