Familiarity Breeds Contempt

[xman]

I have mentioned elsewhere that I'm outfitting my brother in his kilt for his wedding this year. I offered my advice on hose. He'll wear a Prince Charlie so I told him, diced or Argyll would be best and some form of red if those are not possible. He just shot me down on that this week revealing that he will wear Ecru. "It's what I'm used to", was his excuse. It's his wedding (or hers really) so who can argue.

Some points to make:
- Hose in the Whites (and Black for that matter) is a recent phenomenon.
- It usually makes the wearer look unbalanced or 'bottom heavy'.
- There are other threads here decrying that option.

Although it is not as attractive as nearly any other option, weddings are one time that we see white hose rather a lot. It's also the one time that it almost works (but not really) what with the bride (usually) in white and all. With this common occurrence it's easy to see why the reply, "what I'm used to", was issued. It's a disconcerting statement. It solidifies that in the minds of the contemporary public White socks look fine, or even that White socks are best. Can it be said that White hose, as much as some here might like to oppose the idea (and I'll count myself among ye), are now not only common, but have actually become traditional, that the tradition of wearing White hose has superseded former notions? Are the Argyll and diced options becoming a merely historical option? Is anyone familiar with seeing White hose at other formal occasions, state dinner, tartan balls, Robbie Burns Day? Am I wrong in my impressions?

Let's not beat up on our members who wear White and Ecru. In casual settings with the right accoutrements it can look fine, but for formal occasions I just think it's the wrong choice or at least the last one.

X

[AKScott]

Yup, it's a loaded situation, and an inoportune time to argue with the nupital couple.

Perhaps a pair of lovat green hose as a wedding gift?

[Nighthawk]

Misconception based on misinformation does not make a tradition.

[xman]

Misconception based on misinformation does not make a tradition.

Ah, but common practice does.

[McElmurry]

I am very new to this topic but I always thought David Letterman’s white socks looked weird. Of course we wore white tube socks with cutoffs in the 70’s but we also wore leisure suits, so there ya go.

I assume white hose are ubiquitous with rented kilts because the outlets only have to stock one color and white doesn’t actually clash. The white also enhances the “authentic” look of the outfit if you are wearing ghillie brogues because you can clearly see the laces, which is an advantage in the outlets website photos. It also appears that many pipe bands wear white hose in lieu of white spats.

We may have to accept this as a web driven cultural shift in fashion. But then again it just makes it easier to look different. As I begin to develop my personal style I have been studying photos of HRH Duke of Rothesay. I have never seen a photo of him in white hose.

[azwildcat96]

Let me start by stating that I am not a huge fan of white hose. Now, in the case of a wedding, if the bride and groom want to wear Hawaiian shorts, tank tops, and flip flops, then it is their choice, and there is nothing that you or anyone else can really do to change that.

I second the suggestion to give a gift of colored hose.


And...

- Hose in the Whites (and Black for that matter) is a recent phenomenon.

I was not aware that black hose were a new invention. Here is a picture of me in a PC and black hose. I don't think it looks that bad, does it? Maybe a little too conservative, but that's just me. And, yes, I know it is not the proper sporran for the attire, but it was all I had at the time.

[Nighthawk]

Ah, but common practice does.

No it doesn't. It makes it a fashion trend. Saying that wearing white hose out of familiarity makes it a tradition is like saying that ebonics is a language. It's just an excuse not to do things right.

I was not aware that black hose were a new invention. Here is a picture of me in a PC and black hose. I don't think it looks that bad, does it? Maybe a little too conservative, but that's just me. And, yes, I know it is not the proper sporran for the attire, but it was all I had at the time.

They are indeed a modern convention. They don't look as in-your-face as white, though. Bleached white hose just scream "LOOK AT ME!!" I personally really like the look of black hose. An there's not a thing wrong with that sporran. It looks spectacular with that outfit. Then again, I'm a big fan of that style.

[MacMillans son]

I think it goes to that old debate about what is historical, traditional, most common etc, and, if and when does one become the other. I think it has been established that white hose are a result of surplus military supplies and kilt rental outfits. In North America we don't have a firmly established tradition of the kilt. What we see most often (white hose, ghillie brogues etc) from the rental outfits became OUR visual "normal". I suspect that your brother is not wanting to look abnormal in North America regardless of how non traditional, in the Highlands, he may look.

Rex (Thisledown) and I had a discussion in my early days here where he put it in context for me. Essentially any culture can adapt, or adopt, anything they want from another culture, but it is only that new cultures version of it. It doesn't change the original tradition. A kilt worn in North America with white hose, ghillie brogues, a fly plaid and PC during the daytime, is how a kilt is often worn in North America. That doesn't change the accepted traditions of how the kilt is worn in the Highlands.

The rub comes when we (or the marketeers) promote what we are wearing, or they are selling, as traditional in the country of origin, when it is far from the truth.

I like AKs suggestion, allow your brother his choice of hose during his big day, and provide him with an opportunity to do it differently at his leisure.

Best regards,
Brooke

[sydnie7]

OP says the groom has decided to wear ecru hose, then goes on to discuss white. There is a significant difference -- ecru is an "unbleached" light tan, like the classic Aran fisherman's sweater, not bleached "piper white." So do we know which color we are really discussing?

[thescot]

White hose may be a fairly new innovation for the reasons stated--easy to match for renters--but they've at least been around fince the 60s. Scotty Thompson even suggested they were fine for dressy occassions in So You're Going to Wear the Kilt. I have a pair of hand knit I ordered when I first began wearing kilts based on is recommendations.

I don't wear them anymore. I just happen to like the tartan hose better.

I don't think them an abomination, not particularly ugly, nor do they look offinsive to me. I wouldn't worry much about someone's sock color; it's really a small thing. White socks always make one look like either a rube or an avante garde trend setter. I don't like them, either, but sartorial tastes--especially one's choice of sock color--doesn't have a lot of impact on life. Besides, I doubt anyone besides xman will give it a thought.

But you should still give the guy some lovat green hose.